Memphis in the second light

Rating: 10/10 (23 August 2017)

Memphis is best known as the domain of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, etc. Jim Jarmusch's "Mystery Train" showed a decrepit Sun Studios in a dismal neighborhood, while the main part of the city appeared in the background. Craig Brewer's "Hustle & Flow" features a new kind of look at the city. The focus is DJay, a pimp who aspires to become a rapper.
Nothing about the story is cute or glamorized. The movie shows how most of the characters live a grim existence. It's well known that rap originated as the voice of the ghetto, and DJay's songs make no secret of his disillusionment with his life. Just like in "8 Mile", the no-punches-pulled songs are the only chance of a new beginning.
Terrence Howard had appeared in some movies before "Hustle & Flow", but this was truly his breakthrough performance. The rest of the cast also turn in fine performances - Taraji P. Henson's character is an intense one - but without a doubt, the theme song sums up the plot. After "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, host Jon Stewart proclaimed "I think it just got a lot easier for a pimp."
All in all, the movie is exactly what a movie should be. I can't believe that it took me until now to finally see it (I've recently been making an effort to watch a number of 2000s movies that I hadn't gotten a chance to see). Definitely see it.