Sweet And Lowdown (1999) DVD Reviews

Starring	Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman, Anthony La Paglia
Director	Woody Allen
Genres	Comedy

Critics' reviews (6) of Sweet And Lowdown
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After the disappointing Celebrity, Woody Allen returned to form with this sparkling comedy drama about a fictional 1930s jazzman whose life only makes sense when he's playing guitar. Sean Penn stars as Emmet Ray, a kleptomaniac musical genius whose idea of a good time is to watch trains, shoot rats and seduce women. Happiness comes in a sweetly fulfilling relationship with mute innocent Hattie (Samantha Morton), though the feckless Ray is soon up to his old tricks with society gal Blanche (Uma Thurman). A host of jazz experts, including Allen himself, delivers straight-faced tributes to Ray's gift, and the costumes and production design are splendidly opulent. But it's British actress Morton who steals the show, getting her revenge after Penn breaks her heart by silently breaking ours.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Done in the style of a biopic, this is a delighfully inventive comedy, in love with the period and its music and able to communicate that emotion to its audience; the central performances of Penn, as the musician destructive of himself and others, and Sam
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
"...There's a sweetness to SWEET AND LOWDOWN whenever Penn and Morton interact on screen....Hers is a wondrous performance....Penn, who couldn't give a bad performance if he tried, is also fun..."
- Box Office
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Sweet And Lowdown
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful

Lets go to the dump and shoot some rats!

Cracking! A mocumentry style film about the life of fictional jazz guitarist Emmett Ray.

A fantastic comedy performance from Penn as Emmett Ray a man obsessed with his music, watching trains, shooting rats at the dump and his status as the greatest guitarist that ever lived apart from the feared and respected French Gypsy Django Reinhardt.

The film charts his colourful rise from small time pimp and kleptomaniac to the recording of the work that experts claim to be some of the best of the period. A great Woody Allen film, highly recommended.
- - kmcca5 from East Sussex
  - Posted 02 Oct 2004 unknown
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

This was a very disappointing film. With the combined talents of Sean Penn, Uma Therma,Samatha Morton and Woody Allan it should have been a classic. Unfortunately the story fails to hold together. There have been other and better spoof biographies for this one to succeed
- - Ian#51 from EDINBURGH
  - Posted 19 Mar 2004 09:20
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Interesting

Another pleasing Woody film. I get the feeling here, as with 'Small Time Crooks' and 'Celebrity' that he is not COMPLETELY pushing himself with all of his more recent efforts- however this is a very enjoyable film which manages to do with very little screen time from Woody.

A great story- the story of a pretend jazz musician and his career ups and downs, as seen through the eyes of many industry insiders (one played by woody)

The trials and tribulations of the singer seem close to the bone- i'm sure they're semi-autobiographical for Woody.

Good film
- - Daniel Johnson from London, England
  - Posted 30 Jun 2004 unknown
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Sweet And Lowdown
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

ok

Sean Penn's acting was good. One of Alan's poorer efforts i reckon.
- - joseph cannon from Scotland
  - Posted 14 Nov 2006 19:39
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Interesting

Another pleasing Woody film. I get the feeling here, as with 'Small Time Crooks' and 'Celebrity' that he is not COMPLETELY pushing himself with all of his more recent efforts- however this is a very enjoyable film which manages to do with very little screen time from Woody.

A great story- the story of a pretend jazz musician and his career ups and downs, as seen through the eyes of many industry insiders (one played by woody)

The trials and tribulations of the singer seem close to the bone- i'm sure they're semi-autobiographical for Woody.

Good film
- - Daniel Johnson from London, England
  - Posted 30 Jun 2004 unknown

11 out of 11 people found this review helpful

Lets go to the dump and shoot some rats!

Cracking! A mocumentry style film about the life of fictional jazz guitarist Emmett Ray.

A fantastic comedy performance from Penn as Emmett Ray a man obsessed with his music, watching trains, shooting rats at the dump and his status as the greatest guitarist that ever lived apart from the feared and respected French Gypsy Django Reinhardt.

The film charts his colourful rise from small time pimp and kleptomaniac to the recording of the work that experts claim to be some of the best of the period. A great Woody Allen film, highly recommended.
- - kmcca5 from East Sussex
  - Posted 02 Oct 2004 unknown
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful

This was a very disappointing film. With the combined talents of Sean Penn, Uma Therma,Samatha Morton and Woody Allan it should have been a classic. Unfortunately the story fails to hold together. There have been other and better spoof biographies for this one to succeed
- - Ian#51 from EDINBURGH
  - Posted 19 Mar 2004 09:20
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Interesting

Another pleasing Woody film. I get the feeling here, as with 'Small Time Crooks' and 'Celebrity' that he is not COMPLETELY pushing himself with all of his more recent efforts- however this is a very enjoyable film which manages to do with very little screen time from Woody.

