Life is hard for a pimp, who knew? And prostitutes have it rough too. So is there hope for a better life? Craig Brewer’s Sundance Festival favorite Hustle & Flow comes to HD-DVD.

Synopsis

Hustle & Flow is the story of a pimp named DJay (an inspired Terrence Howard) who is looking to break into the music business to escape his difficult life. While this may sound an awful lot like Eminem’s 8 Mile, this film easily stands on its own. Upon hearing that local rapper turned mega…tar Skinny Black (Ludacris) is coming into town. DJay convinces an old friend to help him produce a demo tape to pass on. What really sets this film apart from other similar films is the conviction of the characters and their belief in a dream. Rather than coming off cheesy and overtly inspirational, the story is dark and gritty tale of street life with a very small light at the end of the tunnel.

Personally, I know nothing of street life. Sure, I’ve heard enough rap music and seen enough films to have an outsider’s point of view on the subject, but I often can’t relate to the subject matter myself. My wife has probably been even further away from that lifestyle than me, yet we both found Hustle & Flow to be a phenomenal work. Filmed like an exploitation flick, we were drawn into the setting and the characters lives in a much unexpected way. So much so, in fact, after the film, as silly as it sounds, we felt like buying an air-conditioner and leaving it for the local hookers. Really, this is a film anyone with an open mind should see. I think too many people may think this isn’t a movie for them, due to the subject, but they are the ones who probably should take the time to sit and watch. It’s not life changing, but its good stuff. Don’t turn up your nose just because of the setting.

Video

This is a tough call. I think the video presentation is excellent via its 1080p/VC-1 encode, but others have and will disagree. The thing is, the picture is grainy for sure and the picture is flat. The print is scratched and poor. Honestly, it looks like crap. That being said, I think it was the full intend of Brewer to give the film such a look and I think transfer holds up well to that intent. Because of this, it may be a hard call to justify whether or not a high-def purchase is warranted over an SD upconvert. To me, viewing on a 106” screen it is, because I get to avoid the plaguing artifacts and macroblocking generally evident with SD.

Audio

While a TrueHD track would have been nice, the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 track is amazing. The bass is fantastic and the music is crystal clear. Dialog comes through nicely although it did seem to get lost a bit. Whether you enjoy hip-hop or not, you’ll be impressed with the track.

Special Features

The one feature to check out is Brewer’s commentary track. He really delves deep into the film and adds a lot of personal touches which enhance the already fine viewing experience. Also included are: Behind the Hustle which features behind the scenes footage and interviews.By Any Means Necessary which details the struggles of getting the film made.Creating the Crunk details the music of the film. Two extended scenes are included along with a few other rehearsals and interviews.

Final Thoughts

Hustle & Flow is a movie keeps me watching movies. Gems like this don’t come around often enough. The HD presentation is decent, but not top tier. Even if you aren’t generally a fan of this type of film, do yourself a favor and give it a rent.

Special Features List

• Behind the Hustle
• Director’s Commentary
• By Any Means Necessary
• Creating Crunk
• Memphis Hometown Premier
• Extended Scenes
• Ludacris and Terrence Howard
• Promotional Spots