Hustle & Flow (www.the-usher.com)

"Everybody gotta have a dream"

DJay (Howard) wanted more from this life. As a Memphis pimp, he scrapped out a living with his two girls and dealing some weed on the side. After meeting up with his friend Key (Anderson) from high school he realises that his future lies in music but even after laying down some tracks, he has to get himself noticed by Memphis's most famous rap star Skinny Black (Ludacris).

The story of hip hop stars coming up from the ghettos to superstardom is the stable sauce material of all rap movies but 'Hustle & Flow' is different to anything that has come before.

Writer/director Craig Brewer joins forces with producer and financier John Singleton to bring the story of pimp turned rapper DJay but before you start thinking that this will be one long music video about a silk clothed rapper with a strong pimp hand driving all over Memphis with his bitches in tow, this movie is nothing like that. The film is about a man going through a mid-life crisis, realising that he hasn't achieved anything and is just a glorified driver for a couple of whores. After meeting up with friend Key from high school, he decides to share his music with him and Key realises that DJay might have the talent and the lyrics to succeed.

This might sound like any other rags to riches story that has graced many a Hollywood movie but Craig Brewer takes a much more realistic approach. DJay might be a pimp but he is not like the ones that grace many a rap video. This is a man who is at the bottom, pimping his girls out on the side the road and selling weed or anything to get by. He lives in the worst part of town with his two whores and his pregnant girlfriend and drives a car that is hardly a pimp mobile. He is the lowest of the low and at the end of his tether, until his friend Key invites him to church to hear the music he has been working on. Like a moment of enlightenment, this finally gives him the motivation to do something and make himself heard.

By not casting an already established or up and coming rap star in the role of DJay, Craig Brewer employs an actor to play the part. That actor is Terrance Howard and he is finally getting the chance to show what he can do. Know more for his supporting roles, Howard is one of those actors you know but can't often put a name to. This is a role, along with his role in the award winning 'Crash', should finally bring him to the forefront and give him the chance to show that he is one of the most talented actors of his generation.

The supporting cast is also first rate. Both Anthony Anderson and DJ Qualls are better known for their comedic roles but this time they get the opportunity to show that they can perform in more dramatic roles. As DJay's music collaborators Key and Shelby, the pair shows that there is much more to their talents than just comedy. Taraji P. Henson and Taryn Manning also get the chance to shine as Shug and Nola, the two women who believe in what DJay is doing. There are also good performances from Paula Jai Parker as the resentful Lexus, Elise Neal as Key's disapproving wife Yevette and Ludacris as a stereotypical rapper called Skinny Black.

'Hustle & Flow' is the best rap music movie to grace the silver screen. By having a more realist approach and using real actors, Craig Brewer and his creative team have produced a movie that emphasises passion for the music and not the riches that it could bring. This is now the template for all rap music movies.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented well, highlighting the excellent soundtrack.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by writer/director Craig Brewer
The man behind the movie provides and interesting insight into the low budget rap movie. He talks about how he approached the story and writing the script, highlighting the influences behind it and how it reflected his own trails and tribulations of getting into the film business. He discusses the hustle philosophy behind the picture and creating the character of DJay. He also emphasises that his is not your typical rap film and that DJay is not your usual portrayal of a pimp. The writer/director also talks passionately about the music and the influences of Memphis on the soundtrack and score. This is a passionate and informative commentary from a man who has invested everything in the film.

Behind the Hustle (27.22 mins)
Writer/director Craig Brewer, producers Stephanie Allain and John Singleton and stars Terrance Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, DJ Qualls, Elise Neal, Taraji P. Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Juicy J and Ludacris take you behind the scenes of the making of 'Hustle & Flow'. With footage of auditions and the cast read through, the featurette covers the main characters of the film and the actors that play them. Here we learn about DJay, Key, Shelby, Shug, Nola, Lexus, Yevette and Skinny Black, highlighting what each actor brought to the role and how they approached the character. The making of� also covers the spirit of the movie and what the actors had to do to prepare for the movie.

By any means necessary (14.42 mins)
Writer/director Craig Brewer, producers Stephanie Allain and John Singleton and stars Terrance Howard, Anthony Anderson, DJ Qualls and Taraji P. Henson reveal how the film actually made and financed. The featurette covers the film's four-year journey to the big screen and how ever studio and financer turned the film down until John Singleton became involved. It also covers the making of the movie in Memphis and emphasises the fact that this is very different kind of music movie.

Creatin' Crunk (13.44 mins)
Writer/director Craig Brewer, producer John Singleton, score composer Scott Bomar, contributing writer Al Kapone and stars Isaac Hayes and Taryn Manning talk about creating the score and rap for 'Hustle & Flow'. They reveal the Memphis influence behind the music and how original Stax musicians contributed to the soundtrack and Isaac Hayes' influence on the sound of the score.

Memphis Hometown Premiere (4.53 mins)
Watch writer/director Craig Brewer and the starts of the film arrive at the Memphis premiere of the movie.

Promotional Spots (4.11 mins)
Watch the MTV promotional spots entitled 'DJay's front porch', 'DJay's Car', 'DJay/Shug in studio', 'Buck or Crunk', 'How to get a name for yourself' and 'How to Buck or Crunk'.

OVERALL

The DVD treatment of 'Hustle & Flow' is extremely good for a single disc. The featurettes are informative and cover most aspects of the film's production and the commentary from writer/director Craig Brewer is very good making this an excellent package for fans of the movie.

DVD

Eight Mile

The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks

Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher

2005