Plot: What’s it about?
This documentary film takes an unflinching look at the world of pimps, from their own words to the myth of the position. We’ve all hear about or seen the stereotypes of pimps, with the outrageous clothes and low level of true intelligence, but how close is that mental image to the truth? If you believe this movie, then those stereotypes simply couldn’t be much more dead on. We see various “legends” within the field, as they give us some insight into the inner process of being a pimp. They discuss how to get bitches, manage bitches, and of course, get those bitches to hand over the cash. The pimps shown seem to have problems with the pimp stereotype of course, but in the end they more than reinforce that persona. These guys dress in loud threads, wear gaudy rings & medallions, and of course, seem to think their money has bought them class, which it obviously hasn’t. In between the interviews, we see some clips of how the media & regular folks view the pimp world, which offers a fresh perspective.
The Hughes Brothers have created one hilarious documentary, but I am unsure if that was the intended response. I assume so, but I am not 100% sure if that is how we’re supposed to react or not. This seems to contains the most outrageous pimps with the lowest common sense, which means they rattle off some hilarious pieces of dialogue. I have no ill will toward prostitutes or these pimps, but they come off as so stereotypical and ridiculous here, from start to finish. If entertainment was the goal, then they chose the correct batch of pimps to make folks laugh. The comedy comes in a good natured sense, as I don’t think the film was made to give these men negative light, but the pimps turn out to seem more like cartoonish buffoons that the smart businessmen they claim to be. So on that level, American Pimp is very entertaining and I was laughing in almost every sequence. If you’re a fan of the Hughes Brothers or perhaps you just want to see a humorous documentary on pimps, this release is more than worth a look.
Video: How does it look?
American Pimp is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a documentary feature so the image isn’t as sharp as usual, but it still looks very good & this transfer is more than acceptable. There is some grain evident in most sequences, but this intentional and as such, no real complaints on that issue. The colors and such are in fine form, as is the contrast and I found no real problems with this visual presentation. I also saw no compression flaws, a more than adequate overall transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, but aside from the musical soundtrack, there is little surround use to discuss. That isn’t a flaw with this audio track though, as this is a documentary and is fueled by dialogue and low impact sound effects. It all comes across very well and the vocals are crisp, never distorted or harsh in the least. The music sounds terrific as well and though it doesn’t come in often, it is smooth and immersive when it does emerge. This disc also includes a Spanish stereo surround track, English captions, and French & Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a very informative interview with the Hughes Brothers, in which they reveal their motivation and techniques during the production of this film. This is no fluff interview either, as it last well over twenty minutes and is loaded with information tidbits.
