Love Song for Bobby Long

[glinda]

Anyone seen this movie?

It's not a great film, but the New Orleans scenes and music make it quite enjoyable and a nice little tease for jazzfest. John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson. 2004 I think, an independent film.

Three misfits thrown together in an old New Orleans house near the river (wonder where?) get acquainted. Alcoholism, southern cliches, lots of literature references... all of which don't quite hold together. But you do get a real sense of the city.

I got led to it when I looked up Grayson Capps (who's performing in town during fest) and saw on his site that his music is featured in this film.

[Cleophus]

I agree -- not a great film, but I'd recommend it to folks for the NOLA scenery and vibe.

[marignygreg]

I really liked that movie. A great N.O. movie that goes beyond the tourist zone (Quarter/Bourbon Street/Garden District,etc ). My guess is that house is in Holy Cross or deep in the Bywater.

[Goose]

I enjoyed it as well. Didn't Theresa Ansersson perform at the end? I saw it a year or two ago and seem to recall her singing in it.

[Cleophus]

I really liked that movie. A great N.O. movie that goes beyond the tourist zone (Quarter/Bourbon Street/Garden District,etc ). My guess is that house is in Holy Cross or deep in the Bywater.

I haven't seen the film in a while, but I thought the house was on the West Bank.

[chrisjoseph]

anything with Scarlett Johansonn is worth seeing.

[jazzykeb]

agreed Chris, agreed. Nawlins and Scarlett, can't get any better. Oh, did someone say something about music?

[Corona]

saw it, got the DVD :)
I loved it for that local flavour......

[ibjamn]

I loved it! Yep Theresa was at the end. I don't know where the house was, but I laughed my ass off at the beginning, when Bobby walked walked from The Huey P. Long bridge, thru the Garden District, thru the Bywater to the house, oh, say 15 or 20 miles worth. Pretty good for an old washed-up alky! ;)

[Festvet]

I haven't seen the film in a while, but I thought the house was on the West Bank.
Absolutely terrible acting, but anytime you get to see Deborah Kara Unger AND Scarett Johansson togehter, well...

Yes, the house is on the westbank, directly across from riverbend uptown

[Festvet]

I loved it! Yep Theresa was at the end. I don't know where the house was, but I laughed my ass off at the beginning, when Bobby walked walked from The Huey P. Long bridge, thru the Garden District, thru the Bywater to the house, oh, say 15 or 20 miles worth. Pretty good for an old washed-up alky! ;)
YYR Jenn, that was f**n hilarious. I wondered how ya'll natives liked that bit of editing.

[Yangety!]

I got led to it when I looked up Grayson Capps (who's performing in town during fest) and saw on his site that his music is featured in this film.


The movie is based on a book written by Grayson's dad.

[LaTiDa]

Saw it about four months ago and it started my jonesing for N'awlins a little earlier then usual.

Recomended the movie by some natives for the "scenery and flavor." Loved it just for that... and the music... and I swear I was in a bar just like that... but then I've been in a lot of bars :rolleyes: Also, made copies of the soundtrack for the virgins that are coming along this year and told them to watch it.

[Jordan]

Be sure to go see Grayson Capps (also plays in the Stumpknockers) (used to play in Stavin' Chain). Those are some great songs.

[stlbarb]

Anyone seen this movie?

It's not a great film, but the New Orleans scenes and music make it quite enjoyable and a nice little tease for jazzfest. John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson. 2004 I think, an independent film.

Three misfits thrown together in an old New Orleans house near the river (wonder where?) get acquainted. Alcoholism, southern cliches, lots of literature references... all of which don't quite hold together. But you do get a real sense of the city.

I got led to it when I looked up Grayson Capps (who's performing in town during fest) and saw on his site that his music is featured in this film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369672/
adding it to my list.
must have been in & out of theatres quickly - if at all.
i love bad movies. i thought Ishtar was funny (just not worth the $$ spent making it).

