Hustle & Flow

Inspired by a pimp? Yes, I was. You will be too. I read somewhere that everyone can relate to this movie, I don't know how true that is, but on my way out of the showing I saw a 90-ish looking white lady exiting the theater. 'Nuff said!

Hustle & Flow weaves the tale of D-Jay, a Memphis pimp trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. Starring Terrence Howard (Crash, The Best Man) in another stirring performance, Hustle is gritty and inspiring throughout. D-Jay has a stable of hoes, two of which bring in money. His right-hand girl is the young, white "innocent" Nola. D-Jay is getting along in age and feels life slipping away as he realizes that he can't hustle forever (he sells weed along with women). He and the girls live in a dilapidated home and earning money is a struggle. When a chance encounter at a store reunites D-Jay with childhood friend "Key" (Anthony Anderson in a serious role), opportunity knocks. Key has the means to produce some tracks for D-Jay, who is encouraged to revive his never-realized rap dreams. Howard brings a plaintive sympathy to his role as pimp. Though his language is salty, he is rarely violent, and we see the unique and caring relationship he has with all the girls. However, he's still a pimp, let's call a spade a spade. He proffers women for sex and there's nothing glamorous about that. Particularly moving is a scene where he and Nola clash after he offers her services to a merchant in order to get a new microphone. At this moment we are reminded of the vileness of the trade. The most powerful thread running through the movie, and the one that I related to most was: The desire to be greater than what you are at this very moment. Sometimes you find yourself stuck in a rut and ask yourself: "Is this what I'm here for? Is this all there is?" I felt that, and you can see that every character in the movie is reaching for something to pull themselves out of their existence...D-Jay is that hope. The movie has a sweaty, dirty, sticky, hot quality, creating an oppresive urgency. Does D-Jay make it? Find out at at your local theater.