Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 07/22/05 Home Video 01/10/06 MPAA Rating Rated R for sex and drug content, pervasive language and some violence Running Time 1 hour 54 minutes Genre Drama, Rap Music Director Craig Brewer Cast Terrence Dashon Howard, D.J. Qualls, Ludacris, Taryn Manning, Anthony Anderson, Isaac Hayes, Taraji P. Henson, Elise Neal, Paula Jai Parker Studio Paramount Classics |
HUSTLE AND FLOW
SYNOPSIS
"Hustle & Flow" is the redemptive story of a streetwise
Memphis hustler trying to find his voice and realize
his long-buried dreams. Though DJay (Terrence
Howard) has always had a way with words, that gift
has long been misused; this philosopher- hustler lives
a dead-end life at the fringes of society. Anything more
feels out of reach. Still, DJay wonders what happened
to all the big dreams he had for his life. A chance
encounter with an old friend, Key (Anthony Anderson),
a sound engineer who has always wanted to make it
in the music business, spurs DJay: if he's ever going
to make his mark, it has to happen now. He begins to
write down his freestyle raps - his flow - and the two
team up with Shelby (DJ Qualls), a church musician
with a beat machine, to lay down bass-thumping crunk
tracks. DJay's metamorphosis affects his entire
house, as the women in his life - Shug (Taraji P.
Henson) and Nola (Taryn Manning) - find ways to
contribute to the creative process. With the impending
visit to Memphis of hometown platinum-selling rapper
Skinny Black (Ludacris), DJay has to make one last
hustle if he's ever going to flow. Winner of the
Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival,
"Hustle & Flow" is produced by John Singleton
("Boyz N the Hood," "2 Fast 2 Furious," "Four
Brothers") and Stephanie Allain and written and
directed by newcomer Craig Brewer.
© Paramount Classics
Memphis hustler trying to find his voice and realize
his long-buried dreams. Though DJay (Terrence
Howard) has always had a way with words, that gift
has long been misused; this philosopher- hustler lives
a dead-end life at the fringes of society. Anything more
feels out of reach. Still, DJay wonders what happened
to all the big dreams he had for his life. A chance
encounter with an old friend, Key (Anthony Anderson),
a sound engineer who has always wanted to make it
in the music business, spurs DJay: if he's ever going
to make his mark, it has to happen now. He begins to
write down his freestyle raps - his flow - and the two
team up with Shelby (DJ Qualls), a church musician
with a beat machine, to lay down bass-thumping crunk
tracks. DJay's metamorphosis affects his entire
house, as the women in his life - Shug (Taraji P.
Henson) and Nola (Taryn Manning) - find ways to
contribute to the creative process. With the impending
visit to Memphis of hometown platinum-selling rapper
Skinny Black (Ludacris), DJay has to make one last
hustle if he's ever going to flow. Winner of the
Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival,
"Hustle & Flow" is produced by John Singleton
("Boyz N the Hood," "2 Fast 2 Furious," "Four
Brothers") and Stephanie Allain and written and
directed by newcomer Craig Brewer.
© Paramount Classics
Brenda
When I heard this was a pimp turn rap singer, I went in with no expectation. It was a sellout on
opening night at the 2005 Atlanta Film Festival. Terrace Howard has had two great movies in
2005! Between his leading role in Hustle and Flow and supporting role in Crash, this seems to be
his year. Once you can get past the four letter words, this is sure to be one of the best movies of
the summer.
When I heard this was a pimp turn rap singer, I went in with no expectation. It was a sellout on
opening night at the 2005 Atlanta Film Festival. Terrace Howard has had two great movies in
2005! Between his leading role in Hustle and Flow and supporting role in Crash, this seems to be
his year. Once you can get past the four letter words, this is sure to be one of the best movies of
the summer.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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