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Hustle & Flow

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Hustle & Flow
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCraig Brewer
Written byCraig Brewer
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAmy Vincent
Edited byBilly Fox
Music byScott Bomar
Production
company
New Deal Entertainment
Distributed by
Release date
  • July 22, 2005 (2005-07-22)
Running time
116 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.8 million
Box office$23.5 million

Hustle & Flow is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer. The film stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who dreams of becoming a rapper. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Elise Neal, DJ Qualls and Ludacris. Produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain, the film tells the story of one man's struggle to turn his life around through music.

Hustle & Flow was released on July 22, 2005, by Paramount Pictures, and received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances—particularly those of Howard and Henson—as well as Brewer's direction and the film's soundtrack. The film emerged as a commercial success at the box-office, grossing $23.5 million against a production budget of $2.8 million.

Hustle & Flow garnered several accolades, including two nominations at the 78th Academy Awards: Best Actor (Howard) and Best Original Song for Three 6 Mafia's song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp", winning the latter, thus becoming the second hip-hop song to win an Academy Award, following Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile (2002).

Plot

DJay, a pimp and drug dealer in Memphis, Tennessee, is dissatisfied with his life and finds himself grappling with a midlife crisis. After reconnecting with his old friend Key, a sound technician, DJay is inspired to pursue a career in hip hop music.

With the help of Key and Shelby, a sound mixer, DJay begins creating songs that reflect his frustrations with life in the ghetto. Despite his lack of formal experience, DJay proves to be a talented lyricist and rapper. The group manages to create songs with the potential for local radio play, including "Whoop That Trick" and "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp".

However, the road to success is fraught with setbacks. DJay hustles to secure the necessary equipment and recording time, even going so far as to offer Nola, his top prostitute, to a microphone salesman in exchange for gear. Nola is outraged by the exchange, leading to a heated argument, during which DJay promises her a bigger role in the future. Meanwhile, Key's marriage suffers under the strain of the project, and DJay expels Lexus, one of his other prostitutes, and her infant son after she mocks his ambitions. Shug, another of DJay's girls, who is pregnant, becomes involved in the recording process by singing hooks for the songs, and a romantic connection develops between her and DJay.

As the group finishes recording, DJay learns that Skinny Black, a successful Memphis rapper, will be attending a Fourth of July party. DJay attends the event under the pretext of providing marijuana with the intention of giving Skinny his demo tape. Initially dismissive, Skinny Black eventually agrees to take the tape after DJay persuades him during the party. However, before DJay leaves, he discovers that a drunken Skinny Black has destroyed the demo. Enraged, DJay confronts Skinny, who insults him. In a violent outburst, DJay beats Skinny Black nearly to death and attempts to revive him. When one of Black's associates walks in and pulls a gun, DJay seizes Black's gun and shoots the man in the arm before fleeing.

Upon returning home, DJay finds the police waiting for him. He is arrested, but before being taken away, he entrusts Nola with his lyrics and puts her in charge of sending the songs to radio stations. As DJay is led away, he shares a tearful look with Shug. DJay is sentenced to 11 months in prison for assault and firearm possession.

While in prison, DJay is visited by Key, who informs him that Nola has successfully gotten radio DJs to play his songs, which have since become local hits. Humbled by his success, DJay and Key begin discussing future business plans. In a final moment of validation, two correctional officers ask DJay to listen to their demo, and DJay, recognizing their ambition, agrees.

Cast

Production

Terrence Howard initially turned down the role of DJay. He was reportedly hesitant to take on the part, as he wanted to avoid being typecast in a stereotypical "pimp" archetype. However, after reflecting on the complexity and emotional depth of the character, Howard reconsidered and ultimately accepted the role.

The film faced years of rejection and setbacks from major studios and financiers before finally securing backing. Longtime supporter John Singleton played a pivotal role in its production. In the DVD extras, Singleton expressed his frustration with the industry's reluctance to recognize the film's potential, stating that he ultimately decided to fund the project himself because he believed it deserved the chance to be made.

Due to the unique cultural significance of "hustle" and "flow" in African American culture, translating the film's title for international audiences proved difficult. In Russia, for instance, the title was translated to "The Bustle and the Motion", while in Italy, it was appended with "Il colore della musica" ("The Color of Music"). In China, the film was released under the title "Street Hip Hop", reflecting an attempt to capture its essence for non-English-speaking viewers.

