Rating: 
Summary: The Game
Review: The Hughes Brothers (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents) borrow a page
from The Maysles Brothers (Gimme Shelter) for this frank look at the
life of the American pimp. There's no narrator telling us what to
think about these guys -- for better or for worse, they speak for
themselves. Most are more articulate and intelligent than you might
expect, but a few say some pretty disturbing things, like the
gentleman who insists that if he didn't beat his women, they wouldn't
think he cared. Of course, not one of these men actually uses the
word "women". They're all hos or b****es with the exception
of the "legitimate" (Caucasian) pimp who runs the Moonlight
Bunnyranch and refers to his employees as girls. Of the two women
interviewed, one uses the word ho just as often as any of the pimps,
so it seems it's just accepted terminology if you're part of "The
Game". In any case, this is an entertaining documentary with
a great soundtrack and some well chosen film clips from a variety of
blaxploitation classics (The Mack, et al). Because the Hughes
Brothers never tell us what they think about these guys, it's hard to
know for sure. I can only imagine that they find them as intriguing
yet repellent as I do (and a lot more glamorous than I ever could).
I've gained no new respect for pimps having seen this film, but I did
come away with a better understanding as to why some men choose this
line of work and what their lives are like. Suffice it to say that by
the end of this film, almost every one of these guys has hustled
himself right on out of The Game. As Big Daddy Kane would say,
"Pimpin' ain't easy".
Rating: 
Summary: All American "PIMP"
Review: I loved Pimps up Ho's Down. American Pimp is in direct competition with the Brent Owens' HBO directed documentary. American Pimp has the edge for two reasons. The Hughes brothers examined the gamut of pimpology from it's inception, explaining the nature of the game and it's complex nuances. Also, there is a wide range of pimps described in this movie. We are introduced to "Fillmore Slim" a seventy-plus mack, who's had more than 9,000 hookers during his career as a pimp. Slim, described affectionatly by Hollywood ex-pimp, Rosebud as having his turn-out at age fifteen, giving Slim more than 60 years invested in the game. Superstar pimp, "Bishop Magic Don Juan" re-explains the pimp ho game he so eloquently described in "Pimps UP". We are even shown a legitmate pimp, who runs the bunny farm/ranch out in the Nevada desert. The legitmate pimp does not knock the street pimps, he gives them credit for keeping the game strong.To the Hughes Bros. credit, they show the underside of pimping when a New Orleans pimp is arrested for various crimes. The pimp doesn't cower against the system, he simply holds his head high and saves the regrets. Danny Boy, explains the origin of "macking" and how the modern era of pimping evolved. He explains how during the reconstruction era, "post civil-war" the pimps were undiscovered until they began to compile large sums of money, due to the "pimping". Rosebud, explains how Hollywood distorts the image of the pimp, creating a clownish, cowardly figure. Kenny Red puts the game down in D.C. Charm, explains how the track works in Honolulu...These are real dudes, doing some real stuff!!Sex sells and it's a billion dollar bizness....I don't admire pimps, but I think they lead an intruiging life style filled with amusing stories......Curious to know if the Hughes Bros. will stick to documentaries? Or continue to make full length feature films.... Great Job? Only drawback on the DVD is the terrible interview given, where they react extremely immature....
Rating: 
Summary: Gets the job done
Review: This documentary is just that. A documentary, and it is very enlightening movie. I recommend that you watch the interview of the Hughes brothers before and after viewing the film. And like they say, you really have to watch the film twice to fully appreciate the messages, and allow a lot of the statements to really sink in. Remove all preconceptions about what you think this film is before you press the play button.
Rating:
Summary: HMM...
Review: Earlier this year,I happened to catch a HBO documentary on the lives of prostitutes in the Bronx area of Hunts' Point and was blown away.It was a rare showcase of the pysche of a hooker.
Most of the time,those type of documentaries are filmed from the point of view of the pimp not the prostitutes.
Hence,this documentary from one of my favorite directors,Allen
& Albert Hughes entitled "American Pimp". "American Pimp" is both fasanating and disturbing.Showcasing years worth of famous pimps.From the well-known Bishop Don Magic Juan(glamourized by rappers such as Ice-T,Snoop Dogg,
Jay-Z,and Ludacris) and Too $hort to lesser knowns such as Charm and Rosebudd.
I found Bishop Don Magic Juan the most intresting pimp because
he seemed proud of his success.He even compares his wealth(courtsey of pimping) as "The American Dream".Which is a VERY intresting view.I also found it intresting when his mother and sister were featured and they were proud of his success as well. Juan-like the other pimps featured-has a strange mix of charm,wit,self-assureness of dubious effects.You know that these men aren't to be exactly idolized yet they're charming and somewhat likeable.
Also noteworthy was the montage of the mainstream media's images of pimps.A lot of which borders on the offensive.
Blaxplotation films such as "Willie Dynamite","Superfly",and
"The Mack" glorified pimping.And rap artists have always adopted pimp tatics in their music and/or image to be cool.
Again,this is eyebrow raising stuff. The Hughes Brothers pulled off this documentary well,I must say.
They didn't rely on tired sterotypes or cartoonish protrayals.
Altough I would've liked to have seen more commentary from the female/prostitute's prespective,"American Pimp" is a very intresting documentary that can't be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Pimpin Aint Easy, but Somebody's Gotta Do It!!
