Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Hustle & Flow 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has released the 2005 film 'Hustle & Flow,' directed by Craig Brewer and starring Terrence Howard, Taraji Henson, Anthony Anderson, and Ludacris, to the UHD format as part of its prestigious 'Paramount Presents' collection. The two-disc set includes new 2160p/Dolby Vision video on the UHD disc and a new 1080p image sourced from the same master on the Blu-ray disc. Both discs include a new lossless soundtrack, too. A new extra is included as well. The film first released to Blu-ray in 2007 with troubled video and lossy audio. I do not own, nor did I review, that disc, so I cannot offer a direct comparative review, so this review will simply examine the discs on their own merits.

Hustle & Flow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This package includes two newly remastered presentations, both sourced from a new 4K remaster. First, a few words on the Blu-ray: the 1080p image is healthy and vigorous, holding to the film's critical grain structure with is gritty and dense but faithfully organic and true to the original filmmaker vision and film stock. There is no appearance of digital tinkering to lessen the healthy and frankly beautiful structure on display. Details are tack-sharp and viewers will soak in all of the rough urban details in various locales, intricate skin textures (including sweat, hair, and pores), and clothing lines and fabric specifics. The image boasts a healthy color palette, which is slightly faded and dull by design, but there is good pop to bold hues, plenty of vividness to whites, and solid black level depth. Skin tones are likewise healthy and organic. There are no obvious print flaws or encode defects to note.

The UHD is a clear amplification of all that the Blu-ray offers. The picture maintains the gritty, grainy appearance with an even more faithfully rich and dense grain structure and, again because it is sourced from the same master, without any feel for processing. Textural elements are routinely rich and elegant, and the UHD brings out the finest the film source has to offer. Clarity is exceptional within the natural film parameters, and viewers will note the natural complexity of faces, clothes, and locations. The UHD boosts visible intimacy and overall sharpness and clarity, not to a substantial level, but certainly enough to notice and to make the image the clear-cut superior of the two. The color palette is wonderful, again like the Blu-ray appearing slightly flat and faded by design but boasting exceptionally rich tones, including wonderfully dense and detailed blacks and more vivid whites. Skin tones look perfect as well, and like the Blu-ray there are no signs of print or encode trouble. This is a fabulous looking and faithfully filmic transfer from Paramount. Fans who have labored through the 2007 release for some time now will find this a very worthy upgrade on both formats.

Hustle & Flow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rather than remix for Dolby Atmos, Paramount has chosen to deliver Hustle & Flow to the UHD format, as well as to the newly remastered Blu-ray, with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation more than satisfies the film's sonic needs. Heavy bass beats are prodigiously deep and prominent. Musical stretch along the front, which includes some stage traversal, is wonderfully clear and well positioned. Surround engagement is extensive for both music and atmosphere. Even in the opening monologue inside the car, there is a very tangible sense of mild location detail that brings critical sonic life to the scene, including train whistles heard in the far distance. The track carries many of these same characteristics for the duration, offering listeners wonderfully clear, detailed, spacious, and immersive musical beats and first-class environmental clarity and nuance. Listeners will always feel fully engaged with every aspect of this track's lifeblood. Dialogue is, of course, well prioritized, centered, and clearly lifelike for the duration.

Hustle & Flow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This new release of Hustle & Flow includes all of the extras from the original 2007 Blu-ray while also adding a new retrospective with Director Craig Brewer. The new extra is marked as new and reviewed below. Coverage of the carryover content can be found by clicking here. This release is the 41st in the "Paramount Presents" line and includes the slipcover with fold-open poster artwork. A digital copy code is included with purchase.

• NEW! Filmmaker Focus: Director Craig Brewer on Hustle & Flow (1080p, 29:55): This lengthy and newly produced interview with the director covers Brewer's history of filmmaking, project origins, his collaboration with John Singleton, life on the set, key shots and scenes, sets and shooting locales, cast and performances, and much more. Brewer is clearly very passionate about not just his project but the culture around it as well as the entertainment landscape then and now.
• Behind the Hustle
• By Any Means Necessary
• Creatin' Crunk
• Memphis Hometown Premiere
• Paula Jai Parker Audition
• Ludacris and Terrence Howard Rehearsal
• Scene Extensions
• Promotional Spots
• Skinny Black
• Theatrical Trailer 1
• Theatrical Trailer 2

Hustle & Flow 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Paramount has released Hustle & Flow with a first-class new Blu-ray and UHD presentations, a rock-solid 5.1 lossless soundtrack, and plenty of extras, including a returning suite and a wonderful new director retrospective. Fans are going to find this a well worthy upgrade.