Hustle and Flow
for sex and drug content, pervasive language and some violence.
Reviewed by: Joseph Martinez
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Very Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Adults |
| Genre: | Music Drama |
| Length: | 1 hr. 54 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2005 |
| USA Release: |
July 22, 2005 (wide) |
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| Featuring | Terrence Dashon Howard, DJ Qualls, Ludacris, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning |
| Director |
Craig Brewer |
| Producer | Craig Brewer, John Singleton, Stephanie Allain |
| Distributor |
Everybody gotta have a dream.
“You know it’s hard out here for a pimp, trying to get the money for the rent,” and so begins the chorus, or “hook” to the theme song for “Hustle and Flow”. This film stars Terrance Howard in the main role of DJay. DJay is a pimp/drug dealer who dreams of a greater life. Within the first 12 seconds of the film, the harsh language starts and does not let up. What else could one expect from a movie about a pimp trying to get into the rap music business? Howard’s acting is mesmerizing; you love him, loathe him and somehow relate to him all at the same time. He is the epitome of someone “stuck” in their life with no way out but to dream. This film is set in the ghetto of Memphis, in the lives of pimps and prostitutes, a world that most of us are fortunately not a part of.
What is interesting, yet a given, is that all the characters find shame and/or emptiness in their current status. They are searching for fulfillment, somehow thinking that they can find it in fame and fortune. Nola, one of DJay’s latest recruits seems to have a desire for any purpose at one point crying out, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Aside from the Lord’s name being taken in vain several times, there were other elements that would disturb any person of faith. DJay crosses paths with one of his old high school friends, Clyde—known as “Key” played by Anthony Anderson, in his finest performance. Clyde attends a local church and is faithful to his wife. He seems to be the only character that has some kind of stability. Clyde takes DJay and Nola to his church, as a woman is singing “Jesus give me a new name.” DJay cries as he listens to the song. The theme of the song touches the aspects of salvation: getting a new name, a clean slate, and a chance to start over. Where the disturbing factor lies is that his “church friends,” help him with the foul music, and smoke pot with him after their first recording session. They have no problem with the content of his music; rather their desire is to help him get a song on the radio. There is no attempt to help him find his greater purpose in life. Like the world, their focus is on the temporal—not the eternal. The fact that they are lukewarm church people is perhaps more disturbing to me than the lifestyle of pimps and prostitutes.
As the rest of the film unfolds, we see more of a comic spin and a glorification of a sinful lifestyle, yet somehow, you know if given the same circumstances, ignorance and lack of a godly restraint would lead us all to the same conclusions. Because of the language, content and visual elements, I urge fellow believers NOT to see this film (I do not know how many times I asked myself, why am I here?) and would be simply horrified if anyone took a child or a teenager to see this film.
Yet at the same time, I would be dishonest if I did not state that this is a very entertaining, well crafted, and well-acted film. As I stated before, this film brings the viewer into a different world, a different way of thinking; a dark and sad way of thinking. A life without a relationship with Jesus Christ is exactly that, whether it’s a pimp or a Wall Street Lawyer, there is no satisfaction in riches or Earthly glory. No matter how successful or wealthy one gets, without Christ there is always going to be a feeling of dissatisfaction and emptiness. This movie displays that, whether it meant to or not, and that is it’s only redeeming quality.
While people may not take time to understand the life struggles of others, Jesus does. Let us remember that to the character in the story, going from pimp to rap star was a huge step up the ladder. All of a sudden this aging and struggling pimp saw an opportunity to get out of the lifestyle where he had been stuck and frustrated as a human being. Never did he even seem remotely interested in engaging in sex.
At the beginning of the movie he was morally and financially bankrupt, However, at the end, we could see him experiencing a glimpse of love for the first time. At the beginning of the movie he was morally, and financially, bankrupt. But just with this modicum of success as a rapper, he suddenly valued his work. This gave him the courage to stand up and earn money through his own efforts. He achieved a major goal, from where he began.
