Sean Penn in Great Character Study

Rating: 8/10 (23 February 2002)

"Sweet and Lowdown" is presented as a Ken Burns-style documentary on the life of 1930s jazz guitar great, Emmet Ray, played by Sean Penn. Woody Allen only appears as an interviewee, talking about the mythical Ray, while 95% of the movie is Ray's adult life told in flashback. It's a great period piece, lovingly assembled by Mr. Allen. And Ray himself, his only redeeming quality that of playing guitar, is wonderfully portrayed by Mr. Penn. Not a story as much as a character study, we follow Ray on his self-destructive, delusional path through the juke joints and jazz clubs of 1930s America. Although this is a Woody Allen movie, it is definitely not a Woody Allen comedy. But it is very, very good, and worth a rental, if only to see Mr. Penn give one of his best performances.