Country: USA
Genre: Drama / Musical
Year of Production: 2007
Format: 35mm
Running Time: 123 minutes
Certificate: PG
Theatrical Release date: 9th May 2008
DVD Release date: 22 September 2008
Regarded by many as the 'Godfather of American Independent Cinema', John Sayles (CITY OF HOPE, MATEWAN & LONE STAR) returns with the must-see HONEYDRIPPER (Best Screenplay award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, 2007) continuing his extraordinary examination of the complexities and shifting identities of American sub-cultures. The film is a fable about the birth of rock n' roll - a quintessentially American subject - and it will have you dancing in the aisles long before the end...
It's 1950 and it's a make or break weekend for Tyrone Purvis (DANNY GLOVER), the proprietor of the Honeydripper Lounge. Deep in debt, Tyrone is desperate to bring back the crowds that used to come to his place. He decides to lay off his long-time blues singer Bertha Mae, and announces that he's hired a famous guitar player, Guitar Sam, for a one night only gig in order to save the club.
Into town drifts Sonny Blake, a young man with nothing to his name but big dreams and the guitar case in his hand. Rejected by Tyrone when he applies to play at the Honeydripper, he is intercepted by the corrupt local Sheriff, arrested for vagrancy and rented out as an unpaid cotton picker to the highest bidder. But when Tyron's ace-in-the-hole fails to materialize at the train station, his desperation leads him back to Sonny and the strange, wire-dangling object in his guitar case. The Honeydripper lounge is all set to play its part in rock n' roll history.
HONEYDRIPPER features an all-star cast including Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Stacy Keach, Mary Steenburgen, Yaya DaCosta and Sean Patrick Thomas; as well as such notable musicians as Keb' Mo' and Dr. Mable John. It also introduces a major new talent, Gary Clark Jr. who makes his electrifying film debut as Sonny.
"immensely likable, highly characteristic... full of wonderful visual and verbal moments... excellent cinematography... exuberant"
FILM OF THE WEEKPhilip French, THE OBSERVER"A towering performance from Glover"
4 STARSTHE TIMES KNOWLEDGE"Superb performance... Glover is excellent... music surges through this feelgood film... impressive"
4 STARSTHE FINANCIAL TIMES"engaging"THE SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE"a fine cast (and) and elegant script... a toe-tapping treat"Jason Solomons, MAIL ON SUNDAY"If your feet aren't tapping... see a doctor."
4 STARSGLASGOW HERALD"illuminating... a host of lovely performances from a superb cast... immaculately lit camerawork from Dick Pope, and a stirring tribute to the power of music. Oh, and Glover is great"
CRITICS' CHOICE, 4 STARS TIME OUT"a beautiful... seductive story"INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY"Delightful... love for music and musicians permeates the film"David Gritten, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH"rich... engaging... spine-tingling rhythm 'n' blues"
CRITICS' CHOICE
4 STARSMETRO"lifts the soul... inspiring... enjoyable... the music is sublime, and Dick Pope's cinematography does things with cotton fields that are out of this world"Tim Robey, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH"A top-flight cast... makes you feel you've entered a lost Elvis Presley movie"
4 STARSDAILY EXPRESS"very well acted"DAILY STAR"Triumphant... irresistible music"
4 STARSTOTAL FILM "his best role in years, Danny Glover shines... flawless acting"EMPIRE"Rollicking"THE OBSERVER MUSIC MONTHLY"you'll be wanting the soundtrack on your i-pod within half an hour of leaving the cinema."Jim White, THE WORD"Deliciously easy-paced and good-humoured, the film sheds light on an intriguing chapter of musical and social history, with a remarkable soundtrack of early Fifties R&B Classics."David Gritten, SAGA"a sweet film that moves at its own pace, bathed in a golden glow... John Sayles is supreme"LITTLE WHITE LIES"thoroughly entertaining... exhilarating"David Parkinson, THE OXFORD TIMES"classy... a script that perfectly captures the changing mood of an era... a wonderful vibe... an assured and deeply involving piece of work that leaves a genuinely sweet aftertaste."
4 STARSINDIE LONDON"another polished gem in an impressive career... A treat from start to finish, this may only be rock n' roll but you'll like it."
4 STARSSKY MOVIES"Danny Glover is superb... a warm-hearted, enjoyable drama that's worth seeing for its combination of a great script, terrific music and the performance(s)."VIEW LONDON"Reverberates with a steamy blues sound"MARIE CLAIRE"highly original"
4 STARS, TOP TEN FILMSHEATFOR PRESS NOTES CLICK HERE:
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