[stlbarb]

its available from/at netflix & blockbuster.

[Theotherone]

I thought the movie was good - not great. I think it was the first movie I had seen Scarlett in and I guess I was smitten. I read the book after seeing the movie. The book has a different title which I can't recall right now. I kinda of wonder why anyone would have made a movie from such a not so good book. What was the name of the book?

[stlbarb]

I thought the movie was good - not great. I think it was the first movie I had seen Scarlett in and I guess I was smitten. I read the book after seeing the movie. The book has a different title which I can't recall right now. I kinda of wonder why anyone would have made a movie from such a not so good book. What was the name of the book?

from a review on imdb.com
For those who have read Ronald Everett Capps' novel 'Off Magazine Street' and savor the slow, lugubrious, decadent pattern of life in the poor section of New Orleans, then Screenwriter/Director Shainee Gabel's transformation of those ideas into A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG will certainly satisfy. Though Gabel has manipulated characters names and identification to fit her sensitive interpretation of Capps' story into a visual manifestation, the changes are sound and serve to make this remarkably fine low budget film a humid, alcoholically lethargic slice of New Orleans as viable as, say, Tennessee Williams. There is a captured ambiance of the South complete with decay, shanties, intermittent rain, and aimless broken lives that sets a fine stage for a rather minimal story.

[mightyradgumbo]

I liked it as well. I didn't know Grayson Capps' father wrote the book. I like Grayson's music-gotta read the book now. I find I like the books better than the movies.

[Corona]

Saw it about four months ago and it started my jonesing for N'awlins a little earlier then usual.

Recomended the movie by some natives for the "scenery and flavor." Loved it just for that... and the music... and I swear I was in a bar just like that... but then I've been in a lot of bars :rolleyes: Also, made copies of the soundtrack for the virgins that are coming along this year and told them to watch it.
oh yeah!! I forgot, Ken (Seefood) took me to that bar during Mirliton Fest...it's in the Bywater and so cool. Talked to the bartender all about it. A real old historical watering hole :)

[Corona]

I liked it as well. I didn't know Grayson Capps' father wrote the book. I like Grayson's music-gotta read the book now. I find I like the books better than the movies.
the books are ALWAYS better than the movies in my opinion....never once did I love the movie more. Can anyone think of when the movie was better?

[stlbarb]

the books are ALWAYS better than the movies in my opinion....never once did I love the movie more. Can anyone think of when the movie was better?

long ago i thought the movie Love Story was better than the book. i read teh book after the movie, and it had no adjectives/adverbs. it was just so matter of fact. and the movie had been so emotional.
of course, now when i watch it, i laugh and gag.

[Corona]

roflmao....I was wonderin'!

[stlbarb]

roflmao....I was wonderin'!

I THINK MAYBE I READ THE BOOK THINKING IT HAD TO BE BETTER THAN THE MOVIE. I'VE SEEN MANY A GOOD BOOK RUINED BY A BAD MOVIE.

i thought the mini series Thornbirds did a pretty good job of sticking to the book, but it did not exceed the book. another one of those saga's i read in college. read more before cable tv.

[Theotherone]

the books are ALWAYS better than the movies in my opinion....never once did I love the movie more. Can anyone think of when the movie was better?

I think I remember the movie "Love Song for Bobby Long" having a good NOLA feel. Humid and rainy and laid back. The book didn't have the same feel and there was something vile about it. I don't remember exactly what it was but something I didn't like - gratuitous violence or profanity – or the such.

[Zydekitten]

I watched JFK for the first time today and that got the NOLA love juices really flowing, as there are so many great New Orleans locations used in that film - including the fairgrounds!!!

[talking to self: "only 48 more sleeps, Kitten; only 48 more sleeps"]

[glinda]

I love watching movies filmed in New Orleans leading up to JF. I even rented Pretty Baby recently.

Good reminder about JFK, kitten, haven't seen that on in a loooong time.

Another oldie I like is "Jezebel" with Bette Davis.