Plot: What’s it about?
DJay (Terrence Howard) knows there has to be more to life than he has now, which is close to nothing. He tries to support a pregnant woman named Shug (Taraji P. Henson), while pimping out his girl Nola (Taryn Manning), but his hustles don’t make enough to have a real life. He does what he has to do in order to survive, but in mind, he knows there is more and his dream is to work in the music business. After he runs into his old friend Key (Anthony Anderson), they start a home recording studio at DJay’s place and try to make some music. Key helps DJay translate his life issues into rap lyrics, while Shug sings backup, and they bring in a beat expert in Shelby (D.J. Qualls). Can DJay break out his current lifestyle and get his passionate music to the public, or is this just a temporary escape from his ghetto lifestyle?
Hustle & Flow was one of 2005’s most “critically-acclaimed” films and with good reason – it’s a well-made film that tackles a lot of tough issues. It was a breakout role for Terrance Howard that led him to be cast in Iron Man (though he was later replaced by Don Cheadle and was reportedly not too happy about it). Written and Directed by Craig Brewer, having been turned down by all the studios, Director John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood) stepped in and helped raise money to get the film made. The film took home honors at the Sundance Film Festival which led Paramount and MTV to pay $9 million for the rights to distribute it. This clearly parallels some of the events depicted within the film and it’s part of what makes the movie so good.
Video: How does it look?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this film, but this new Paramount Presents version does off not one, but two re-mastered versions (one in a 4K and the other a Blu-ray). Simply put, there’s a night and day difference between either one of these discs and the ancient DVD that came out after the film’s release. This isn’t the kind of movie that will glisten with immaculate detail, but it does reflect the film’s intended visual design. The image is gritty, so don’t expect clean or slick visuals, with a lot more grain than we’re used to. The grain does soften the visuals of course, but as this was the intent of the filmmakers, we can’t fault the transfer. I still found detail to be acceptable, just not as deep and intricate as we tend to want from high definition. I found contrast to be solid throughout, with only a few instances where blacks were a touch too dark. It’s a major improvement, visually-speaking.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby TrueHD option is good, with some pretty powerful scenes that showcase some of the uncompressed mix. I’d like to think studios could raise the bar on the high definition releases, but sometimes, we’re stuck with the leftovers. As I said, the track is good though and the main element is the musical soundtrack. The music sounds alive and powerful here, thanks to aggressive surround use that really drives home the directional presence and deep bass. The other elements sound fine also, including clear vocals, but the music is what remains memorable.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The legacy features are included, but as is the case with most Paramount Presents releases, we do get a new “Filmmaker Focus” feature which is always a nice touch.
- Filmmaker Focus: Director Craig Brewer on Hustle & Flow – It’s nice when we get a new 30 minute interview with the Director. Craig Brewer is very candid about this film, its history, his collaboration with John Singleton, the critical praise/acclaim and everything in between. It’s a great listen.
- Behind the Hustle – A nearly 30 minute “Making of…” feature that covers all the various aspects of the film. We’ve seen all of this before, you know what to expect.
- By Any Means Necessary – This essentially documents some of the trials and tribulations that Brewer went through to get the film made.
- Creatin’ Crunk – If music is your thing (and I have to assume it is if you like this film), we get a crash course on what it took for this film’s aural component.
- Memphis Hometown Premiere – Ever been to Memphis? You’re not missing much unless you want to see trained ducks at The Peabody. At any rate, we get some footage of the stars arriving for the Memphis premiere.
- Paula Jai Parker Audition – If at first you don’t succeed, dress in a skimpy outfit. She got the role. Success.
- Ludacris and Terrence Howard Rehearsal – Pretty much that. All the Terrance and Ludacris you can handle in two and a half minutes.
- Scene Extensions – It’s hard to call these “alternate” or “deleted” rather it’s two scenes from the film with some extra dialogue as read at a reading.
- Promotional Spots – Some marketing materials.
- Skinny Black – A look at the character as portrayed by Ludacris.
- Theatrical Trailers
The Bottom Line
Hustle & Flow won’t be for everyone, but if you give it a chance it’s clear to see why it was so widely hailed. It’s a movie that, quite frankly, I’d forgotten about. I’m glad Paramount didn’t as their new version sports a glorious new transfer, adds a new feature and ultimately makes the previous Blu-ray a moot point.
