Keep Hustlin'

In an attempt to prove that I am, in fact, a complete poser I went to see Hustle & Flow recently. If you are not familiar with this movie, it is the story of DJay (played by the simply phenomenal Terrence Howard), a Memphis pimp who is sick of his lot in life and decides to try to become a rap star like fellow Memphis native Skinny Black. Hustle & Flow was the winner of the Audience Award at this year's Sundance film festival.

DJay does not make the most sympathetic protagonist (he's a pimp, duh), but director Craig Brewer combines with Terrence Howard to let us see into the heart and soul of a man who no longer wants to be the one thing he has ever been. Nothing about Hustle & Flow is pretty, not the lives of the people in the film, nor the actions of those people, not the cinematography which helps to establish the dirty, gritty feel of living in this North Memphis neighborhood. As we delve deeper into DJay's world, we find that everyone wants more out of life and whether the dream is something new or one they had to give up years ago, it's up to each one of them to determine how to change their own lot in life.

While most of the other actors are overshadowed by Howard's performance, I was greatly surprised by the performance of Anthony Anderson as Key, DJay's former schoolmate who becomes his producer (Key usually just records court depositions, church choirs and high school recitals). If Anthony Anderson is capable of this, the next director to cast him in anything resembling Kangaroo Jack should be stripped of his DGA card.


It turns out that the Moviefone guy was right. Rather pathetic, but right.

Until later...