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{{Short description|1984 film by Alan Rudolph}}
{{infobox film
{{infobox film
| name = Songwriter
| name = Songwriter
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* [[Rip Torn]]
* [[Rip Torn]]
* [[Melinda Dillon]]
* [[Melinda Dillon]]
⚫
* [[Mickey Raphael]]
}}
}}
| music = Larry Cansler<br>Songs: [[Willie Nelson]], [[Kris Kristofferson]]
| music = Larry Cansler<br>Songs: [[Willie Nelson]], [[Kris Kristofferson]]
| cinematography = Matthew Leonetti
| cinematography = Matthew Leonetti
| editing = Stuart Pappé
| editing = Stuart Pappé
| distributor = [[TriStar Pictures]]
| distributor = [[TriStar Pictures|Tri-Star Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|1984|10|12}}
| released = {{Film date|1984|10|12}}
| runtime = 94 minutes
| runtime = 94 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget = $8.6 million<ref name="spy">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Spy (magazine)|Spy]]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KJly6nVC7qkC/page/n95/mode/1up?q=endangered+species|title=The Unstoppables|date=November 1988|page=94|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
| budget = $8 million
| gross = $865,915<ref>{{Mojo title|songwriter}}</ref>
| gross = $865,915<ref>{{Mojo title|songwriter}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Songwriter''''' is a 1984 film directed by [[Alan Rudolph]]. At the [[57th Academy Awards]], it received an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score]] for [[Kris Kristofferson]].
'''''Songwriter''''' is a 1984 American film directed by [[Alan Rudolph]]. At the [[57th Academy Awards]], it received an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score]] for [[Kris Kristofferson]].


==Genre==
==Genre==
The film is a [[Satire|satirical]] comedy-drama about an artist seeking his freedom. The material is loosely based on [[Willie Nelson]]'s own life and legend and finances. His song "[[Night Life (Willie Nelson song)|Night Life]]", for example, which he sold in 1961 for $150, went on to be recorded by over 70 artists and sold more than 30 million copies.<ref>Pauline Kael ''Hooked''</ref>
The film is a [[satire (film and television)|satirical]] comedy-drama about an artist seeking his freedom. The material is loosely based on [[Willie Nelson]]'s own life and legend and finances. His song "[[Night Life (Willie Nelson song)|Night Life]]", for example, which he sold in 1961 for $150, went on to be recorded by over 70 artists and sold more than 30 million copies.<ref>Pauline Kael ''Hooked''</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Line 36: Line 36:


Fed up with life touring and making no money from recordings of his music, Doc has turned to managing the career of his old singing partner Blackie Buck ([[Kris Kristofferson]]). Doc takes a further client - a woman singer, Gilda ([[Lesley Ann Warren]]). He wants to get back with his ex-wife Honey ([[Melinda Dillon]]), and to get solid ground beneath his feet again.
Fed up with life touring and making no money from recordings of his music, Doc has turned to managing the career of his old singing partner Blackie Buck ([[Kris Kristofferson]]). Doc takes a further client - a woman singer, Gilda ([[Lesley Ann Warren]]). He wants to get back with his ex-wife Honey ([[Melinda Dillon]]), and to get solid ground beneath his feet again.

==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Willie Nelson]] as "Doc" Jenkins
* [[Kris Kristofferson]] as "Blackie" Buck
* [[Lesley Ann Warren]] as Gilda
* [[Rip Torn]] as Dino McLeish
* [[Melinda Dillon]] as "Honey" Carder
⚫
* [[Mickey Raphael]] as Arly
* [[Richard C. Sarafian]] as Rocky "Rodeo Rocky"
* [[Shannon Wilcox]] as Anita
* [[Jeff MacKay]] as Hogan
* [[Gailard Sartain]] as Mulreaux
* Kristin Renfro as Daughter #2
}}


