sweet Woody-back's good-ass song

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2006)

When "Sweet and Lowdown" came out, I was somehow led to believe that Emmet Ray was a real person. Although it turns out that he wasn't, this is still a very well done movie. Sean Penn makes the most of the role, with the same sort of intensity that he always brings to his roles. He shows Ray as a rather impolite weirdo whom you can't help but admire - he is a great guitarist. Samantha Morton is equally interesting as Ray's mute love interest Hattie. It just goes to show that Woody Allen can do good work when he doesn't focus on neurotic rich New Yorkers. Also starring Uma Thurman, Anthony LaPaglia, Gretchen Mol, John Waters, Brad Garrett, and Allen as himself.