Honeydripper

Kevin Crust, reviewing for the LA Times recommends "Honeydripper":

For "Honeydripper," Sayles' 16th film as a writer-director, he turns to the roots of rock 'n' roll for his subject and 1950 Alabama for his locale. A musical fable, the film uses his typically robust ensemble performances, crackling dialogue and a boogie-woogie soul to tell the story of a man facing a crossroads in the small town of Harmony. (Crust's entire review of Honeydripper for the LA Times)

Synopsis: Honeydripper

It’s 1950 and it’s a make or break weekend for Tyrone Purvis (Danny Glover), the proprietor of the Honeydripper Lounge. Deep in debt, Tyrone is desperate to bring back the crowds that used to come to his place. He decides to lay off his long-time blues singer Bertha Mae, and announces that he’s hired a famous guitar player, Guitar Sam, for a one night only gig in order to save the club. Into town drifts Sonny Blake, a young man with nothing to his name but big dreams and the guitar case in his hand. Rejected by Tyrone when he applies to play at the Honeydripper, he is intercepted by the corrupt local Sheriff, arrested for vagrancy and rented out as an unpaid cotton picker to the highest bidder. But when Tyrone's ace-in-the-hole fails to materialize at the train station, his desperation leads him back to Sonny and the strange, wire-dangling object in his guitar case. The Honeydripper lounge is all set to play its part in rock n' roll history.

Opened December 28, 2007 Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min.
PG-13 brief violence and some suggestive material
Cast: Danny Glover, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Keb' Mo', Yaya DaCosta, Charles S. Dutton, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Kel Mitchell
Director: John Sayles
Genres: Period Film, Musical Drama

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