A Love Song for Bobby Long
Product ID: 28099343
Details
- GenreDrama
- FormatAC-3 Color DVD
- Contributor(function(f) {
- LanguageEnglish French
- Runtime2 hours
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A misfit drama in the grand Southern (by way of Hollywood) tradition, A Love Song for Bobby Long takes its cue from Carson McCullers's The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter . Re-establishing his indie-cred, John Travolta adds Bobby Long to his gallery of colorful characters. Hobbled by an infected toe, the 50-something Bobby is a white-haired, unshaven, vodka-soaked mess. But hes also a former English professor, and the piles of books in his ramshackle house, and the authors he drunkenly quotes give him a wounded dignity. Just how wounded will be revealed over the course of this atmospheric tale of redemption and penance. Bobby lives with Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht), his former teaching assistant who is writing a book about his mentor, a project deferred by drinking, sitting around with the locals, or engaging in quotation oneupsmanship. Scarlett Johansson ( Lost in Translation , Ghost World ) holds her own against Travolta ("You are such a shameless ham," she chastises the loquacious Bobby) as Pursy, the estranged daughter of Lorraine, a recently deceased singer-songwriter in whose house Bobby and Lawson reside. A battle of wills between the two men and the headstrong young girl gives way to the formation of a tentative family unit. Pursy agrees to return to high school if Bobby and Lawson quit drinking. There will be the expected revelations, recriminations, and dramatic confrontations, but what makes this Love Song resonate are the performances by a cast that rarely hits a false note. --Donald Liebenson An estranged teenage girl returns to her family home only to discover she has an unexpected roommate: her late mother's lover, a boozy academic who's slowly drinking himself to death. Review: Great plot well done - Great movie. Review: The Story of Invisible People - What if you could tell the story of the people who are overlooked every day without notice, people who are simply living both the tragedy and grandeur of their own lives? A Love Song for Bobby Long is a film concerned with stories and how they look on the inside while they are being lived, unromantic but still deeply meaningful. It is a movie about love and loss, redemption and guilt, forgiveness and second chances, but it keeps such victories on a small, intimate scale. In terms of a simple run-down, hardened teenager Purslane Will learns of her absentee mother’s death and relocates to New Orleans to inherit her mother’s house. Hers is the story of a forgotten child equally angry with her elusive mother and desperate for some connection to her. Her initial venture to New Orleans is meant to be temporary, but she is ultimately pulled into the lives of the friends her mother left behind. What I personally find evocative about the equally tough and bighearted Percy is how easy it is to see her cynicism is not her natural state; it’s a learned defense against years of disappointment. Scarlett Johansson keeps Percy guarded and poised, but glimmers of hope and yearning break through and it’s impossible to not want her to find peace and direction. Equally engaging are the two alcoholic men with whom Percy shares her mother’s house: embattled and broken literature professor Bobby Long who is a manic pendulum swing from boyish exuberance to feral self-destruction in all its nastiness, and the softer spoken Lawson, Long’s ex teaching assistant. Both men grapple with each other and with the burden of an unspeakable past, and while initially they perceive Percy’s entrance as a disruption of their lives, they come to rely on her as maybe their last chance of salvation possible. In a smaller film like this (and by small I mean intimate), location is everything. The New Orleans of A Love Song for Bobby Long breathes and sweats and pulses. The “siren of a city” is captured by the sizzling sound of cicadas and by the smoky, gritty zydeco jazz clubs. It’s an impossibly wide blue sky and the husky rasp of a street musician’s voice. No film I’ve seen has ever felt like the south as much as this one does, and in doing so director Shainee Gabel captures the romanticism refugees Bobby and Lawson had been searching for. Equally gorgeous is the music, again bringing to life the sound of NOLA and Bourbon Street. I’ve seen complaints that the film is clichéd (there are certain plot points that are telegraphed fairly early, but to be fair they still feel natural and as realistic as the rest of the movie) and overly sentimental, but I wouldn’t in good faith say the movie doesn’t earn its emotional moments. As a viewer you want the characters to find a sense of closure and justice, whatever it might be, and while the film ends on a generally happy note, it isn’t saccharine or convenient. Ultimately this is one of my favorite films that is pretty much on constant replay during the long summer months. I don’t often recommend it when asked about my favorite movies, and I don’t know why, other than I like that it feels like a secret. Like its own small world to disappear into, where the people feel sad and scarred and brutally real, and where it’s never really too late because we know God and God knows us.