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 162 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Hustle & Flow is gritty and redemptive, with a profound sense of place and exciting music."[2] On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[3]

In a review for The Boston Globe, the film was noted for evoking different reactions: "Some will find it chicly inspired, recalling blaxploitation's heyday with its grimy urban realism. Some will find it corny, absurd, and a limited view of options for disenfranchised African-Americans."[4] Entertainment Weekly praised the film's musical sequences, stating, "The home-studio recording sequences in Hustle & Flow are funky, rowdy, and indelible. Craig Brewer gives us the pleasure of watching characters create music from the ground up."[5]

Legacy

The phrase "Whoop That Trick", which was prominently featured in Hustle & Flow, became a rallying cry for fans of the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team during the early 2020s.[6][7][8][9][10] The chant gained widespread popularity and was used by fans to energize the team during games, further solidifying the cultural impact of the film and its music within the city of Memphis.

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards March 5, 2006 Best Actor Terrence Howard Nominated [11][12][13]
Best Original Song Frayser Boy, Juicy J, and DJ Paul (for "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp") Won
African-American Film Critics Association 2005 Top Ten Films Hustle & Flow 7th place [14][15][16]
Best Actor Terrence Howard Won
Austin Film Critics Association 2005 Best Film Hustle & Flow 6th place [17]
Breakthrough Artist Terrence Howard Won
Black Reel Awards February 18, 2006 Best Film Hustle & Flow Nominated
Best Actor Terrence Howard Won [18][19]
Best Supporting Actor Anthony Anderson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Taraji P. Henson Won [18][19]
Best Original Soundtrack Hustle & Flow Won
Best Ensemble Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association January 9, 2006 Best Actor Terrence Howard Nominated [20]
Most Promising Filmmaker Craig Brewer Nominated
Most Promising Performer Chris "Ludacris" Bridges Nominated
Costume Designers Guild Awards February 26, 2006 Excellence in Contemporary Film Paul A. Simmons Jr. Nominated [21]
Critics' Choice Awards January 9, 2006 Best Actor Terrence Howard Nominated [22][23][24]
Best Song Terrence Howard (for "Hustle & Flow") Won
Florida Film Critics Circle December 24, 2005 Pauline Kael Breakout Award Terrence Howard Won [25][26]
Golden Globe Awards January 16, 2006 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Nominated [27][28]
Golden Trailer Awards June 1, 2006 Best Drama Hustle & Flow Nominated [29]
Gotham Awards November 30, 2005 Breakthrough Actor Terrence Howard Nominated [30][31]
Independent Spirit Awards March 4, 2006 Best Male Lead Nominated [32]
Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards March 4, 2006 Best Sound Editing – Music – Musical Feature Film Shie Rozow and Marvin Morris Nominated [33][34][35]
MTV Movie Awards June 3, 2006 Best Performance Terrence Howard Nominated [36]
Best Breakthrough Performance Taraji P. Henson Nominated
Best Kiss Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard Nominated
NAACP Image Awards February 25, 2006 Outstanding Motion Picture Hustle & Flow Nominated [37][38][39]
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Terrence Howard Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Anthony Anderson Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Taraji P. Henson Nominated
Elise Neal Nominated
Nashville Film Festival April 14–21, 2005 Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Craig Brewer Won [40][41]
National Board of Review January 10, 2006 Breakthrough Performance by an Actor Terrence Howard Won [42][43]
Special Recognition For Excellence In Filmmaking Hustle & Flow Won
New York Film Critics Circle January 8, 2006 Best Supporting Actor Terrence Howard Runner-up [44]
New York Film Critics Online 11 December 2005 Breakthrough Performance Won [45][46]
Online Film Critics Society January 16, 2006 Best Actor Nominated [47][48]
Best Breakthrough Filmmaker Craig Brewer Nominated
Satellite Awards December 17, 2005 Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy Hustle & Flow Nominated [49]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy Terrence Howard Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards January 29, 2006 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Anthony Anderson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Isaac Hayes, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Taryn Manning, Elise Neal, Paula Jai Parker, and DJ Qualls Nominated [50][51]
Sundance Film Festival January 29, 2005 Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic Hustle & Flow Won [52][53]
Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic Amy Vincent Won
Teen Choice Awards August 16, 2005 Choice Summer Movie Hustle & Flow Nominated [54]
August 20, 2006 Choice Actor – Drama/Action Adventure Terrence Howard Nominated [55]
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle February 7, 2006 Best Actor Terrence Howard Nominated [56][57]
Village Voice Film Poll December 2005 Best Performance 9th place [58]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 13, 2005 Best Actor Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Taraji P. Henson Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Craig Brewer Nominated
Best Breakthrough Performance Terrence Howard Won [59][60]
Taryn Manning Nominated
Women Film Critics Circle December 28, 2005 Best Comedic Performance Paula Jai Parker Won [61]

Soundtrack

Main article: Hustle & Flow (soundtrack)

The soundtrack for Hustle & Flow was released on July 12, 2005, by Grand Hustle and Atlantic Records. The album primarily focuses on Southern hip hop, reflecting the film's Memphis setting and the music culture that plays a central role in the story. The soundtrack features several original songs, including "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp", which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

See also

References

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