Withheld emotion.

Rating: 9/10 (21 August 2010)

Sweet and Lowdown is the type of Woody Allen movie you wouldn't expect the legend to make, particularly after seeing a nasty and brutish piece like Deconstructing Harry. Yet, Allen shows his most gentle side here; by giving us two terrific and engaging characters, we are deeply engrossed in this fictional tale about a Depression-era jazz player who considers himself to be the best in the world, or at least the best next to Django Reinhardt.
Emmet Ray is a fictional creation from Woody Allen's mind, but I find it fascinating how penetrating he is able to go in order to explore every facet of his character. Sean Penn is also able to bring forth the true feelings, or lack of feelings, Ray exhibits to nearly everyone he encounters. It is a great performance in a great career for Penn, and the same can be said for Samantha Morton who is brilliant as the mute Hattie who loves Emmet but is continually rejected by his lofty ideas of remaining completely detached.
This film is a loose reworking of Fellini's classic film La Strada, which also tells the tale of a great artist (in this case a circus strongman) and his relationship with a mute girl who loves him unconditionally. Both films end similarly, and I think it isn't too far of a stretch to say that Allen's ending may hit even harder the emotions than Fellini. What Allen does here is gives us a very powerful and sad love story, effectively recreate the era of a time in America when resources were low but joy was high and plant a little sweetness and niceness into us for 90 minutes. The film looks great in its photography, sets and costumes and also has two enamoring performances by Penn and Morton. Whether a fan of Woody Allen or not, this is a film to see.