News Rick on 30 Dec 2007 02:09 am
Southern Film: “Honeydripper” opens in LA and New York
John Sayles’ Honeydripper opened in New York and Los Angeles to mixed reviews. Stephen Holden of the New York
Times found Sayles’ myth- and archetype-making machinery falling flat:
“‘Honeydripper’ is agreeable, well-intentioned and very, very slow. Sadly, it illustrates the difference between an archetype and a stereotype. When the first falls flat, it turns into the other and becomes a cliché.”
Way over yonder on the left coast, in the LA Times, Kevin Crust disagreed, saying
“The film evocatively charts a time and place where change has been a longtime coming and buoyantly imagines a turning point where, at least musically, anything is possible.”
That’s great, you say, but what about the rest of the country? Specifically, what about down here in the Sunny South, where a critic might actually have been in a juke-joint like the one in the film, and thus have some basis for judging whether its characters are archetypes or clichés? Of course, it hasn’t opened here yet, and while I understand some of the reasons why–opening on limited screens for Oscar consideration, building word-of-mouth on a shoe-string budget, etc., etc. –would it have bankrupted the distributor, or screwed up some cosmic plan, to spring for one measly print so it could open here in Alabama? Where it was shot? (At the film’s blog, there’s a link to release dates, none of which are in Alabama. I hope that changes.)
That kvetch aside, I have the utmost respect for Sayles and company. I loved Lone Star and Sunshine State, and look forward to being able to actually see Honeydripper so I can judge it for itself, and perhaps write about it.
The film was filmed shot primarily in Butler County, between Montgomery and the coast, in that region we Northern Alabaman’s affectionately call L.A., for “Lower Alabama.” Out of 46 speaking roles, 18 were cast locally, including members of a local church choir. “We couldn’t have duplicated that sound,” says Maggie Renzi, quoted in the press materials. “The local people have the right accents, the looks . . .”
It’s clear that the film benefited tremendously from it’s Alabama locales; let’s hope it gets a local opening soon.
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on 30 Dec 2007 at 6:36 am # Ira
The film is definitely coming to Alabama. Watch for it at the end of January. In fact, John Sayles and Maggie Renzi will be coming down there and doing a series of csreenings during the latter part of the month.
on 24 Jan 2008 at 11:05 am # Randy
Hey Rick,
I guess you have already heard that Honeydripper will be playing at the Bama on Feb. 4th, but I thought I would mention it for others who are interested. Proceeds will benefit the Alabama Blues Project, and I believe that there will be folks involved with the film on hand.