Hustle & Flow

A music film set in Memphis. DJay works the street and takes money from women. He is in his thirties and realises his life is going nowhere. He mutters lines to himself in his car. One day he runs into Key, whom he was at school with. Key records sound at a church. DJay makes him a proposal: let us put a demo together. The house is turned into a studio. Egg boxes go up for soundproofing, a cheap keyboard is bought and recording starts. One of the women in the house sings the hook. The aim is to get a single cassette to a famous rapper who is coming to town. What the film is interested in is not success but a person looking for a new definition of himself. DJay does not give up what he does, and the narrative does not absolve him. The recording scenes are the best thing in it; the song is built from nothing, piece by piece. Terrence Howard plays DJay and was Oscar-nominated. Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning and Taraji P. Henson are in the cast. Craig Brewer directed. The film's song won the Oscar for best original song. A strong example for anyone who likes music films and character drama. Before you watch, know this: the character's work and his treatment of women are uncomfortable and the film does not soften it.