brianhavelka Reviews

Hustle & Flow (2005)

most fun I've ever had in a theatre

[10/10 · 23 July 2005]

I just saw this flick to a packet house in NYC and the entire audience, myself included was with every frame of this film. Every single beat hits exactly where it is supposed to. Every review I read talks about the music and the acting, but how about how genuinely funny this film is a way that few are?

They took the material seriously rather than letting it devolve into schmaltz or comedy. The direction is straight on, no BS, no showy shots. They take their time with each scene.

Good story, perfect characters well realized. Witty, crackling dialogue. You can't make this stuff up. And comparing this to 8 mile is like comparing dogshit to gold.

A deeply flawed protagonist who is able to reach into himself and transform himself through the power of art, larger themes involve the disillusion with fame, consumer culture.

This is everything a film is supposed to be. If it makes you feel good to knock this film, then you are a snob. If you think can make a better movie than this, then go ahead!

People who love movies love this film. This is what film is about.

Session 9 (2001)

Shot on video? Who cares?

[28 June 2003]

I don't know what the fuss is, this is a horrible film. I disbelieved every single frame. Ok, first of all, why does one remove asbestos from an abandoned building? Secondly, they propose to remove all the asbestos from this complex, with HUNDREDS of rooms, in ONE WEEK. With a five person crew. And David Caruso wants to fire half of them.

Ok, with one week to complete this overwhelming job, they: a) appear to be working in the same room for the entire film. b) take leisurely lunches. c) don't think to hire anybody else to help them. d) when one person leaves the job, they don't think to hire anybody to replace him. e) one guy's in the basement the whole time listening to old tapes.

The dialog is horrible. I wish I had taken notes so I could post them here and give someone a laugh without having to sit through the film. I do remember the word "mealticket" and the line "something doesn't feel right" were used.

All the exposition is through dialog. Somebody stole somebody else's girlfriend ,somebody hit their wife, somebody went to Miami.

There is all this drama about the asbestos removal business, some sort of garbage. David Caruso wants to fire everybody the whole film, thinks the other main character doesn't have what it takes to be in the asbestos removal business, etc.

Shot on video? Who gives a damn?

And the twist at the end? Big deal. It can't retroactively make the movie interesting when we find out that things aren't as they seemed.

As a friend of mine used to say, Oh, burr.

-B