Sweet and Lowdown in Your Coffee Tastes like Tofu

Go ahead, Bookmark me...I dare you! In an effort to create dialogue at the oft ignored water cooler, I have been asked to write a weekly movie recommendation. Though many of you may not know (or even care), I was a dilettante in the movie scene at UW, as well as a radio DJ hosting a film talk show. Because I have seen a movie or two, and because I’m hoping that most of you have 2 hours each week to dedicate to trying something new, management has decided to give me a shot at writing these short reviews. So if you aren’t much of a movie fan, or just think this is irrelevant or unnecessary, you can delete these e-mails as quickly as they come to you each week….just another piece of e-trash. For the rest of you, no matter how adventurous, I hope that this proves to be a fun and entertaining exercise in movie exploration. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that the movies I will be reviewing may or may not be to your taste. The point of these weekly e-mails is to get you interested in some new movies, not to judge one way or another if the movie of the week is the right one for you. Only you can make that decision. That said, I hope you get into some of these pictures, because they can be a lot of fun, and a great catalyst for dialogue. And of course….If you like the music in the movie, the soundtrack is available, and I hope to hear it playing in someone’s cube or office in the near future. So let’s start. Movie Ratings: !=Not adventurous !!=Slightly Adventurous !!!=Are you sure you want to try this? !!!!=Whoa Nelly! Sweet and Lowdown Starring: Sean Penn, Samantha Morton Director: Woody Allen Rating: !! Where you can find it: Madison Pub. Library, Bongo Video, 4-Star Video Heaven, Other movie rental shops (maybe not blockbuster, though I’m not sure) Although the names Woody Allen and Sean Penn might make you stop reading right here, let’s just start by saying it’s not that kind of movie. Sweet and Lowdown is a modestly directed, well scripted and acted fictional bio-pic focusing on the life of Emmet Ray (Penn), a classical jazz guitarist. The movie takes place in the 1930’s or so, when Ray is said to have been his prime. As he moves from town to town, leaving scores of women and obscene debts in his wake, Ray plays his heart out for the eastern seaboard’s wealthy and elite. When he’s not playing music at the big clubs, Emmet finds his way to darker corners, where he can gamble and pick the night away. In his spare time, Emmet enjoys the odd hobbies of watching trains and shooting rats. Though Ray is most likely the best guitarist in the United States, he is a distant second in the world, behind Django Reinhardt. Somewhere along the way, Emmet meets Hattie, a beautiful mute who falls desperately in love with him. Without a clue in the world, they venture forth unknowingly toward the great gig in the sky. Though you may hate either or both of the stars of this movie, you still may want to give Sweet and Lowdown a chance. Because of the nature of the film, Sean Penn’s political beliefs are held in check, as well as Woody Allen’s almost incessant whining. Allen has almost zero screen time, which keeps him from irritating the viewer. And Emmet Ray is described as “a self-centered, egotistical creep with talent” which makes this role not much of a stretch for Penn. The highlight of the movie, though, is a breakthrough performance by Samantha Morton--who recently played Agatha, the pre-cog in Minority Report. As Hattie, Emmet Ray’s mute love interest, Morton earned herself an Oscar Nomination for playing the heart and soul of a man whose conscience was long destroyed. Though she has been recognized in her native England for playing only the most challenging roles, Samantha Morton has yet to break out in the United States, if that is even her goal. Either way, this is one of her best roles to date, if only for her infectious cuteness. With darling expressions that give us more of an insight into Hattie’s character than most actresses can achieve with lines, Morton is the clear winner here. In summary, Sweet and Lowdown gives us only the best angle of three very talented, often misguided artists. If you’re in for a quiet night at home, snuggling with someone special (or just snuggling a glass of port), this movie is a good bet.