Sonny

Rating:
Summary: Cage' Disappointing Debut as Director;Still Stanton is Great
Review: "Sonny," Nicholas Cage's debut work as director, is about the titular man (James Franco, "Spider-man") who has returned from army to his hometown, New Orleans. The time is 1981, and in front of the house he stops, to meet his mother again (played by over-the-top Brenda Blethyn). And Sonny, fed with his previous life as gigolo in there, confesses that he is going to have a day job in another city.

Now you get the drift of the story. You see, Sonny will find the tough reality, and the easier way of life is more congenial to him. And there is a love interest, love possibly a true one, in a girl played by Mena Suvari. Against the backdrop of the streets of New Orleans, Sonny tries to find the meaning of life in his easy lifestyle.

The purpose of the film is honorable, but the result is nothing remarkable. The problem is, sorry to say, the directions of Nick Cage, who let the actors indulge in each scene too much. The emotional tensions between characters do not go up; the story is too slow, and the result is too predictale. And most of all. the bad acting from many. I don't name names, but when the character looks laughing when he is supposed to be crying, there is something seriously wrong with that.

But there is one great thing about "Sonny," and that is Harry Dean Stanton, who plays "Henry" a perpetual loser, who gets so accustomed to being loser that one small win at a card game (against Seymore Cassel) literally sends him to the Heaven. Into Henry's weather-beaten face and down-trodden life, Harry Dean Stanton infuses the life, and even something sublime and noble. Simply great.

According to the press material, the script was offered to Nick Cage about 15 years ago (as actor), and that explains the similar atmosphere to the 80s films like "American Gigolo." Like that film, "Sonny" shows the languid feeling of the anti-hero, but finally goes nowhere.

Rating:
Summary: Cage' Disappointing Debut as Director;Still Stanton is Great
Review: "Sonny," Nicholas Cage's debut work as director, is about the titular man (James Franco, "Spider-man") who has returned from army to his hometown, New Orleans. The time is 1981, and in front of the house he stops, to meet his mother again (played by over-the-top Brenda Blethyn). And Sonny, fed with his previous life as gigolo in there, confesses that he is going to have a day job in another city.

Now you get the drift of the story. You see, Sonny will find the tough reality, and the easier way of life is more congenial to him. And there is a love interest, love possibly a true one, in a girl played by Mena Suvari. Against the backdrop of the streets of New Orleans, Sonny tries to find the meaning of life in his easy lifestyle.

The purpose of the film is honorable, but the result is nothing remarkable. The problem is, sorry to say, the directions of Nick Cage, who let the actors indulge in each scene too much. The emotional tensions between characters do not go up; the story is too slow, and the result is too predictale. And most of all. the bad acting from many. I don't name names, but when the character looks laughing when he is supposed to be crying, there is something seriously wrong with that.

But there is one great thing about "Sonny," and that is Harry Dean Stanton, who plays "Henry" a perpetual loser, who gets so accustomed to being loser that one small win at a card game (against Seymore Cassel) literally sends him to the Heaven. Into Henry's weather-beaten face and down-trodden life, Harry Dean Stanton infuses the life, and even something sublime and noble. Simply great.

According to the press material, the script was offered to Nick Cage about 15 years ago (as actor), and that explains the similar atmosphere to the 80s films like "American Gigolo." Like that film, "Sonny" shows the languid feeling of the anti-hero, but finally goes nowhere.

Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than Expected!!!
Review: After seeing this movie on the New Release wall month after month and always considering it but never enough to actually rent it, I finally saw it on a cable movie channel. I liked it SO much I decided to buy it. To some, it may not be "compelling" but it definitely reeled me in. And personally, I thought it was SUPERB directing from Nick. And knowing he was the director made sense why Mena reminded me of Patricia quite a bit... Nick even has a small part which I thought was GREAT! I FELL IN LOVE with James Franco in this movie, as well as with the story and cinematography... It's definitely NOT a movie for everyone and that's why I only gave it four stars instead of five...

Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than Expected!!!
Review: After seeing this movie on the New Release wall month after month and always considering it but never enough to actually rent it, I finally saw it on a cable movie channel. I liked it SO much I decided to buy it. To some, it may not be "compelling" but it definitely reeled me in. And personally, I thought it was SUPERB directing from Nick. And knowing he was the director made sense why Mena reminded me of Patricia quite a bit... Nick even has a small part which I thought was GREAT! I FELL IN LOVE with James Franco in this movie, as well as with the story and cinematography... It's definitely NOT a movie for everyone and that's why I only gave it four stars instead of five...

