Hustle & Flow MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 Content: -4

In a harsh portrayal of the inner-city life of Memphis, DJay (Terrence Dashon Howard) is the pimp of three prostitutes trapped in a hopeless culture. He hopes to find fame and fortune as a rapper with the help of Key (Anthony Anderson), a sound engineer at a local church. With a limited budget to record music, DJay relies on the expertise of Key and the pot-smoking Shelby (DJ Qualls). He funds the project with the help of his women who turn tricks for him. When the tape is finally recorded, DJay orchestrates a meeting with platinum-selling rapper Skinny Black (Ludacris), who returns to the old neighborhood for a visit. The bridge at the meeting is built with DJays bag of marijuana. After a rocky start, the two connect in a smoke-filled room as DJay anticipates the prospect of making it big. But the meeting takes a turn for the worse, and his hope crashes into tragedy.

Its hard to imagine a movie more hopeless and degrading than Hustle & Flow. Women are repeatedly referred to as b-tches and seen as bodies to be used by men. Key and his wife are portrayed as Christians through their church involvement and dinnertime prayers, but their involvement in a profanity-laced, pot-smoking music project reeks of hypocrisy. The song that DJay and his team hope to complete is about the trials of a pimp, as if he needs sympathy. When DJay meets with Skinny Black, the marijuana smoke fills the air as both men become stoned. When Skinny Black betrays DJay, violence is the result. A generation ago, a movie like this would have never made it to the big screen. Sadly, many today will be entertained by it as will their children, as evidenced by the eight- through ten-year-olds brought to the screening attended by this reviewer. Preview strongly advises you to avoid this tragic movie.

Preview Reviewer: Henry J. Rogers
Distributor: Paramount Pictures