| Contributor | Bob Yari, Crossroads Films; Destination Films; El Camino Pictures; Emmet/Furla Films; GreeneStreet Films, LLC, David Lancaster, Gabriel Macht, John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Shainee Gabel Contributor Bob Yari, Crossroads Films; Destination Films; El Camino Pictures; Emmet/Furla Films; GreeneStreet Films, LLC, David Lancaster, Gabriel Macht, John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Shainee Gabel See more |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 578 Reviews |
| Format | Subtitled |
| Genre | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 2 hours |
B**A
Great plot well done
Great movie.
C**A
The Story of Invisible People
What if you could tell the story of the people who are overlooked every day without notice, people who are simply living both the tragedy and grandeur of their own lives? A Love Song for Bobby Long is a film concerned with stories and how they look on the inside while they are being lived, unromantic but still deeply meaningful. It is a movie about love and loss, redemption and guilt, forgiveness and second chances, but it keeps such victories on a small, intimate scale. In terms of a simple run-down, hardened teenager Purslane Will learns of her absentee mother’s death and relocates to New Orleans to inherit her mother’s house. Hers is the story of a forgotten child equally angry with her elusive mother and desperate for some connection to her. Her initial venture to New Orleans is meant to be temporary, but she is ultimately pulled into the lives of the friends her mother left behind. What I personally find evocative about the equally tough and bighearted Percy is how easy it is to see her cynicism is not her natural state; it’s a learned defense against years of disappointment. Scarlett Johansson keeps Percy guarded and poised, but glimmers of hope and yearning break through and it’s impossible to not want her to find peace and direction. Equally engaging are the two alcoholic men with whom Percy shares her mother’s house: embattled and broken literature professor Bobby Long who is a manic pendulum swing from boyish exuberance to feral self-destruction in all its nastiness, and the softer spoken Lawson, Long’s ex teaching assistant. Both men grapple with each other and with the burden of an unspeakable past, and while initially they perceive Percy’s entrance as a disruption of their lives, they come to rely on her as maybe their last chance of salvation possible. In a smaller film like this (and by small I mean intimate), location is everything. The New Orleans of A Love Song for Bobby Long breathes and sweats and pulses. The “siren of a city” is captured by the sizzling sound of cicadas and by the smoky, gritty zydeco jazz clubs. It’s an impossibly wide blue sky and the husky rasp of a street musician’s voice. No film I’ve seen has ever felt like the south as much as this one does, and in doing so director Shainee Gabel captures the romanticism refugees Bobby and Lawson had been searching for. Equally gorgeous is the music, again bringing to life the sound of NOLA and Bourbon Street. I’ve seen complaints that the film is clichéd (there are certain plot points that are telegraphed fairly early, but to be fair they still feel natural and as realistic as the rest of the movie) and overly sentimental, but I wouldn’t in good faith say the movie doesn’t earn its emotional moments. As a viewer you want the characters to find a sense of closure and justice, whatever it might be, and while the film ends on a generally happy note, it isn’t saccharine or convenient. Ultimately this is one of my favorite films that is pretty much on constant replay during the long summer months. I don’t often recommend it when asked about my favorite movies, and I don’t know why, other than I like that it feels like a secret. Like its own small world to disappear into, where the people feel sad and scarred and brutally real, and where it’s never really too late because we know God and God knows us.
T**.
