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February 01, 2006
Great performance
Thanks to a five-star recommendation from Barry Steelman, Concord’s Movie Man, I saw Hustle & Flow last weekend and was pleased yesterday to see its star, Terrence Howard, nominated for an acting Oscar. Barry had predicted as much.
I stopped liking violence on the screen long enough ago that I’ve never seen Braveheart or Gladiator. And I’ll admit to a certain reluctance to rent Hustle & Flow as well as a rush of anxiety when its climax approached. As it turned out, I had to close my eyes for only a few moments.
If I hadn’t rented the film, I’d have missed a truly fine performance.
Howard plays a small-time Memphis pimp, drug dealer and wannabe rapper. Considering this occupational profile, it’s hard for me to believe what a sympathetic character his DJay was – how American, how resourceful, how striving, how responsible, how tender. Howard acts with his face, his voice, his body and his every movement.
I haven’t watched any of the other Oscar-nominated actors, but if any of them beats out Howard, I want to see the picture.
Posted by Mike Pride at February 1, 2006 05:02 PM