Absolutely brilliant

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

American Pimp (1999) *** (out of 4) Interesting documentary from Albert and Allen Hughes about pimps and the ins and outs of the business. If you're easily offended then this isn't the film for you but it's highly entertaining and interesting in a behind the scenes type of way. We get to learn when this trade started plus what it takes to keep it going. I can't say I enjoyed any of the pimps on display here as I find them to be lazy bums but they tried to get their point of view across. The directors seem to glamorize them a tad bit too much and it would have been interesting for a more direct look with more of the down side. Clips from earlier "pimp" films are also shown.

The Hughes brothers cover every aspect of a world we all could only dream of holding knowledge in. every possible question you could dream up of the lifestyle, income, or origin of pimping is laid out in front of you in remarkable fashion. *****

'American Pimp' is fascinating from start to finish. The Hughes brothers documentary is relatively non-judgmental, and lets the flamboyant and ultra-verbal pimps do the talking. And boy, can they talk! This lack of moralizing troubles some viewers but I found it refreshing not to be manipulated and told what to think about a subject for once. Audiences will be divided in their reactions and opinions to these guys and I like it that way. Recommended viewing for anyone with an open mind and a sense of the absurd.

I saw this last night and was surprised at how much I liked it. I have my own opinions about whether prostitution or pimping is wrong, but this documentary helped me understand why pimps pimp. Obviously there is something about pimping that keeps them in the game - money, sex, power etc. I never saw it from their perspective before. The interviewers did an amazing job of getting these guys to talk openly about what they do. I also enjoyed the colourful personalities some of the pimps have.