==Reception==
==Reception==


The film is reviewed, favorably, by the critic [[Pauline Kael]] in her collection of movie reviews, ''[[Hooked (book)|Hooked]]''. "Playing a vain, laid-back sensualist, the silver bearded Kristofferson has a smiling glow; he has never been more at ease; [[Rip Torn]] is the picture's insurance against gentility. Everything he says sounds mean and dirty, and even when you can't understand his snarled out words he makes you laugh. Rhonda Dotson has something of [[Teri Garr]]'s manic alertness and dippiness, too, but in a softer form. She's a romantic comedienne with awesome poise. [[Richard C. Sarafian]] has a whomping comic menace. [[Lesley Ann Warren]]'s Gilda is spectacular. When we first see Gilda, she's a singer with no belief in herself and no class; she's an incredibly beautiful girl in a red dress [but] when Doc grooms her to go out as the opening act for Blackie, she begins to learn something about taste and musicianship, and her voice flowers. Besides being one of the great beauties of the screen, Warren can sing."<ref>[[Pauline Kael]] ''[[Hooked (book)|Hooked]]'' pp. 7-10 {{ISBN|0-7145-2903-6}}</ref>
The film is reviewed, favorably, by the critic [[Pauline Kael]] in her collection of movie reviews, ''[[Hooked (book)|Hooked]]''. "Playing a vain, laid-back sensualist, the silver bearded Kristofferson has a smiling glow; he has never been more at ease; [[Rip Torn]] is the picture's insurance against gentility. Everything he says sounds mean and dirty, and even when you can't understand his snarled out words he makes you laugh. Rhonda Dotson has something of [[Teri Garr]]'s manic alertness and dippiness, too, but in a softer form. She's a romantic comedienne with awesome poise. [[Richard C. Sarafian]] has a whomping comic menace. [[Lesley Ann Warren]]'s Gilda is spectacular. When we first see Gilda, she's a singer with no belief in herself and no class; she's an incredibly beautiful girl in a red dress [but] when Doc grooms her to go out as the opening act for Blackie, she begins to learn something about taste and musicianship, and her voice flowers. Besides being one of the great beauties of the screen, Warren can sing."<ref>[[Pauline Kael]] ''[[Hooked (book)|Hooked]]'' pp. 7-10 {{ISBN|0-7145-2903-6}}</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]] gaves the film {{frac|3|1|2}} out of a possible 4 stars, and says ""Songwriter" is one of those movies that grows on you. It doesn't have a big point to prove, and it isn't all locked into the requirements of its plot. It's about spending some time with some country musicians who are not much crazier than most country musicians, and are probably nicer than some. It also has a lot of good music."<ref>https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/songwriter-1985</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film {{frac|3|1|2}} out of a possible 4 stars, and says ""Songwriter" is one of those movies that grows on you. It doesn't have a big point to prove, and it isn't all locked into the requirements of its plot. It's about spending some time with some country musicians who are not much crazier than most country musicians, and are probably nicer than some. It also has a lot of good music."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/songwriter-1985|title = Songwriter movie review & film summary (1985) &#124; Roger Ebert}}</ref>


On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 5 critics.<ref>https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/songwriter</ref>
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|89|7|9}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/songwriter|title = Songwriter|website = [[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:1980s musical comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s musical comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American satirical films]]
[[Category:American satirical films]]
[[Category:Country music films]]
[[Category:Country music films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Alan Rudolph]]
[[Category:Films directed by Alan Rudolph]]
[[Category:TriStar Pictures films]]
[[Category:TriStar Pictures films]]
[[Category:1984 comedy films]]
[[Category:1984 comedy films]]
⚫
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 02:59, 23 November 2024

Songwriter
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlan Rudolph
Written byBud Shrake
Produced bySydney Pollack
Starring
CinematographyMatthew Leonetti
Edited byStuart Pappé
Music byLarry Cansler
Songs: Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson
Distributed byTri-Star Pictures
Release date
  • October 12, 1984 (1984-10-12)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8.6 million[1]
Box office$865,915[2]

Songwriter is a 1984 American film directed by Alan Rudolph. At the 57th Academy Awards, it received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score for Kris Kristofferson.

Genre

[edit]

The film is a satirical comedy-drama about an artist seeking his freedom. The material is loosely based on Willie Nelson's own life and legend and finances. His song "Night Life", for example, which he sold in 1961 for $150, went on to be recorded by over 70 artists and sold more than 30 million copies.[3]

Plot

[edit]

Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is a country and western composer, who employs devious tricks to extricate himself from his legal entanglement with a Nashville gangster entrepreneur who takes all the profits from his songs.

Fed up with life touring and making no money from recordings of his music, Doc has turned to managing the career of his old singing partner Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson). Doc takes a further client - a woman singer, Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren). He wants to get back with his ex-wife Honey (Melinda Dillon), and to get solid ground beneath his feet again.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

The film is reviewed, favorably, by the critic Pauline Kael in her collection of movie reviews, Hooked. "Playing a vain, laid-back sensualist, the silver bearded Kristofferson has a smiling glow; he has never been more at ease; Rip Torn is the picture's insurance against gentility. Everything he says sounds mean and dirty, and even when you can't understand his snarled out words he makes you laugh. Rhonda Dotson has something of Teri Garr's manic alertness and dippiness, too, but in a softer form. She's a romantic comedienne with awesome poise. Richard C. Sarafian has a whomping comic menace. Lesley Ann Warren's Gilda is spectacular. When we first see Gilda, she's a singer with no belief in herself and no class; she's an incredibly beautiful girl in a red dress [but] when Doc grooms her to go out as the opening act for Blackie, she begins to learn something about taste and musicianship, and her voice flowers. Besides being one of the great beauties of the screen, Warren can sing."[4] Roger Ebert gave the film 3+1⁄2 out of a possible 4 stars, and says ""Songwriter" is one of those movies that grows on you. It doesn't have a big point to prove, and it isn't all locked into the requirements of its plot. It's about spending some time with some country musicians who are not much crazier than most country musicians, and are probably nicer than some. It also has a lot of good music."[5]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 9 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Unstoppables". Spy. November 1988. p. 94 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Songwriter at Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ Pauline Kael Hooked
  4. ^ Pauline Kael Hooked pp. 7-10 ISBN 0-7145-2903-6
  5. ^ "Songwriter movie review & film summary (1985) | Roger Ebert".
  6. ^ "Songwriter". Rotten Tomatoes.
[edit]
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