Sweet and Lowdown

Last updated
Sweet and Lowdown
Sweet lowdown moviep.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Woody Allen
Written byWoody Allen
Produced by Jean Doumanian
Starring
Cinematography Zhao Fei
Edited by Alisa Lepselter
Production
company
Sweetland Films
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release date
  • September 3, 1999 (1999-09-03)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4,197,015

Sweet and Lowdown is a 1999 American comedy-drama mockumentary written and directed by Woody Allen. Loosely based on Federico Fellini's film La Strada , [1] the film tells the story of jazz guitarist Emmet Ray (played by Sean Penn) who falls in love with mute laundress Hattie (Samantha Morton). Like several of Allen's other films (e.g., Zelig ), the film is occasionally interrupted by interviews with critics and biographers like Allen, Nat Hentoff, Daniel Okrent, and Douglas McGrath, who comment on the film's plot as if the characters were real-life people.

Contents

The film received generally positive reviews upon release, [2] with Penn and Morton receiving Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

Plot

Emmet Ray is a jazz guitarist who achieved some acclaim in the 1930s with a handful of recordings for RCA Victor, but faded from public view under mysterious circumstances. Although he is a talented musician, Ray's personal life fell into shambles after his disappearance from public view. He's often late or even absent for performances with his quintet due to heavy drinking. He spends extravagantly, and is a womanizer and a pimp. When he's not playing music or pursuing women, he shoots rats at garbage dumps and watches passing trains.

Ray idolizes famed guitarist Django Reinhardt, so much so that he's said to have fled a nightclub performance with severe stage fright upon hearing a false rumor that Reinhardt was in the audience.

On a double date with his drummer, Ray meets Hattie, a shy, mute laundress. After overcoming initial frustration due to communication difficulties, Ray and Hattie form an affectionate and close relationship. However, Ray is convinced that a musician of his stature should never settle down with one woman. Because of this, Ray marries socialite Blanche Williams. But Williams sees Ray as a colorful example of lower-class life and a source of inspiration for her literary writing. During their marriage, Ray is tormented by nightmares and shouts out Hattie's name in his sleep.

When Williams cheats on Ray with mobster Al Torrio, Ray leaves her and finds Hattie. He assumes that she will take him back, but discovers that she is happily married and raising a family. Ray is despondent, and laments that leaving Hattie was a mistake. Woody Allen and the rest of the documentary experts remark that Ray's final compositions were legendary, finally reaching the quality of Reinhardt's.

Cast

Production

Development

After his 1969 directing debut Take the Money and Run , Allen signed a contract to direct a series of films with United Artists. Told to "write what you want to write," Allen, a clarinetist and avid jazz enthusiast, wrote The Jazz Baby, a drama screenplay about a jazz musician set in the 1930s. Allen said later that the United Artists executives were "stunned ... because they had expected a comedy. [They] were very worried and told me, 'We realize that we signed a contract with you and you can do anything you want. But we want to tell you that we really don't like this.'" [3] Allen went along with United Artists, writing and directing Bananas instead. In 1995, he dismissed The Jazz Baby as having been "probably too ambitious." [3]

In 1998, Allen returned to the project, rewriting the script and changing its name to Sweet and Lowdown. Allen had originally planned to play Ray himself, but eventually cast Sean Penn. Allen also considered Johnny Depp, but Depp was busy at the time. [4] Penn had a reputation for being difficult to work with, but Allen later said, "I had no problem with him whatsoever ... He gave it his all and took direction and made contributions himself ... a tremendous actor." [4]

Allen, in a retrospective, said that he told Samantha Morton to "play [her] part like Harpo Marx. And she said, 'Who is Harpo Marx?' and I realized how young she was. Then I told her about him [and] she went back and saw the films." [4]

Filming

Sweet and Lowdown was filmed entirely in New York and New Jersey [5] but is set in the Chicago area and California. [ vague ] [4]

The film was the first of Allen's that was edited by Alisa Lepselter, who has edited all of Allen's films since. Lepselter succeeded Susan E. Morse, who edited Allen's films for the previous twenty years.

