Honeydripper | 
| Director: John Sayles
Actors: Vondie Curtis-hall, Charles S. Dutton, Darryl Edwards, Danny Glover, Albert Hall
Studio: Screen Media
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
Buy Used: $6.53
You Save: $21.45 (77%)
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Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 22323
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 124 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 68104699
UPC: 025195038461
EAN: 0025195038461
ASIN: B0017M9ZNI
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Music has often played a significant part in John Sayles' stories, but in Honeydripper it largely is the story, as the veteran writer-director's 2007 film depicts a significant (if mythical) turning point when the past reluctantly gave way to the future. The year is 1950. In the somewhat ironically-named town of Harmony, Alabama, old school blues pianist Tyrone "Pinetop" Purvis (Danny Glover) and his funky roadhouse, the Honeydripper, are on the skids, rapidly losing customers to the joint next door, where young people are flocking to hear more modern sounds. Against his better judgment, Pinetop dismisses his dignified but out-of-date singer (played by Dr. Mable John, one of the several real musicians who lend the film considerable authenticity) and books "New Orleans sensation" Guitar Sam, hoping to save his club from foreclosure. But Guitar Sam proves to be as elusive as Godot, and as the big night approaches, Pinetop is running out of ideas. Enter young Sonny Blake (Gary Clark Jr.), who ambles into town with his newfangled, self-constructed electric guitar and proceeds to rock the house with a style that suggests a combination of T-Bone Walker and Chuck Berry and effectively ushers in the rock 'n' roll era. Story-wise, that's about it. This is a character-driven film, and there are a lot of good ones, including Lisa Gay Hamilton as Tyrone's conflicted wife, Charles Dutton as his partner, and Stacey Keach as the corrupt local lawman. It's also a film loaded with metaphors and symbols, including the electric guitar as the dividing line between old and new and blues musician Keb' Mo' as a kind of one-man Greek chorus, dispensing homilies before disappearing into the shadows. The pace is leisurely, the dialogue colorful, and Sayles (who not only edited the film but has a small acting role as well) once again shows himself to be a modest master at creating movies for those looking for good, no-frills entertainment. A 30-minute making-of featurette and cast interviews are the principal bonus features. --Sam Graham
Description
From Oscar nominated director, John Sayles, comes an electrifying and vivid rock 'n' roll fable. When Tyrone, owner of the Honeydripper lounge, is faced with having to shut down his juke joint, his hopes rest on one man—the famous Guitar Sam. It's a make or break weekend for the Honeydripper, this better be some Saturday night! With exquisite performances by Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Stacy Keach, Mary Steenburgen and Sean Patrick Thomas; and featuring musicians Keb' Mo' and Dr. Mable John—Honeydripper is an award winning film, full of great music and plenty of soul.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Honeydripper a movie you can enjoy June 25, 2009
William P. Carter
I really liked how John Sayles went about making this movie and the acting
was very impressive. There are plently of sub plots that are going on while the main plot unfolds and to give some props to the director and the actors they pull it off without a hitch. This movie is a pleasure to watch
and I recommend the movie Honeydripper highly.
 It is all about the music February 3, 2009
R. Bagula (Lakeside, Ca United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In an era when the southern blues are giving way to rock and roll,
this is a story of a small cotton town.
The young guitar player comes in riding the rails, the older piano player is running (badly) the honeydipper club.
The story is about the coming together of the forces in the town to make something new.
"Time to make way for what is coming next."
I liked the plot and the music here.
John Sayles Hits Another Home Run January 26, 2009
P. Maloney (San Francisco,CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent musical score, great performances from all. Of particular note is a scene where Glover's character speculates about the first black man to play a piano in his slave owner's home (well played and thought provoking all at the same time).
 Dissapointed January 24, 2009
B. Tebbs (Cincinnati, OH United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the first film I've seen by John Sayles, whom I've heard good things about over the years. Unfortunately it will be my last. Other reviewers refer to this film as "leisurly paced" and "takes time with character development." The scenes ARE played far too slow, the actors need to pick up the pace, the edits need to move faster. I gave it a chance, I sat through the entire thing, but not only was it boring, it was predictable. I was drawn to this movie due to the subject matter, but it was highly unrealistic. Despite its PG13 rating this IS a family picture, pure "fabricated history" ala Walt Disney television movies from the early 60s. This is a good movie for families with young children who wish to create revisionist history for their kids to protect them from the harsh realities of the Black experience in the American Rural South of the early 1950s. Overall the acting is good, the characters are well cast, but it's obvious they were encouraged with their slow delivery of lines to the point where it almost seems Gary Clark Jr. is actually trying to remember his next line. During the opening credits it says written, directed and edited by John Sayles...it would have been better if someone else had edited the film and would have been better still if someone else had directed it.
great movie, giving it as a gift December 15, 2008
K. Hiland
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I saw Honeydripper last year and really enjoyed it a lot. It isn't your regular hollywood film. I haven't seen many of John Sayles' films but will probably check them out. Don't want to spoil anything, it's a really good film! :)
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