Hustle & Flow (2005) 116 Minutes

Our 85th Official Selection, our 11th Indoor Pick, and with luck, our final night

inside until the elements force our hand.

Bourbon Cookie joined the assembled Membership (Tooda, Nubs, Jaja, and

Slim) in toasting to the great hope that our next Pick will be enjoyed under the

stars.

‘Hustle & Flow’ marks a current trend in Nubs Selections. This is the second

film in a row he has presented which challenges the By-Laws, Rule 6,

Section C - which suggests that a Selection must have stood “some test of

time.” This Pick was released in July of 2005, less than two months before

Movienight first convened to watch ‘The Big Lebowski’ upon the Stucco. His last pick, ‘Children of Men,’ went into wide release the first week of January 2007 - the same week Slim brought his first Pick, ‘Sorcerer’ to the Crew. What makes any of this of interest is that the By-Law in question points to Nubby’s ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ as the exception that proves the rule. The weekly wrap up of that Pick, alludes to the title of this current Pick in an eerie example of Movienight’s self-reflexive history.

History lessons aside, ‘Hustle & Flow’ worked its magic on our relatively small group (Buffy was singing at the Dresden, and 2 out of 3 of our Bens were unable to attend). The Selection marks the debut of the magnificent Terrence Howard, as well as Taryn Manning, Isaac Hayes, Anthony Anderson, Ludacris, and Taraji P. Henson. It is also the debut of writer/director Craig Brewer.

It seems that the Great Indoors are at last behind us, as Nubs has offered his Back Yard to the Crew. Next Wednesday, Tooda will break in another Back Yard just two weeks after pinch hitting for Netti with ‘Big Trouble in Little China.’ Hopefully Tooda’s good luck breaking in our very first Back Yard will continue with this new venue, as he aims to reverse the curse of Nubby - who closed down Movienight’s last two Back Yards with his debuts.

“This shit right here gotta work. It gotta work, man, ‘cause it ain’t over for me.”

Written and Directed by: Craig Brewer

BBD Comments:

This is one hell of a movie.

Nubs, though pushing the boundaries of our By-Laws once again, made a pitch-perfect Selection for our final night sequestered in my Crib. The cramped quarters suffered by our protagonists reflect the smoky prison we have endured to keep our own dream alive.

The most remarkable facet of this film for me is that D Jay literally throws a mother and child to the curb, and due to the depth of Terrence Howard’s work, we don’t stop rooting for this pimp with a dream. For all the darkness of this story, ‘Hustle & Flow’ is inexplicably uplifting. It was a great pleasure watching this film again, knowing so many in the Crew had yet to see it before.

Thank you Nubs for once again marking time for us so well. I look forward to being under the stars next week, but felt ‘Hustle’ was the perfect tribute to all the weeks we have been forced to share indoors.

Onwards.

Brandon Comments:

After my introductory viewing of ‘Hustle & Flow’ at MovieNight, I have to say that the film’s star, Terrence Howard, now ranks near the very top of my list of the greatest living actors in Hollywood today – just inches below Nick Nolte, who is tops in my book.

Even though this is the 2nd pick by Nubs that turns a blind eye on “time-established classics,” it pulls through with flying colors. ‘Children of Men’ and ‘Hustle & Flow’ were both released in the past two years, but, in my opinion, they are both instant classic films. I am a big advocate of opening up our guidelines to allow more recent films to be allowed to be screened at MovieNight, and Nubs is surely at the forefront of this crusade. When a film is good, there should be no limitations put upon it. MovieNight is about experiencing great films within a great crowd of people…with great varieties of vices to choose from. Plus, we’ve already shown 85% of the greatest films ever made, so our options are getting tighter.

Regarding this film, I have never felt so much disgust toward a film’s hero while at the same time felt such compassion for his success. Terrence Howard has set the bar extremely high for all future rise-to-fame-in-music films. Nola, his upcoming baby’s momma, is adorable here, and DJ Qualls and Anthony Anderson, who play his band members, add that touch of comedy that makes this Selection a true success. It will be difficult to view ‘8 Mile’ again after seeing the apex of this genre with ‘Hustle & Flow.’

Great job, Nubs. I know there may be some argument over this statement due to the “time-established classic” law, but I believe you have yourself a Slam Dunk on your hands.

SELECTOR Comments:

When I thought of capturing the Crew’s current struggle to get out of the cramped, smoky, hot, tense prison indoors (no offense, Tooda) I thought of this movie or ‘Stir Crazy’ starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. After viewing ‘Stir Crazy’ again, I realized I could either challenge By-Law 6C again or force the Crew to sit through another ‘The Frisco Kid.’ Why choose a movie that doesn’t stand the test of time but is old when the perfect pick is right there and has a bumpin’ soundtrack that can only be blasted indoors?

Besides rules are meant to be broken…by me only. The only rule that really matters is that the Pick must be a Slam Dunk. Just like in the NBA, when you pull off a sick 360 facial no one calls you for the extra steps. Those rules such as “no chick flick” and “previously viewed” and “must have nudity” (that’s not one? should be) anyway those are there to ensure a Slam Dunk. As far as I could tell, apt #304 was bumpin’ and our spirits felt invigorated so the Pick seemed to be the right one. I also had to pick this now before MovienightNorth added it to their thuggish/ruggish canon.

As far as the movie, it’s clearly the best MTV Production to date and Three 6 Mafia really studied up for their Academy Award winning “Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” For real though, Terrence Howard did deserve the award over the highly talented Philip Seymour Hoffman and Leaf Phoenix. His performance is not only genuine, captivating, honest, and carries the movie-but he couldn’t study old footage to create it. Just like us, ‘Hustle & Flow’ is both hard like a pimp’s grip on your neck and soft like the sweet sweaty kiss from that same pimp before he goes out to earn. You know it’s hard out here for some Movienighters. Doesn’t have the same ring.

Post it, Bitch! I mean, thank you, Mr. Davis. I also like seeing that picture you chose, “Whoop that trick! Get it!”

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