It was also the first of three films where Allen collaborated with Chinese cinematographer Zhao Fei. Allen had first noticed Zhao with his award-winning work on Raise the Red Lantern , some years earlier.

Music

The music for the film was arranged and conducted by Dick Hyman. All of the guitar solos are played by guitarist Howard Alden.

Additional rhythm guitarists were Bucky Pizzarelli and James Chirillo. Chirillo played rhythm guitar on the track "Sweet Georgia Brown." Pizzarelli created all other rhythm tracks.

Soundtrack

Reception

Sweet and Lowdown received generally positive reviews from critics. It currently holds a 77% 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 61 reviews, with the consensus: "Critics praise Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown for its charming, light-hearted comedy and quality acting." [2] The film carries a 70 on Metacritic indicating generally favorable reviews. [7]

Morton's performance was met with critical acclaim, with Salon critic Stephanie Zacharek saying that she "quietly explodes [the film] ... Her performance is like nothing I've seen in recent years." [2]

Awards and nominations

Sweet and Lowdown was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Penn) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Morton). [8] The pair were also nominated for Golden Globe Awards in the acting categories for Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. [9] The film received three nominations from the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay. [10]

In addition, Morton was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, [11] the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, [12] the National Society of Film Critics Awards, and for an Empire Award for Best British Actress. [13] At the London Film Critics Circle Awards, Morton won British Supporting Actress of the Year. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Django Reinhardt</span> Romani-French /French jazz musician (1910–1953)

Jean Reinhardt, known by his Romani nickname Django, was a Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist and composer. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most significant exponents.

<i>Zelig</i> 1983 film by Woody Allen

Zelig is a 1983 American satirical mockumentary comedy film written, directed by and starring Woody Allen as Leonard Zelig, a nondescript enigma, who, apparently out of his desire to fit in and be liked, unwittingly takes on the characteristics of strong personalities around him. The film, presented as a documentary, recounts his period of intense celebrity during the 1920s, including analyses by contemporary intellectuals.

<i>Stardust Memories</i> 1980 film by Woody Allen

Stardust Memories is a 1980 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen and starring Allen, Charlotte Rampling, Jessica Harper and Marie-Christine Barrault. Sharon Stone has a brief role, in her film debut. The film is about a filmmaker who recalls his life and his loves — the inspirations for his films — while attending a retrospective of his work. The film is shot in black and white and is reminiscent of Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963), which it parodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samantha Morton</span> British actress and director (born 1977)

Samantha Jane Morton is an English actress and director. Known for her work in independent cinema, she is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the BAFTA Fellowship, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

<i>Manhattan Murder Mystery</i> 1993 film by Woody Allen

Manhattan Murder Mystery is a 1993 American black comedy mystery film directed by Woody Allen, which he wrote with Marshall Brickman, and starring Allen, Alan Alda, Anjelica Huston, and Diane Keaton. The film centers on a married couple's investigation of the death of their neighbor's wife.

<i>Crimes and Misdemeanors</i> 1989 film by Woody Allen

Crimes and Misdemeanors is a 1989 American existential comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, who stars alongside Martin Landau, Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Jerry Orbach, Alan Alda, Sam Waterston, and Joanna Gleason.

<i>Mighty Aphrodite</i> 1995 film by Woody Allen

Mighty Aphrodite is a 1995 American comedy film written, directed by, and co-starring Woody Allen, alongside Mira Sorvino, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Rapaport, and F. Murray Abraham. The screenplay was vaguely inspired by the story of Pygmalion and is about Lenny Weinrib's (Allen) search for his genius adopted son's biological mother, ultimately finding that she is a dim-witted prostitute named Linda Ash (Sorvino).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Alden</span> American jazz guitarist (born 1958)

Howard Vincent Alden is an American jazz guitarist born in Newport Beach, California. Alden has recorded many albums for Concord Records, including four with seven-string guitar innovator George Van Eps.

