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      American Pimp

      R Released Mar 13, 2000 1 hr. 26 min. Documentary List
      55% 22 Reviews Tomatometer 72% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score The Hughes brothers helm this documentary about the state of prostitution in urban sectors of the U.S., producing an ostentatious, profanity-laden celebration of the ghetto subculture of "pimping." This film combines images of fictional pimps from film and television with candid interviews with infamous real-life street hustlers -- from San Francisco's bluesman-turned-pimp, Clarence "Fillmore Slim" Sims, to Chicago's pimp-turned-minister, Don "Magic" Juan. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (140) audience reviews
      Audience Member Excelente documental acerca del oficio del "chulo" (o proxeneta, como prefieran). Los hermanos Hughes ("Menace II Society", "American Presidents") hacen pocas películas, pero todas dejan una marca. Esta no es la excepción. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member American Pimp (The Hughes Brothers, 1999) [originally posted 28Mar2001] It shouldn't surprise anyone that stereotypes are wrong, and that the truth is always far more complex than many would have us believe. Allen and Albert Hughes, disaffected with the red tape and mechanics of Hollywood after their first two fantastic films (Menace II Society and Dead Presidents), set out to make an independent documentary that shed a little more light on the pimp than the stereotypical evil man in a thousand-dollar suit injecting his stable of whores with heroin every few hours to keep them pliant. They do a credible job, for the most part. The Hughes Brothers themselves are never part of the film, except for a chuckle here or a sotto voce question there, preferring to let the pimps, and a prostitute here and there, tell the stories themselves. It becomes quickly obvious that both pimps and prostitutes are sharp, interesting characters. They belie some of the stereotypes, while reinforcing others. But most important, they come off as human. Ultimately, the film runs ten to fifteen minutes too long, but it's well-enough put together that the error is forgivable. A viewing of this might make the average American rethink his views on the sex industry in America today. *** Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting, but might glamorize pimping just a bit too much. I feel this could have delved deeper into the business and really gone to some dark and fascinating places, but it stays pretty surface and mainly focuses on interviews instead of letting us watch them in work. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member This shyt funny as hell :-D Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Top 3 takeaways: Rosebudd with 2 d's for a double dose of that pimpin. It ain't matrimony, it's mackaroni. It's OK to hit a woman if she beats up your mama, burns down your house, and kills your dog. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Great documentary directed by the Hughes brothers (Albert and Allen). This documentary show the science of pimping! It is so sad of the double standards when white society says black pimps are evil but white pimps are good! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (22) Critics Reviews
      Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety A disappointing docu debut drom the gifted Hughes brothers, a soft, uncritical exploration of pimps that ignores issues of race, misogyny and violence; helmers seem carried away by the "exotic" lifestyle of this morally dubious profession. Rated: C Apr 5, 2007 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 19, 2002 Full Review Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing American Pimp is for the most part a depressing, crashing bore, full of sanctimonious, money-obsessed predators with taste that would make Minnie Pearl cringe, selling a dirty business as a higher calling. Jan 30, 2020 Full Review David Luty Film Journal International There's a built-in staleness to American Pimp that the Hughes Brothers are never able to overcome. Dec 4, 2006 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Wild, real and raw. Rated: 4/5 Nov 2, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The Hughes brothers helm this documentary about the state of prostitution in urban sectors of the U.S., producing an ostentatious, profanity-laden celebration of the ghetto subculture of "pimping." This film combines images of fictional pimps from film and television with candid interviews with infamous real-life street hustlers -- from San Francisco's bluesman-turned-pimp, Clarence "Fillmore Slim" Sims, to Chicago's pimp-turned-minister, Don "Magic" Juan.
      Director
      Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
      Distributor
      Seventh Art Releasing, MGM Home Entertainment
      Production Co
      Underworld Entertainment
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Mar 13, 2000, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      May 4, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $274.2K
      Sound Mix
      Dolby, Surround