Movie Commentary: Hustle & Flow

Wow. Not that I would know anything about being black or a pimp and trying to hustle into the rap game, but Hustle & Flow was real. It delivers that dirty, grinding feel of poverty and struggling to make ends meet. It's hard out there for a pimp.

Terrance Howard does an awesome job playing DJay, a Memphis pimp whose mid-life crisis leads him to pursue a hustle into the rap game. DJay manages a trio of ladies who give him headaches, but also provide his income. Upon trading for a casio keyboard and a chance meeting with an old high school friend, Key (Anthony Anderson), who is now a sound engineer, DJay attempts to change his life and begin writing songs.

I was never a big fan of Howard, but he was really good. Anderson and DJ Qualls (as Shelby) solidly added to the mix, especially Anderson. DJay's ladies, Nola, Shug and Lexus all played key roles. Yes, Ludacris was in it, too, and he wasn't half-bad. I liked what happened to him at the end.

Overall, Hustle & Flow is one of the better serious movies I've seen recently (not as good as The Departed). It is well-acted, carries a interesting story and subplots and is just well done.