This movie is excellent John Travolta is great.
One of John Travoltas best made movies 🎬 filmed in New Orleans. I love this movie and you will too.
B**L
good movie
Best movie ever would buy again.
B**I
One of my Favorites of all time
This is a fantastic movie. I imagine it flopped at the box office; I'm not sure, but, I think it is genius. Especially if you like love, New Orleans, music, you're all set! Add John Travolta and "what's her name" Johanson on the list; what more can you ask for? Great turn of events with a twist. My family does not like it, they think it is a sad story. I think it is a great story for any one you know who may drink toooooooo much!!!! Buy a copy today for only $5.00 you won't go wrong. Some of Scarlett's best acting is in this movie, as well as "Lost in Translation", with Bill Murray filmed in Japan. There you have it, two movies starring big time before she went big time ....... they're Golden. If you like Robert Redford, maybe you should also look up "The Horse Whisperer" also Starring S. J.. She was probably 11 or 12. Great movie,bye!
A**S
Wonderful Movie
This movie is wonderful. The bad language could be taken out and it would have been better. The reason for the 4 Stars is that there are no special features on the DVD. I purchased this DVD years ago and it stopped working. I was hoping this replacement was the same but it did not have the Special Features I enjoyed on the other DVD.
P**3
the best film
Of all of the films John Travolta has made, this one is probably the best. I cried after watching it and I have watched it three times thus far. Highly recommended, have the Kleenex ready.
D**R
If you're an intelligent but poor person from the Deep South, you'll get this movie
Even if you're not that person, you'll still get it, just in a different way. It's one of Scarlett Johansson's best performances, and certainly John Travolta's best. A real surprise here is Gabriel Macht, if all you know him from is Suits? His soulful performance as an alcoholic, down and out writer seeking redemption for something he was never guilty of is also pretty amazing. Though this film is nothing like the excellent book it's named for, it contains a lyrical, and at times not so gentle, reminder that family can be both made or born into, and that families who break apart will come together again since that is the nature of true family.
H**E
Quelle leçon de vie
John Travolta est magnifique dans ce film où il est mis à nue !!!! ce film touche un sujet complexe sur ces pères qui se sont retrouvés Père sans vraiment le vouloir, sans avoir pris du recul et encore trop jeune et ou immature pour assumer ce rôle...Mais il y a aussi dans ce film, une reflexion sur le devoir et le vouloir...et ce que j'ai aimé dans ce film c'est cette légèreté d'aimer la vie sans conscience, sans vouloir emmerder son monde. Ce film est beau, tendre et merveilleusement interprété par tous les acteurs. A VOIR
F**O
A must see!
Amazing Movie!!
L**A
Five Stars
I really like this movie
A**R
Five Stars
Terrific condition, great purchase. Very pleased. Thanks.
