A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

If you've ever lived in New Orleans you'll enjoy the settings, the director captures the atmosphere nicely, and the script is intelligent and sparkles with flashes of brilliant writing. Travolta shows his chops here, as does Scarlett, some of her best work yet, her style fits the character well, and that is not something one can count on from her. Not to give away the details, for this movie is best when it catches you by surprise, I really had a nice evening with these folks. Though sometimes repulsive, sometimes too long, it will win you over in the end because it makes you care about them. That being said it was a bit far fetched to think a beauty like Scarlett would ever be stuck in such a fix, or Travolta and his buddy either, but they pull it off with terrific performances. Love to see more from this director, she impresses in a big way, and has the potential to be one of the best ever. Treat yourself to this one when the crickets are singing in the summer fields, and if you visit New Orleans first, you'll enjoy it twice as much.

Fmovies: You don't see many movies where the music fits in seamlessly and is just as important as a supporting player. Bobby Long used music perfectly in this way, as a complement to the emotional dimensions of a story paced by poetry. Remember the great movie Tender Mercies? There is a kinship between the two films, although their stories are very different. In both movies you have a wounded genius, a musical milieu, and Bobby Long (like Robert Duvall) finds his redemption through love. There is much more to the experience of watching this movie, lots and lots of little pleasures, and it takes its own time showing you. You just have to see this one. Travolta is as good as it gets. Hey, Scarlett Johansson is worth the price of admission all by herself, but the many supporting roles -- including Gabriel Macht and Deborah Kara Unger -- are what make this movie real as down-home dirt. I don't know who Shainee Gabel, the director, is, but she took an almost-forgotten novel and she made it sing. I can still hear its echo in my soul.

when i first read the plot for this movie i was a bit sceptical, John Travolta and Scarlet Johansson in a movie together? Hmmm... Is this going to be another Lost in Translation? Considering the awesome acting between Bill and Scarlet i at first hand thought that A love song for bobby long would be a bad copy of it. One the other hand i'we never seen Scarlet make a bad flick...

As soon as i started watching it i could not take my eyes of the TV... I have to say this movies is one of 2005 best movies by far. This is NOT a bad copy of (LIT) this is if not better at least as good as it! The script is awesome and the acting MINDBLOWING!

If you still haven't watch it get of your ass and GET IT! This movie will take your mind peace for 1h and 59m!

A Love Song for Bobby Long fmovies. Just a nice little movie. I really did not dislike any of it. It was just nice. I thought the characters were nice and most importantly the movie did not make judgements on any of them, even though two of the main characters were alchoholics. The acting was good and I am surprised nobody got at least an Oscar nod.

I also liked the locale and the music. It is funny because when this movie was out, I had never heard of it. I don't think it got the publicity that normal John travolta movies get. I also thought it was sad and eerie seeing New Orleans locales before Hurricane Katrina. Anyway, good movie.

In Florida, the teenager Purslane Hominy Will (Scarlett Johansson) is lately informed by her mate that her mother passed away. She returns to her hometown, New Orleans, for the funeral and decided to live in her mother's house. However, she finds that the completely decayed house has two drunken dwellers: the former English professor Bobby Long (John Travolta) and his former assistant Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht), who has unsuccessfully been trying to write a book about the life of Bobby Long for nine years. She decides to share the place living together with them and after their initial difficult relationship, they disclose deep secrets and improve their lives.

"A Love Song for Bobby Long" is a bitter tale of love, friendship and synergy of invisible people. With many citations of important writers, the dramatic story has excellent lines and is very positive, with good messages and a well resolved conclusion. The irregular John Travolta and always perfect Scarlett Johansson are splendid in the role of broken, suffered and hopeless characters, and the story is never corny. The music score with typical blues, songs and bands from New Orleans completes this surprisingly good movie. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Uma Canção de Amor Para Bobby Long" ("A Love Song for Bobby Long")

At the beginning you don't think you'll get too much involved with the characters. They all appear to be selfish individuals lost in their own needs and emotions. But soon you notice they have much to share, with each other and with the spectator. It's a subtle and delicate story with some surprises. In fact, there are some sudden changes in the story which could have been more slowly explored, in order to assure you get every meaning on its place. However, if you let yourself get involved with the characters' dramas, it'll make your eyes tearful at the end. Good music and good picture complete the worth-a-while status for this film.