Review: American Pimp is as good as I thought it would be, maybe better. I found it really educational(no joke), and afterwards, I felt like I learned more from than that than I ever had in school!! So, this movie is a masterpiece-- My favorite pimp is probably Bishop Don Magic Juan. His crazy clothes are tiight. The film basically just describes the 'game', how they get their hos,how long they've been in the 'game', what it takes, and when they started pimpin'. Fillmore Slim is one OLD pimp, but he's a MASTER. I also thought it was hilarious-- Let's just say that I'm a little younger than most of the movie's audience. So, if you're into pimpin, I'd reccommend this..... AINT NO BIZNAZZ LIKE HO BIZNAZZ!
Rating:
Summary: "The pimp game is a lonely one."
Review: There is a lot to offend in the documentary "American Pimp." As the title suggests, pimps are the subjects of this documentary. Before watching this film, ask yourself if you want to watch pimps talking about how they find and train girls. Pimps are not exactly exalted in society (although apparently there is a Pimp of the Year contest), and most people probably will find this film distasteful to some degree or another. Pimps with names such as Bishop Don Juan Magic, C-Note, Charm, Payroll, Rosebudd, and Sir Captain hold interviews explaining pimping. The film is broken down into sections which including the definition of a pimp, how they got into the business, the origins of the pimp, pimp style, rules of the game and 'knocking' (when a pimp lures a girl away from a rival pimp), etc. The documentary also includes clips from many pimp films. It seems that the trend in documentaries is to move away from the heavy-handed directorial style of the past, and to present interviews that loosely flow, so that the film acts as a mirror of the documentary topic. This is the method followed by the Hughes Brothers in "American Pimp." Unfortunately, critics of the film seem to interpret the documentary's style as glorification of pimps. This is simply not so. The directors placed a mirror is front of the pimps, and stuck a microphone in front of their mouths, and then the actions and the words of the pimps were recorded. This is not glorification--this is documentation. It is for the viewer to make moral judgments on what they see and hear. Pimps are asked whether or not they consider giving their girls (and I have to use the word 'girls' here, but that is not the word used in the documentary) a percentage of the money they make. The pimps uniformly found the idea so ludicrous that some actually laughed. Also pimps declared that some girls ended up in 'the crazy house' as if this is a bizarre phenomenon for which there was no logical explanation. Pimps also remembered the girls who were murdered--one was commemorated by a very large diamond necklace, but at no point did a pimp say that he quit the business because of this or that girl's death. Life goes on apparently... I wish the documentary had included some additional interviews with the girls. Some of the most upsetting footage (for me) showed one girl being yanked out of a phone booth and ordered back to work. Indeed the pimps appear at their most unpleasant when they describe how they get girls and the treatment they apparently think the girls need. Some of the girls spoke in the presence of their pimp, and two were interviewed alone. Some data would have been interesting too. The DVD includes an interview with the Hughes brothers, and in the interview they explain their interest in the topic. There were spots in the documentary in which various pimps felt compelled, apparently, to pass on handy tips, and this did give the impression of training--or Pimpology 101 for the entrepreneur, but overall, the documentary was a chilling reflection of the sort of lives these girls lead. "American Pimp" is the biggest argument for the legalization of prostitution I've seen in years--displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: THIS IS NOTHING BUT DOO DOO
Review: In the 1800's, the Chinese put their women in the brothels to help make it in America. The Chinese men or the "pimps" called
themselves the TONG. Well the Chinese here in America ain't doing
that anymore, so why are Black people STILL pimping and "ho-ing"?
I DO NOT OWN THIS PIECE OF DOO DOO! I RENTED IT!! In this age of enlightenment there is just no more reason or excuse for the "game". This is just another film about punked-out Black males making excuses for their incorect behaviour. PUNKED OUT;the
system is wrong so they take it out on our daughters, sisters and
mothers, PUNKED OUT. I hope that Blacks who watch this DVD will
teach their daughters to be strong as to not fall into no pimp
trap. Teach your sons to be REAL MEN. An example being JUDGE JOE
BROWN. Don't buy this DVD, rent it! Have a bullet with the pimps
name on it!
Rating:
Summary: A Glorification of Slavery, Basically
Review: Talk about your double standards. The same people who get outraged at the enslavement of females in Africa or Eastern Europe think it's hip to extol the style of these low life pimps in the US. Pure hypocrisy These are not figures to be emulated or held up as role models for young males of whatever race. I was pretty [upset] at these guy's attitudes towards women, to say the least. I would hope that W.E.B. Dubois, Malcolm X, Frederick Douglas, Booker T Washington, Martin Luther King, etc., would serve as standards. Not these [folks]. ...
Rating:
Summary: American PIMPIN!
Review: The underworld of the PIMP and prostitute is exposed in this interesting tale of the seedy side of sex. This movie is actually a very entertaining as well as educational piece of insight to the world of Pimping as viewed by the men who were once Pimps. "The Game", as Pimping is often called, is not for the faint or weak at heart. It is often a cruel and lonely world. The one interesting fact is despite all the money that the Pimp may make during his career, they are often broke by the time they "retire", because there is no retirement plan in Pimping. A must see for anyone interested into the life of a Pimp. The Hughes Brothers did a masterful job in directing this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Pimps Point of View
Review: I love this movie. I really do believe it accurately depicts the mind set of Pimps. The majority of these pimps are slick talking, outrageously dressed men who use vunerable women to enrich themselves. Many reviews find this movie repulsive and say that it glorifies the pimp. But if you really listen to what these Pimps are saying such as the Ho's get zero percent of the money they earn, some are retarded or emotionally unstable, and that the Pimps have absolutely no regard for these women, while they convince the women that they love them.
A must see for those that are interested in the dark side of human sexuality.
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