Hustle & Flow
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCraig Brewer
Written byCraig Brewer
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAmy Vincent
Edited byBilly Fox
Music byScott Bomar
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
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 and produced by John Singleton and Stephanie Allain. It stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who faces his aspiration to become a rapper. It also stars Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, Paula Jai Parker, Elise Neal, DJ Qualls and Ludacris.

Hustle & Flow was released in the United States on July 22, 2005, by Paramount Pictures. It received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at the performances (particularly those of Howard and Henson), Brewer's script and direction, and the soundtrack. It was also a commercial success, grossing $23.5 million against a production budget of $2.8 million.

The film received numerous accolades and nominations, and was nominated twice at the 78th Academy Awards for Best Actor (Howard) and Academy Award for Best Original Song for Three 6 Mafia's song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp", winning the latter and becoming the second hip hop song to win an Academy Award, after Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile.

Plot

DJay is a pimp and drug dealer living in Memphis, Tennessee, who is dissatisfied with his life, and is going through a midlife crisis. After reacquainting himself with an old friend and sound technician, Key, DJay decides to make hip hop music.

Key and his sound-mixer friend Shelby help DJay put together several songs in which he expresses the frustrations of struggling to survive in the ghetto. DJay proves his talent through rhyming as well as writing lyrics, and his first song appears to have a decent chance of getting local radio play.

The group experiences setbacks throughout the creative process. DJay must hustle those around him in order to procure equipment and recording time; in particular, he offers Nola, his top prostitute, to a microphone salesman, and she is outraged afterwards. They argue, but he says he will put her in charge of something one day. Also, Key's relationship with his wife becomes strained. DJay throws out one of his prostitutes, Lexus, along with her infant son, for ridiculing him. Pregnant Shug, another of DJay's girls, joins in the creative process, singing hooks. The group eventually records several tracks, including "Whoop That Trick" and "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp". After their first recording, DJay gains romantic feelings toward Shug, even sharing a passionate kiss.

DJay's friend Arnel informs him that Skinny Black, a successful Memphis rapper, will be returning for a Fourth of July party. DJay gains admittance under the pretext of providing marijuana, with the true intention of giving Black his demo tape. Black is dismissive at first, but DJay successfully persuades him into taking the tape.

Before leaving the party, DJay discovers that a drunken Black has destroyed his tape. DJay confronts Black who insults him. In a fit of rage, DJay nearly beats Black to death but attempts to resuscitate him. A member of Black's entourage enters the bathroom and pulls out his gun. DJay shoots the man in his arm with Black's gun and escapes.

DJay arrives home to find the police and Black's associates waiting for him. DJay turns himself in and tells Nola to safeguard his writing pad with his lyrics on it, also placing her in charge of sending his songs to radio stations. He then exchanges a glance with a tearful Shug before a brawl breaks out after one of Black's crew sucker punches him. DJay is charged with assault and possession of a firearm and is sentenced to 11 months in prison.

While serving his time, DJay is visited by Key and learns that Nola has successfully gotten radio DJs to play his songs, which have become local hits. The pair then prepare to discuss their future business plans. Two correctional officers ask DJay to listen to their demo. Humbled and flattered, DJay accepts.

Cast

Production

Terrence Howard initially turned down the role of DJay. He reportedly was attempting to avoid being typecast as a "pimp" archetype. However, after recognizing the complexity and depth of the character, he reversed his earlier decision and took on the role.

As concepts of both hustle and flow are unique to African American culture, it turned out to be nearly impossible to find proper translations for international release of the film. For example, the Russian translation of the title means "The bustle and the motion". The Italian title is appended with "Il colore della musica" which means "The color of music". The Chinese translation is "Street hip hop".

The film experienced many years of near-misses and outright rejection from major studios and potential financiers before finally being backed by its longtime supporter John Singleton. In the DVD extras Singleton says that he decided at last to put up the money himself because he was exasperated at his friends' not getting what their film deserved.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on 160 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Hustle & Flow is gritty and redemptive, with a profound sense of place and exciting music."[2] Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[3]

The Boston Globe said, "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] According to Entertainment Weekly, "The home-studio recording sequences in Hustle & Flow are funky, rowdy, and indelible. Brewer gives us the pleasure of watching characters create music from the ground up."[5]

Legacy

The phrase "whoop that trick," which was featured in the film, became a rallying cry for fans of the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team during the early 2020's.[6][7][8][9][10]

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 Hustle & Flow 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 Terrence Howard 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 Terrence Howard 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 Terrence Howard Won [45][46]
Online Film Critics Society January 16, 2006 Best Actor Terrence Howard 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 Terrence Howard 9th place [58]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 13, 2005 Best Actor Terrence Howard 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