This movie took us to the depths of his despair and brought hope to our hearts. This was an important movie. Seeing and hearing Ms. Bynum for the first time, led me to find out who she is. She is an inspired and gifted singer of gospel and classical music. As a result of seeing the movie and meeting her, I am now her agent and publicist…
Offensive / 5
The character Clyde is judged for participating in “foul music” and smoking weed when he should have apparantly preaching Jesus instead. However, considering that statistics would say that Christian lifestyles aren’t really that different than non-christians in most moral areas, I find this portrayal to be pretty acurate. I would even argue that Clyde does show Jesus to DJay. Clyde provides DJay with what will become a way out of his lifestyle through creativity. Instead of expecting DJay to be something he’s not he helps him right where he is: making rap music. He’s not afraid to be involved with someone that most people wouldn’t even talk to. He is able to reach DJay with his kindness because he is right out there with him, and although he is flawed, his positive deeds far outweigh his negative ones.
He says, “There are two types of people, those that talk the talk and those that walk the walk, the people that walk the walk sometimes talk the talk but most of the time they don’t talk at all because they’re walkin’ Don’t be the kind of Christian that is so busy talking that they don’t walk. There are many positive elements in this film have the power to motivave people to do great things with their talent. If you can’t see past a few bad words and mature content don’t see this film because you will miss an important message that in my opinion has had a positive influence…
Average / 5
Excellent! / 5
It was very obvious that none of these people were proud of their lives; they all seemed broken down and damaged. We don’t know what led them to this life—usually not something good and wholesome. I want to write about some scenes that really moved me:
1. Anthony Anderson’s wife is a Christian, and she feels the conviction of judging these people. She visits them and brings a cake. We see her heart change when she makes the decision to interact with them.
2. When Djay is in the record store, making a deal with someone in the business, he “pimps” his white prostitute. It is so obvious how hurt she is in this scene, that she has become part of something so much better than her life as a hooker, but Djay just throws her back in the gutter for his own gain.
3. The scene when Djay meets Ludicris. You think that Ludicris is recognizing Djay, but it’s someone standing behind him. We feel the incredible humiliation that he’s suffering in this scene. When he sees that Ludicris has thrown his demo tape in the toilet… it’s the ultimate insult to him, and his explosion of anger really symbolizes how unbelievably depraved he is, due to all of the wrong choices he has made in his life.
4. The ending, in the jail, when the jail worker wants Djay to check out his music. This showed me that even when he is in prison, Djay still is an artist.
So…, as a Christian, I see this move as a piece of work that shows me that I have no right to judge these people. I grew up in a loving family, was comfortable financially and always had great opportunities to succeed in life. I became a Christian as an adult. I realize that we know people who are wealthy and “nice” who are on their way to hell, but people like Djay and his family of hookers are sinners, just like me. Jesus mixed it up with everyone, and we need to show his love, because we are all sinners in need of a savior.
I love film very much and realize that everyone has a different threshhold for violence, language, sex, etc. … as I said in the beginning, I was totally prejudiced toward this film, and, after seeing it, I think it is a masterpiece and can lead to great discussions… but, as always, it’s not for everyone.
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
I would also like to clarify the name of the Negro Spiritual, “Changed Mah Name” was a song given to me by the Lord to sing in this movie and I would also like to say that although the movie had no redeeming qualities as we see it, there were many people whose lives where touched and soothed by the rendition of the Negro Spiritual. I am not taking any of the glory that so belongs to our God for it was He who gave me the opportunity to perform it and it was His Holy Spirit that gave the song power. You may have not felt His prescence in that particular scene but many people of the world did. It sort of reminds me of what Christ said, He came to heal the sick not the ones who are not in need of a physician.
I am not excusing the behavior or content of the movie, but I must say God works in many mysterious ways that we won’t ever understand.
Very Offensive/3½
Offensive / 4
Offensive/4
Very Offensive/3
Extremely Offensive / 3
- Rap music talks all about sinning (I call this anti-preaching).
- This movie shows women as objects.
- A lot of drug-dealing (or “hustling”)…
- A lot of drug use…
- Murder.
- Sex.
- Profanity.
- Ludacris (a “popular” rapper turned actor who will draw in a younger crowd).
- Whatever “flow” is (I never found out, but if I did, I’m sure that I would be offended).
Why you should see this movie:
- See sinners get their punishment.
- The preacher in the movie shows how you can be street and one of Jesus’s Elite.
If you want to see a feel-good movie this is not it. If you want a case-study of sin in the real world, this is a good start.
Extremely Offensive/1
Average / 4
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
My Ratings: Better than Average/5