The Poor & Hungry

The Poor and Hungry was Craig Brewer's first released feature film. It is not merely a great directorial debut - it is simply a great film on any standard. Rarely has any filmmaker been more able to capture Memphis in its mythic entirety. Before The Poor and Hungry, audiences looked to Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train as the definitive Memphis flick. But as much as I love that movie, I believe that Jarmusch (a transplant from Akron, Ohio, I might add) has been upstaged by Brewer's more masterful approach to the Memphis scene in which characters have more to talk about than Elvis and Sun Studios, yet hold onto that edge of Memphis funk. Watch out for Craig Brewer - I have a feeling we'll all be hearing more about him in the years to come.

This is an excellent movie.

Phenomenal screenplay, lovingly photographed, incredibly well acted and directed. I think it's an astonishing movie.

For a first-time, low budget, movie, it's a miracle. Miraculous that it could be executed so well, and miraculous in that the director stayed true to his story and his characters, rather than trying to go over the top in attracting attention and showcasing his brilliance.

It really captures in an honest way the duality of life.

It is amazingly straightforward, told without overacting, building characters whom we wind up caring about.

Craig Where Are you man.

I caught The poor and Hungry at the St Louis International film festival and was deeply impressed. It shows that whatever media you choose to tell your story, a good story with an excellent storyteller can place an audience anywhere and move them effectively. Which is what a movie should do. The fact he shot it on digital 8 and a boom mic with very little crew. Nice. Now two questions

What are you doing now?

Where can I buy the DVD?

The Poor and Hungry is an excellent film, especially if you live in or are familiar with Memphis. The ending is a little silly, but otherwise the movie is both funny and heartwrenching. It's also a incredibly insightful look at the unique culture of Memphis, touching on the city's poverty, race issues and seediness while at the same time showing the filmmaker's genuine love for a town like no other. For Memphians, it's a must-see; for everyone else, it's still worth the price of a ticket.

I came across this film on IFC one night, very late. I started watching and though I was really tired, I just couldn't pull myself away. I ended up thinking about it long after the final credits had rolled.

This is a fine film with very strong performances. Like many of the best independent films, you get a fresh story about people you don't know, played by people you don't know. No preconceived notions. You get to learn about their world. And through the strength of the story and the acting, you begin to care about it.

Lyndsay Roberts gives an exceptional performance. I'm surprised I've not seen more of her, or other actors from this film, since. Craig Brewer has gone on to "bigger" things such as Hustle & Flow, and we'll likely see more from him.

I'd really like to see The Poor and Hungry released to DVD so that more people can have access to this nice piece of film making.