Rating: 
Summary: To see it is to love it....
Review: A Woody Allen masterpiece and although I love Woody Allen, I don't say that about all his movies. I was especially impressed with the acting and the complex characters presented in the film. Sean Penn plays Emmet Ray, an incredibly talented Jazz guitarist who is every bit aware of it (annoyingly so) and uses every opportunity to boast about how he is one of the best guitarists in the world, second only to the great Django Reinhart. Yet, this fact seems to be one that haunts him constantly and keeps him insecure and vulnerable despite all the fronts he puts up. His love life is also one to ponder. Ray is a brutish, uncaring, and unfaithful lover to every woman he has ever known. He does not change his ways much, even after he meets the right woman, Hattie, played by Samantha Morton. Hattie is a mute girl which seems to be right up Ray's alley, since she never questions or challenges him as his other girlfriend's had. Hattie's sweetness and unwavering devotion to Ray ironically are not really perceived as signs of weakness but rather almost elevate Hattie to somewhat of a modern-day heroine who, through her love, is able to transform the ways of Ray to make him want to be a better man.
Rating:
Summary: Woody's Best in Years
Review: I was never a big Woody Allen fan. To tell the truth I always found that his "acclaimed" comedies like "Annie Hall" or "Manhattan" were pretensious and overated. Every so often though Allen directs a movie which strikes me as pure genius. "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Crimes and Misdemeanours" are both fabulous character driven drama's. Without a doubt "Sweet and Lowdown" is as good as both of those films. What really puts "Sweet and Lowdown" above most movies is the superb performances. Sean Penn and Samantha Morton each turn in the best performances of their careers. Penn plays an arrogant jazz guitarist who's life has been reconstructed for this film based on opinions and alledged stories. Morton plays his deaf girlfriend who over the years becomes dependant upon him. Watching the two play their roles perfectly is the real pleasure of this movie. Penn is full of bluster but is constantly alluding to a sensitive side that never really comes out. Morton as the deaf girl is splendid. She deserved the Oscar she was nominated for as her subtlety and facial gestures are what makes this performance a gem. The script is of course well written and amusing. Allen has finally veered away (if only for a little bit) from his neurotic pacing. After the dismal and unfunny "Celebrity" in which Kenneth Branagh did a karaoke Woody Allen it is nice to see him scrap the neurosis all together. "Sweet and Lowdown" is essentially a character study. Sweet vs Lowdown, innocence vs arrogance etc... The film works magnificently and is certanly the best film Allen has produced in ten or so years.
Rating: 
Summary: My first Woody Allen film
Review: This is the first Allen film I have seen to the end. Needless to say, I am not a fan, but the music and Sean Penn carried me away. The music is worth the price of a ticket or DVD. Reinhardt, if you are not familiar with his music , get somewhere and buy sime soon!!!
Rating:
Summary: Something a Little Different from Woody Allen
Review: I've never been a big fan of Woody Allen's more mainstream movies, but I really liked this film. Allen draws upon his knowledge of jazz to bring the life of fictional jazz guitarist Emmett Ray (the second greatest jazz guitarist in the world), and a completely irresponsible and idiosynchratic person. Who else would take his dates to the dump to shoot rats? Despite his considerable talent, Emmett lives in fear of his idol, the great Django Rheinhardt. For those of you unfamiliar with jazz, Rheinhardt really existed and during his lifetime was one of the finest guitar players the world has ever known. Sean Penn, an actor who is sadly better known for his brief marriage to Madonna than for his considerable acting skills, turns in an Oscar-worthy performance as Emmett, playing him as a lovable but quirky and ultimately vulnerable character (Penn received an Oscar nomination for this portrayal, incidentally). Uma Thurman appears briefly as Ray's socialite wife who marries him more out of curiosity than love. Samantha Morton practically steals the movie away from Penn as the deaf-mute girlfriend who unconditionally loves him despite Emmett's inherent self-centeredness and lack of trustworthiness. The director appears briefly explaining the life and times of Emmett in documentary style. Although I didn't particularly care for this way of presenting the picture, it was at most a minor distraction. Whether you're a jazz afficianado or just appreciate an interesting character study, this motion picture is worth a look.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but loses its way
Review: "Sweet and Lowdown" has two of the greatest performances in recent memory. Samantha Morton, who got all the credit, and Sean Penn are brilliant. They do real acting. Penn could have easily let the character slip into some gimmicky caricature, but he maintained both the clownishness and the tragic side of Emmett Ray. He really does make the film. Also, the music is wonderful, and the cinematography, and period detail are all very nice. As happens often in Woody's recent films though, the story loses its way, and on repeated viewings, I find it hard to sit through after Uma Thurman comes into it. First of all, her performance is noticably weaker than the other leads, and Woody tries to throw in one of his philosophies, and the charm wears off. It really is shame, because up until Thurman enters the frame, it's a wonderful movie. I do think that he needed to replace the actress in the last scene, who was just awful, and the same can be said of a few other performances. I do recommend that any fan of jazz, Penn, or, of course, Woody Allen, sees this at least once, and letterboxed if possible.