The soundtrack was released on July 12, 2005, by Grand Hustle and Atlantic Records. The album centers on Southern hip hop.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "HUSTLE & FLOW (15)". British Board of Film Classification. July 8, 2005. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Hustle & Flow (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Hustle & Flow Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Hustle & Flow Movie Review – Hustle & Flow Movie Trailer – The Boston Globe". Boston.com. July 22, 2005. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  5. ↑ Owen Gleiberman (July 20, 2005). "Hustle & Flow | Movies". EW.com. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  6. ↑ Gentry, Jack (April 20, 2022). "How "Whoop That Trick" became a Grindhouse anthem for the Grizzlies". AZ Sports.
  7. ↑ Greene, Alex (December 14, 2022). "Al Kapone and "Whoop That Trick"". Memphis magazine. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ Sam, Doric. "Warriors' Stephen Curry Shades Grizzlies with 'Whoop That Trick' Game Plan". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Why 'Whoop That Trick' is the Memphis Grizzlies' rallying cry, explained". For The Win. May 3, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Memphis Grizzlies: Whoop that trick meaning, explained". FanSided. April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "The 78th Academy Awards (2006) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ Lowry, Brian (March 5, 2006). "Party crashed . . . big time". Variety. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  13. ↑ Gray, Tim (January 31, 2006). "Academy Award Noms: Oscar's western union". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ Feinberg, Lexi (December 29, 2005). "Crash Speeds To The Top". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  15. ↑ "African American Film Critics Association Select Crash as The Top Film of 2005". BlackFilm. December 21, 2005. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  16. ↑ "AAFCA 2005 Film Selections". African-American Film Critic’s Association. Archived from the original on February 7, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  17. ↑ "2005 Awards". Austin Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  18. 1 2 "Past Winners". Black Reel Awards. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Terrence Howard gets three Black Reel nods". USA Today. January 4, 2006. Archived from the original on May 4, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Movie critics everywhere weigh in with their picks for the best in 2005". Variety. January 8, 2006. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Costume Guild reveals noms". Variety. January 11, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  22. ↑ "The 11th Critics' Choice Movie Awards Winners and Nominees". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  23. ↑ Seif, Dena (January 9, 2006). "Crix scale Mountain". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  24. ↑ Seif, Dena (December 11, 2005). "B'cast crix back Brokeback". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  25. ↑ "2005 FFCC Awards Winners". Florida Film Critics Circle. November 16, 2013. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  26. ↑ Repstad, Laura (December 27, 2005). "Mountain tops Florida crix kudos". Variety. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Winners & Nominees 2006". Golden Globes. Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Live coverage of 2006 Golden Globes". Variety. January 16, 2006. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  29. ↑ "The Winners of the 7th Annual Golden Trailer Awards". Golden Trailer Awards. Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  30. ↑ "2005 Winners and nominees". Gotham Independent Film Awards. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Gotham Awards Nominations Announced". Filmmaker Magazine. October 25, 2005. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 34 Years of Nominees and Winners, 1986–2019" (PDF). Film Independent. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  33. ↑ "2006 Golden Reel Award Nominees & Recipients: Feature Films". Motion Picture Sound Editors. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Best Sound Editing – Musical Feature" (PDF). Motion Picture Sound Editors. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  35. ↑ "The Golden Reel Awards". Motion Picture Sound Editors. Archived from the original on February 12, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  36. ↑ "2006 MTV Movie Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Crash, Foxx, win NAACP Image awards". Today. February 27, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  38. ↑ Schneider, Michael (January 10, 2006). "Crash tops NAACP noms". Variety. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  39. ↑ "37th Annual Image Awards nominations". Variety. February 23, 2006. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Nashville Film Festival Award Winners". Nashville Film Festival. April 21, 2005. Archived from the original on April 26, 2005. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Hustle and Folks Kick Off 2005 Nashville Film Festival Tonight". IndieWire. April 14, 2005. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Awards for 2005". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  43. ↑ Mohr, Ian (December 12, 2005). "NBR in 'Good' mood". Variety. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  44. ↑ Corliss, Richard (December 12, 2005). "Pushing the Envelope, Please". Time. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  45. ↑ Fauth, Jurgen; Dermansky, Marcy. "The New York Film Critics Online Awards 2005". Worldfilm Guide. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  46. ↑ Douglas, Edward (December 11, 2005). "2005 NYFCO Film Awards". New York Film Critics Online. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  47. ↑ "2005 Awards (9th Annual)". Online Film Critics Society. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Online Film Critics Society Awards – 2005". Alternative Film Guide. January 16, 2005. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Nominees and Winners: 10th Annual Satellite Awards". International Press Academy. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  50. ↑ "Screen Actors Guild Honors Outstanding Film and Television Performances in 13 Categories at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Nominations Announced for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  52. ↑ "2005 Sundance Film Festival". Sundance Institute. Archived from the original on May 6, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  53. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (January 30, 2005). "Sundance paints Blue". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  54. ↑ "The Teen Choice Awards 2005: Nominees & Winners". Fox. Archived from the original on January 8, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  55. ↑ "2006 Teen Choice Awards – Nominated People". Fox Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on November 6, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  56. ↑ "Local producer accepts for Hoffman: Brokeback Mountain, Capote nab awards". The Province. February 8, 2006.
  57. ↑ Spaner, David (January 19, 2006). "Film Critics Circle makes different choices in nominees: Canadian films get as much emphasis". The Province.
  58. ↑ "Take 7: Film Critics' Poll 2005: Best Performance". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on June 17, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  59. ↑ "Movie critics everywhere weigh in with their picks for the best in 2005". Variety. January 8, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  60. ↑ "Washington DC Critics Name Munich Best Film, Spielberg Best Director". PR Newswire. December 13, 2005. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  61. ↑ "Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2005". Women Film Critics Circle. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
Wikinews has related news:
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.