<i>Small Time Crooks</i> 2000 American film

Small Time Crooks is a 2000 American crime-comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It stars Allen, Hugh Grant, Elaine May and Tracey Ullman. The picture's plot has some similarities to that of the 1942 comedy Larceny, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Hyman</span> American jazz pianist and composer

Richard Hyman is an American jazz pianist and composer. Over a 70-year career, he has worked as a pianist, organist, arranger, music director, electronic musician, and composer. He was named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters fellow in 2017.

"Just a Gigolo" is a popular song, adapted by Irving Caesar into English in 1929 from the Austrian tango "Schöner Gigolo, armer Gigolo", composed in 1928 in Vienna by Leonello Casucci to lyrics written in 1924 by Julius Brammer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Loves Me</span> 1924 song by George Gershwin

"Somebody Loves Me" is a popular song, with music written by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and Buddy DeSylva. The song was published in 1924 and featured in George White's Scandals of 1924.

John Cocuzzi is an American jazz, blues, and swing musician who specializes in the vibraphone and piano, as well as drums. His primary influences on vibraphone are Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo, while his piano playing is influenced by piano greats from both the jazz and blues worlds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Giordano</span> American musician (born 1952)

Vince Giordano is an American saxophonist and leader of the New York-based Nighthawks Orchestra. He specializes in jazz of the 1920s and 1930s and his primary instrument is the bass saxophone. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks have played on television and film soundtracks, including the HBO series Boardwalk Empire and Woody Allen's musical comedy film Everyone Says I Love You.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Vignola</span> American jazz guitarist

Frank Vignola is an American jazz guitarist. He has played in the genres of swing, fusion, gypsy jazz, classical, and pop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of Nowhere (Johnny Green song)</span>

"Out of Nowhere" is a popular song composed by Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman and published by Famous Music. It was popularized by Bing Crosby, and was the first recording under his Brunswick Records contract. He recorded it on March 30, 1931 and it became his first number one hit as a solo artist. Crosby also sang it in the film Confessions of a Co-Ed (1931) and in his short film I Surrender Dear (1931). He recorded it again in 1954 for his album Bing: A Musical Autobiography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearl Django</span> American jazz group

Pearl Django is a jazz group established in 1994 in Tacoma, Washington by guitarists Neil Andersson and Dudley Hill and bassist David "Pope" Firman. The group melds the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with American Swing. Initially a trio, they have changed and added members over the years and are now a quintet. Based in Seattle, they have played around the United States, as well as in France and Iceland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limehouse Blues (song)</span>

"Limehouse Blues" is a popular British song written by the London-based duo of Douglas Furber (lyrics) and Philip Braham (music).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biel Ballester</span> Spanish gypsy jazz guitarist

Biel Ballester is a gypsy jazz guitarist from Mallorca, Spain. He contributed music to the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaili Vernoff</span> American actress (born 1974)

Kaili Vernoff is an American actress. While she has many television and film credits, she is perhaps best known for her multiple collaborations with Woody Allen.

References

  1. ↑ "Allusions of Grandeur: Sweet and Lowdown". 11 March 2000.
  2. 1 2 3 Sweet and Lowdown at Rotten Tomatoes
  3. 1 2 Bjorkman 2005, p. 36-37.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bjorkman 2005, p. 347-356.
  5. ↑ Davis, Tom (January 2, 2002). "A Place For Troops, Troupes, Hoops: Teaneck Armory Still Vital". The Record . Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
  6. ↑ Harvey, Adam (2007). The Soundtracks of Woody Allen. US: Macfarland & Company, Inc. p. 138. ISBN   9780786429684.
  7. ↑ Sweet and Lowdown at Metacritic OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  8. ↑ "2000 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  9. ↑ "Winners & Nominees 2000". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  10. ↑ "2001, 7th Annual Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  11. ↑ ""American Beauty" tops Chicago critics' nominees". Chicago Tribune. January 24, 2000. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Los Angeles Film Critics Awards 1999". FilmAffinity. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  13. ↑ "Best British Actress". Empire Awards. Archived from the original on June 20, 2002. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Awards flow for Billy Elliot". 2001-02-15. Retrieved 2022-10-13.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.