Artfully fun with great music

Rating: 7/10 (16 October 2000)

Sweet and Lowdown is not one of Woody Allen's best films. But once you get past that, the movie is artfully fun with great music. Sean Penn does a fine job as the wanna-be-famous guitarist, Emmet Ray. This is not Penn's greatest work (see Dead Man Walking for THAT performance), but he does just fine here, capturing the good, the bad and the funny of his character. He really is one of America's best modern day actors. Samantha Morton also does a wonderful job as Hattie. Her warm face and mannerisms will make you smile. The other star is the music. The guitar-playing by Dick Hyman inspired me to buy the CD. This is good stuff. However, if I were to be critical of Sweet and Lowdown, I'd say that it doesn't offer enough . . . enough insight into the characters, enough meat to sink your teeth into. But then that's not really the type of movie it is intended to be.