Search - Songwriter on DVD

Songwriter: One of The Best Pictures of The Year

Laslo Draga | S.F. | 10/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dr. Drew Casper PhD., Professor of Critical Studies at U.S.C.'s School of Cinema/Television lamented the lack of Oscar(tm) consideration for this as "one of the best pictures of the year"(1984). As one of his former students, I concurred wholeheartedly. Having seen this movie 3 times upon it's very limited original theatrical release, and countless times since, I think it's a shame the studio didn't know how to market this as a universally appealing Musical Comedy. Produced before the heyday day of The Sundance Film Festival, and before studios knew how to market Independent Films, this hilarious movie was neglected a proper release and ignored except by the small elite group of critics who saw it on the tiniest screen of Hollywood's Beverly Center and in film school. Everyone loved it! Tri-Star mistakenly thinking a movie starring Country Music legends Willie Nelson and Kris Kristoffersen would only appeal in the South, stifled it's theatrical run by limiting it's release to cities south of the Mason Dixon Line. But this movie is actually a very, witty, and fairly sophisticated comedy better suited to a wider City Slicker and Art House movie crowd. As a native San Franciscan who cannot stomach Country music, I made its Soundtrack the first (and last) Country Music record purchase I ever made. I loved this movie, considering it among my top ten favorite movies of all time."

"Songwriter" an interesting glimse of music industry

Brad Moffitt | 03/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was in a Nashville music establishment in February of 2000 and heard legendary singer/songwriter Joe Sun talking about the movie "Songwriter" with Willie and Kris. I jumped on Amazon and ordered a copy. "Songwriter" is a look at the music industry through the escapades of two ornery music industry insiders (Willie and Kris) and the trail of schemes they leave behind. Willie is lovable as a singer-turned-con man. It's a fun movie to watch for music fans and fans of Willie and Kris. Real songwriters, singers, and producers will find it a little far fetched..... or simply a parady of experiences. The sound track is excellent, and Kristofferson fans will notice an early version of the song "Under the Gun" which appeared on his late 90's album "A Moment of Forever." Rip Torn and Leslie Ann Down are very entertaining in roles as dastardly promoter and a binge drinking singer respectively."

An Overlooked Gem

Stanley H. Nemeth | Garden Grove, CA United States | 01/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps unwarranted negative expectations about the cast (Willie and Kris) and the supposed subject matter of this clever and winning film (country music) can explain why so few movie lovers - who would surely recognize its merit - appear to have seen it. Far from being just another southwestern guy buddy picture, it's in fact a sharp, satiric comedy about rascally but talented artists, exploited by greedy entrepreneurs and managers who deserve and finally get witty comeuppances.

Nelson and Kristofferson are both strongly engaging actors here, while Leslie Ann Warren as a drunk chanteuse who becomes a celebrity and Rip Torn as a shameless promoter but good family man have never been better.

The film has a skillful screenplay by Bud Shrake which succeeds in the difficult job of balancing wit and commendable sentiment, so that the film's narrative and dialogue, at once funny and moving, are never corny.

Directing this first-rate comic script, the elsewhere inconsistent Alan Rudolph has here one of his finest achievements."

Fun movie - great soundtrack

Stanley H. Nemeth | 03/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I enjoyed the movie a lot, but I enjoyed the soundtrack even more. Songwriter, Under the Gun, etc... now I just need to find a CD copy of the soundtrack (or maybe a DVD copy of the movie?)."