Honkytonk Man

source: Honkytonk Man

Trailer—Honkytonk Man

Honkytonk Man

How wonderful to have a decent, hometown movie, pairing a Western film legend with his own son. Eastwood delivers fine presence in this forgotten classic (originally aired on HBO, in my area) .. While Kyle showed definite promise as a young actor. And brilliant of Eastwood to cast so many fine, talented familiar faces in the supportive and featured roles. Loved seeing Verna Bloom again, after High Plains Drifter. And Tracey Walter left me in stitches with his tasty quips. Perhaps it did poorly at the box-office because Eastwood fans got so accustomed to his signature gun-slinging, cuss-fighting, or bare-fisted films - none of which this one included. It was plain hometown family-style goodness, with some good country singing.

Classic Eastwood. He didn't really even need to act much

In the Oklahoma dustbowl of the 1930s country singer Red Stovall drops in on his sister's farm. He has an opportunity to play at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville but doesn't have enough money to get there. He eventually sets off with his teen nephew Whit and Whit's grandfather for company. For Whit this is his first chance to experience the wider world. One of Clint Eastwood's gentler, more sensitive films and it works reasonably well. The plot is a bit unfocused and only comes together at the end but it's interesting enough. There's some entertaining scenes along the way and the ending is quite emotional.

Country singer Clint Eastwood and his real life son, who portrays his nephew, go from Oklahoma and the dust bowl to Tennessee so that Clint can sing up a storm at the Grand Ole Opera. Anyone see the resemblance in this film with "Midnight Cowboy?" Both major characters are trying to get somewhere to fulfill a dream while dying of tuberculosis. The two guys are caught in this coming of age film for the nephew. The nephew part should have been made older since in certain scenes the boy looks just that- a young lad. The adventures they are caught in speak for the times they live in. Clint is teaching his nephew how to be a hustler and the boy is a quick learner. As time ran out for Ratso in "Midnight Cowboy," the end approaches for Clint just as he records some music. The boy and his new found lady love head off to the sunset, that is, California, the place where the boy's family has moved to. Will he join them? After all, after his adventures, he is no longer a boy now.

Despite almost every critic I've read, I think this is a real gem by Clint Eastwood. A honest, sensitive effort in the road movie tradition. The minor tone, the naive sequences soothe Red Stovall's journey to his fate. The movie also displays a touching view of the depression era in USA. Like animated Roy Emerson Stryker's pictures the photography is remarkable as well as the sound track. I've learned about lots of singers and musicians that recorded only to give a final testimony of their art. I guess stories like these deserved a movie like Honkytonk Man. Long life to Clint, one of the most underrated talents not only in Hollywood but in the rest of the world.

This film is one of Eastwood´s most compelling and strikes you right at the heart. It tells us a story with such a warmth and compassion about a theme as old as America itself. It is about a man and his love for his nephew, his music and his his desire to make a name for himself before his TB´ll end it all. Though Clint´s voice isn´t the best it does however strengthen our understanding of the motivation of a man that is running against time in a setting that is both harsh and unforgiving. The movie´s depiction of the depression is outstanding and the songs are stupendous. Watch for Marty Robbins who also sings half the theme song. All in all an outstanding movie that will stay in your heart for a long, long time...

The Wagoneer farm in Oklahoma is devastated by a dust storm. The family plans to go out to California. The brother Red Stovall (Clint Eastwood) is a sickly drunkard Honkytonk Man going to Nashville to play in the Grand Ole Opry. Grandpa wants to go back home to Tennessee. Whit (Kyle Eastwood) wants to join Red. Red is looking to be repaid $100 by Arnspriger (Barry Corbin). After some misadventures, Red forces Arnspriger to pay up but Marlene (Alexa Kenin) hitches a ride in the trunk. This is a fun road trip. I'm not sure that the acting gene passed on to Kyle. He's OK but nothing special. Alexa Kenin gets some fun hilarity. The big mistake is when the group splits up. The group is just gaining chemistry but then they are scattered to the winds. There is no reason why the group couldn't go all the way to the Opry to see Red perform.