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Sonny | Year: 2003 Classification: Drama Actors/Actresses: - Brenda Blethyn - James Franco - Mena Suvari Sometimes things just don't work Given the talent of Nicolas Cage (even though this is his debut as a director), Brenda Blethyn, James Franco, Mena Suvari, Brenda Vacarro, and Harry Dean Stanton, one would think this little film was a sure-fire hit. The ingredients are all there, but the problem is the story itself. Many books and films are out there telling the tale of a young hustler who attempts to forsake his old life for something better, only to fall back on his only known existence that works, even with the added twist that the hustling techniques were taught from the crib by his call girl mother who now relies on her protege son to be her old age pension. Tennessee Williams handled these twisted tales with sleazy dignity, giving us characters developed well enough that we could believe them if not identify with them. There is where this film falls on its face: the script (and director) are more concerned with graphically showing us the spectrum of sexual deviation than with taking the time for such indispensibly important issues as character development. Cage may in time match his acting skills with directing skills, but here he wastes the talent of such troopers as Blethyn, Stanton and Vacarro as well as promising newcomers Franco and Suvari. Cage' Disappointing Debut as Director;Still Stanton is Great "Sonny," Nicholas Cage's debut work as director, is about the titular man (James Franco, "Spider-man") who has returned from army to his hometown, New Orleans. The time is 1981, and in front of the house he stops, to meet his mother again (played by over-the-top Brenda Blethyn). And Sonny, fed with his previous life as gigolo in there, confesses that he is going to have a day job in another city. Now you get the drift of the story. You see, Sonny will find the tough reality, and the easier way of life is more congenial to him. And there is a love interest, love possibly a true one, in a girl played by Mena Suvari. Against the backdrop of the streets of New Orleans, Sonny tries to find the meaning of life in his easy lifestyle. The purpose of the film is honorable, but the result is nothing remarkable. The problem is, sorry to say, the directions of Nick Cage, who let the actors indulge in each scene too much. The emotional tensions between characters do not go up; the story is too slow, and the result is too predictale. And most of all. the bad acting from many. I don't name names, but when the character looks laughing when he is supposed to be crying, there is something seriously wrong with that. But there is one great thing about "Sonny," and that is Harry Dean Stanton, who plays "Henry" a perpetual loser, who gets so accustomed to being loser that one small win at a card game (against Seymore Cassel) literally sends him to the Heaven. Into Henry's weather-beaten face and down-trodden life, Harry Dean Stanton infuses the life, and even something sublime and noble. Simply great. According to the press material, the script was offered to Nick Cage about 15 years ago (as actor), and that explains the similar atmosphere to the 80s films like "American Gigolo." Like that film, "Sonny" shows the languid feeling of the anti-hero, but finally goes nowhere. Much Better Than Expected!!! After seeing this movie on the New Release wall month after month and always considering it but never enough to actually rent it, I finally saw it on a cable movie channel. I liked it SO much I decided to buy it. To some, it may not be "compelling" but it definitely reeled me in. And personally, I thought it was SUPERB directing from Nick. And knowing he was the director made sense why Mena reminded me of Patricia quite a bit... Nick even has a small part which I thought was GREAT! I FELL IN LOVE with James Franco in this movie, as well as with the story and cinematography... It's definitely NOT a movie for everyone and that's why I only gave it four stars instead of five... Buy Sonny at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Sonny Search with the Priority Search Engine on Sonny This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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