A great story- the story of a pretend jazz musician and his career ups and downs, as seen through the eyes of many industry insiders (one played by woody)

The trials and tribulations of the singer seem close to the bone- i'm sure they're semi-autobiographical for Woody.

Good film
- - Daniel Johnson from London, England
  - Posted 30 Jun 2004 unknown
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Fantastic Movie

Very funny but also moving film. Excellent acting by Sean Penn. I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good story. Very original film. Watch it!!
- - A customer from Edinburgh, Scotland
  - Posted 17 Aug 2005 18:22
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

ok

Sean Penn's acting was good. One of Alan's poorer efforts i reckon.
- - joseph cannon from Scotland
  - Posted 14 Nov 2006 19:39
[Highly rated reviewer]

At last a good Woody Allen film

Light, trivial but fun. A return to the Woody Allen of Zelig and Purple Rose of Cairo.

Wonderfullly preposterous. Sean Penn and Samantha Morton are a delight to watch.
- - neil1 from London
  - Posted 13 Dec 2004 19:35
Decidedly Dodgy

A very disappointing film, especially considering all the promising component parts - Woody Allen, Sean Penn, Uma Thurman, Samantha Morton. The talking heads are excruciating and the documentary format seems like an afterthought. It really doesn't work at all. The acting is decidedly dodgy with the exception of Morton, who is brilliant, perhaps in part because she doesn't have to wrestle with the dubious dialogue. In its defence, it is beautifully shot and the costumes, especially Uma's, are fabulous. Aside from this, it’s all pretty dire.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 18 Dec 2006 21:49
0 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Looked good on paper

Sean Penn is miscast here. His comic side comes out quite well, but everything else he puts in to this falls flat. And he really can't give a convincing impression of playing the guitar (which is a bit of a problem in a film about a guitar player).

Seeing as this film totally revolves around Penn's character it's gotta be thumbs down from here, I'm afraid.
- - ClareAndJohnny from London
  - Posted 08 Sep 2005 13:43
0 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Soporific

A biopic about some obscure 1930s jazz player. As if that doesn't sound boring enough, it also contains interviews with various 'jazz historians'. Jeez. One of the most boring films I have ever seen. Might be enjoyable for jazz nerds but everyone else should leave well alone.
- - A customer from UK
  - Posted 08 Oct 2004 22:08

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Critics' reviews (6)
After the disappointing Celebrity, Woody Allen returned to form with this sparkling comedy drama about a fictional 1930s jazzman whose life only makes sense when he's playing guitar. Sean Penn stars as Emmet Ray, a kleptomaniac musical genius whose idea of a good time is to watch trains, shoot rats and seduce women. Happiness comes in a sweetly fulfilling relationship with mute innocent Hattie (Samantha Morton), though the feckless Ray is soon up to his old tricks with society gal Blanche (Uma Thurman). A host of jazz experts, including Allen himself, delivers straight-faced tributes to Ray's gift, and the costumes and production design are splendidly opulent. But it's British actress Morton who steals the show, getting her revenge after Penn breaks her heart by silently breaking ours.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Done in the style of a biopic, this is a delighfully inventive comedy, in love with the period and its music and able to communicate that emotion to its audience; the central performances of Penn, as the musician destructive of himself and others, and Sam
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
"...There's a sweetness to SWEET AND LOWDOWN whenever Penn and Morton interact on screen....Hers is a wondrous performance....Penn, who couldn't give a bad performance if he tried, is also fun..."
- Box Office
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
"Woody Allen is in a mellow mood with SWEET AND LOWDOWN....A wonderful showcase for presenting some of the great jazz standards he loves so much..."
- Variety
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
The title of Woody Allen's film just about sums it up in three respects. First, it evokes the '30s jazz scene setting.... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
"...Fizzy, fast-paced, eccentric....Penn and Morton both deservedly received Oscar nods..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
- Total Film
- Posted 11 Mar 2005

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

- Sweet And Lowdown
  
  Allen's pseudo-biopic about 1930's jazz guitarist Emmet Ray (Penn) is a personal tribute by the director to a period of musical history that has inspired and influenced him greatly. Penn immerses himself into the role of the boozing, womanizing Ray with his usual intensity (this time, with a comic ...