F**R
Blu-ray: technisch gut! - Film: liebevolles und humorvolles Erzählkino
LOVESONG FÜR BOBBY LONG Film: Vor Jahren haben sich der Philosophieprofessor Bobby Long und der Student Lawson Pines entschlossen, nach New Orleans zu ziehen, um sich dort zu Tode zu trinken. Nach dem Tod einer guten Freundin, taucht deren Tochter bei den beiden philosophierenden Alkoholikern auf. Leider muss die junge Purslane (Scarlett Johansson) feststellen, dass sie nur ein altes Holzhaus geerbt hat. Zu 2/3 gehört das Haus den zwei Alkoholikern, welches diese beiden zu einer Bruchbude verkommen ließen. Widerwillig und mangels einer Alternative zieht Purslane erstmal zu den beiden Männern. Zu allem Überfluss bestehen diese beiden fremden Männer nun darauf, dass sie ihren Schulabschluss nachholt. Dabei helfen sie der 18-Jährigen - so gut sie können. Lovesong für Bobby Long ist ein liebe- und humorvoll erzählter Arthaus-Film. Neben stimmigen Blues-Songs und schönen Landschaftsaufnahmen überzeugen vor allen die glaubhaft agierenden Darsteller. Allen voran liefert John Travolta nach Pulp Fiction hier seine größte schauspielerische Leistung ab. In jeder Szene nimmt der Zuchauer ihm den alkoholabhängigen, zynischen aber großherzigen Literaturprofessor ab. Wenn Bobby Long und seinen beiden Mitbewohner Heiligabend zufrieden auf der Veranda sitzen, eine Zigarette rauchen und auf den niederprasselnden Regel schauen, ist das großartiges Erzählkino! 10/10 Punkte Bild: Der 1,85:1-Transfer ist durchweg farbenfroh und kontrastreich. Die sonnendurchfluteten Außenaufnahmen von New Orleans sehen realistisch aus. Auch die gut ausgeleuchteten Innenaufnahmen offenbaren zahllose Details. Leider fäll die Bildschärfe nur befriedigend aus. Dadurch geht dem Film ein wenig an Plastizität verloren. Das vielfach sichtbare Bildrauschen erinnert an grobes Filmkorn. Die Kantenschärfe wurde mit Hilfe eines Schärfefilters erhöht, was vielfach an Doppelkonturen gut zu erkennen ist. Darüber hinaus sehen die Hauttöne perfekt aus. Die saftigen Wiesen, der strahlend blaue Himmel und die farbenfroh gestrichenen Häuser in New Orleans versprühen viel Charme. Insgesamt sieht das Bild auf Blu-ray deutlich besser aus als auf der DVD-Version. Es ist farbenfroher, brillanter und offenbart zahlreiche Details, die auf DVD kaum zu erahnen sind. 7/10 Punkte Ton: Genauso detailreich wie das Bild ist der Ton. Der deutschte DTS HD-MA 5.1-Mix gefällt durchweg aufgrund seiner Räumlichkeit. Immer wieder werden Umgebungsgeräusche auf alle Kanäle verteilt. Zirpende Grillen, zwitschernde Vögel, hupende Autofahrer, Billardspieler in einer Bar oder Saxophonmusik, die aus einer Bar auf die Straße tönt, werden punktgenau im Raum platziert. Die zahlreichen Blues-Songs klingen dynamisch und natürlich. Sie transportieren die Live-Atmosphäre aus den Bars direkt ins Heimkino. Die Sprachverständlichkeit kann sogar als perfekt bezeichnet werden. 8/10 Punkte Fazit: Lovesong für Bobby Long ist liebe- und humorvolles Erzählkino auf einer technisch insgesamt gut umgesetzten Blu-ray. John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson und Gabriel Macht ist der Spaß jederzeit anzumerken, den sie beim Drehen offensichtlich gehabt haben. Das überträgt sich aufs Publikum. So schwingt der bezaubernde und charmante Arthaus Film auch nach Filmende noch ein wenig nach. Wer den Film noch nicht besitzt, sollte sich die Blu-ray zulegen. Fans dieses Films ist ein Update von DVD auf Blu-ray wärmstens ans Herz gelegt. Originaltitel: A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG Darsteller: John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht Regisseur: Shainee Gabel FSK: Freigegeben ab 6 Jahren Studio: Universum Film GmbH Erscheinungstermin: 28. Oktober 2011, erhältlich Produktionsjahr: 2004 Produktionsland: USA Spieldauer: 120 Minuten Bildformat: 1,85:1 Tonformate: Deutsch, Englisch DTS HD-MA 5.1 Untertitel: Deutsch für Hörgeschädigte, Englisch Kleiner Nachtrag: Der deutsche Titel schreibt sich "LOVESONG FÜR BOBBY LONG", obwohl auf dem Cover der Blu-ray fälschlicherweise "LOVE SONG FÜR BOBBY LONG" steht. Die englische Originalfassung schreibt sich übrigens "A LOVE SONG..."
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