Rating:
Summary: Woody's Best in Years
Review: I was never a big Woody Allen fan. To tell the truth I always found that his "acclaimed" comedies like "Annie Hall" or "Manhattan" were pretensious and overated. Every so often though Allen directs a movie which strikes me as pure genius. "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Crimes and Misdemeanours" are both fabulous character driven drama's. Without a doubt "Sweet and Lowdown" is as good as both of those films. What really puts "Sweet and Lowdown" above most movies is the superb performances. Sean Penn and Samantha Morton each turn in the best performances of their careers. Penn plays an arrogant jazz guitarist who's life has been reconstructed for this film based on opinions and alledged stories. Morton plays his deaf girlfriend who over the years becomes dependant upon him. Watching the two play their roles perfectly is the real pleasure of this movie. Penn is full of bluster but is constantly alluding to a sensitive side that never really comes out. Morton as the deaf girl is splendid. She deserved the Oscar she was nominated for as her subtlety and facial gestures are what makes this performance a gem. The script is of course well written and amusing. Allen has finally veered away (if only for a little bit) from his neurotic pacing. After the dismal and unfunny "Celebrity" in which Kenneth Branagh did a karaoke Woody Allen it is nice to see him scrap the neurosis all together. "Sweet and Lowdown" is essentially a character study. Sweet vs Lowdown, innocence vs arrogance etc... The film works magnificently and is certanly the best film Allen has produced in ten or so years.
Rating:
Summary: Another Innovative, Thoughtful Comedy by Woody Allen
Review: Woody Allen is know for any number of things: inventive, brilliant comedies; less than popular serious films; his love of Manhattan; his love of Jazz. In Sweet and Lowdown, he combines a documentary and period filmmaking to great effect. Sean Penn expertly plays Emmett Ray, the world-second greatest guitar player during the great depression. The character is full of ego, booze, talent and humor and it's pulled off without a hitch by Penn and is supported by a solid cast. As is the case with many of Allen's films, a cerebral investment is required from the viewer - this isn't an example of Allen's earlier screwball comedy. All in all, another wonderful film from Woody Allen.
Rating: 
Summary: I agree with the guy who said "Boring as hell."
Review: All I can say is that my girlfriend and I got bored with this,
and couldn't watch more than about half of it. Awful. Sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Loved this movie!!!
Review: Sean Penn stars along with Samantha Morton (both were nominated for Oscars) in this classic jazz-age tale directed by Woody Allen. Penn's character, a fictional jazz guitarist is so entirely believable and interwoven with true jazz history (helped along by a great jazz soundtrack) that for a while, I spent time looking for books and info about Emmett Ray. Only later did I discover that he never really existed. Egocentric, odd, and engagingly funny, "Ray" keeps this story moving with a series of romances and mis-adventures worthy of Don Quixote. People might be tempted to overlook this gem as simply another Woody Allen movie, but to do so is a huge mistake! Five years after it's release date, it remains a largely undiscovered comedic masterpiece worthy of rental or purchase. I've personally watched this movie countless times since....
Rating:
Summary: The Tragedy of Being Second-Best
Review: Whether it's the quirky antics of Emmett Ray (Penn) or the wonderfully, understated affection of Hattie (Morton), this movie manages to strike a chord with a host of movie audiences. The story, about the second-greatest guitar player in the world and his tragic life as a musician/womanizer, is made even more interesting by the biographical method that Allen uses to unfold the story. What is particularly interesting about this approach is to note how every person sounds almost magical when talked about by fans and others-to witness their (often) destructive lives is something far different. Additionally, Allen's humor penetrates the film, but it is not distracting. In fact, in most places, it serves to make the "storytelling" style of the film more enjoyable to watch. Samantha Morton's performance as Hattie (a mute lover of Emmett's) is absolutely superb. I find myself leaning forward towards the screen, as if expecting her to speak at any moment. Morton manages to leap along just fine without any dialogue; her performance is believable and is truly one of the most endearing aspects of the film. One feels for Emmett's loss and tragedy, but it is nothing compared to the emotion one feels for Hattie's character. A fan of Woody Allen will certainly enjoy this film and those that have given up on Allen in recent years will find this film to be a nice change. Great acting, a charming story, and a modern day tragedy. All of this plus some great jazz and guitar playing make this film worth a look.
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