Rating:
Summary: Through the Looking Glass
Review: Don't ask me what's up with that title, it just seemed to fit. Okay, this movie "Sonny". While it's not a complete masterpiece. It trully sets mood and holds interest. The characters are full of sins and other quirks that draw you in. Acting is exceptional and real. With all the cookie cutter type films out there, this film is trully cool. While the subject is a little racy, it is done tastefully. I believe this is Nicholas' debut directorial film. He's no Kubrick but his choice of shots are intriguing and give a good flow to the scenes. The final note I have to make is on the films music. This movie should have a soundtrack. The music is exceptional and fits perfectly with its feel. If anything this film will take you somewhere different. It's up to you if you like it or not.

Rating:
Summary: Through the Looking Glass
Review: Don't ask me what's up with that title, it just seemed to fit. Okay, this movie "Sonny". While it's not a complete masterpiece. It trully sets mood and holds interest. The characters are full of sins and other quirks that draw you in. Acting is exceptional and real. With all the cookie cutter type films out there, this film is trully cool. While the subject is a little racy, it is done tastefully. I believe this is Nicholas' debut directorial film. He's no Kubrick but his choice of shots are intriguing and give a good flow to the scenes. The final note I have to make is on the films music. This movie should have a soundtrack. The music is exceptional and fits perfectly with its feel. If anything this film will take you somewhere different. It's up to you if you like it or not.

Rating:
Summary: Through the Looking Glass
Review: Don't ask me what's up with that title, it just seemed to fit. Okay, this movie "Sonny". While it's not a complete masterpiece. It trully sets mood and holds interest. The characters are full of sins and other quirks that draw you in. Acting is exceptional and real. With all the cookie cutter type films out there, this film is trully cool. While the subject is a little racy, it is done tastefully. I believe this is Nicholas' debut directorial film. He's no Kubrick but his choice of shots are intriguing and give a good flow to the scenes. The final note I have to make is on the films music. This movie should have a soundtrack. The music is exceptional and fits perfectly with its feel. If anything this film will take you somewhere different. It's up to you if you like it or not.

Rating:
Summary: Sometimes things just don't work
Review: Given the talent of Nicolas Cage (even though this is his debut as a director), Brenda Blethyn, James Franco, Mena Suvari, Brenda Vacarro, and Harry Dean Stanton, one would think this little film was a sure-fire hit. The ingredients are all there, but the problem is the story itself. Many books and films are out there telling the tale of a young hustler who attempts to forsake his old life for something better, only to fall back on his only known existence that works, even with the added twist that the hustling techniques were taught from the crib by his call girl mother who now relies on her protege son to be her old age pension. Tennessee Williams handled these twisted tales with sleazy dignity, giving us characters developed well enough that we could believe them if not identify with them. There is where this film falls on its face: the script (and director) are more concerned with graphically showing us the spectrum of sexual deviation than with taking the time for such indispensibly important issues as character development. Cage may in time match his acting skills with directing skills, but here he wastes the talent of such troopers as Blethyn, Stanton and Vacarro as well as promising newcomers Franco and Suvari.
Poorly edited and tastelessly scored with a melange of music types, this film just sinks into the mud of Lousiana streets. And that is a shame.

Rating:
Summary: A Day In The Life
Review: I dug this movie so much, that I had to add it to my collection.

Rating:
Summary: James and Mena Shine
Review: James Franco delivers another intense, emotional performance in Nicholas Cage's directorial debut Sonny, about a young man who is forced to choose between hustling and living a normal life. The story is intriguing, but never fully developed, and the directing is choppy which makes for difficult viewing. The acting is ok from most of the actors. Besides from James Franco, Mena Suvari finally gives a performance that is worth mentioning. Brenda Bleythyn is over the top, annoying, and loud, and the accent-obnoxious. She usually gives amazing performances, but this time, she missed, and Nic Cage comes in at the end with a rediculous cameo. The films pace is a little slow, but it did keep my interest. See this film for James Franco and Mena Suvari, other than that..I would advise staying away.