Honkytonk Man (1982)

Honkeytonk Man (1982)

Plot In A Paragraph: Red Stovall (an auburn haired Eastwood) a sick (tuberculosis) country-western musician, has just been invited to audition for the Grand Ole Opry, his chance of a lifetime to become a success. So with his nephew Whitt in tow, he sets off to achieve his dream.

Clint Eastwood played his own guitar work and performed his own vocals for this picture. Clearly this is a very personal movie for Eastwood, not least as his son Kylie is acting with him. Honkeytonk Man is one of the most surprising changes of pace in Eastwood's career, partly because Red is an ailing man. He is clearly enjoying himself playing the sly, hard drinking and debaunched Red. For me it's one of his best performances. I actually think he was deserving of an Oscar nomination at least. I'm not saying he should have won, as Ben Gingsly (Ghandi) was a worthy winner in a year that also had Paul Newman (The Verdict) and Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie) nominated.

Kyle Eastwood (coached by Sondra Locke) delivers a fine performance that silenced any naysayers that he got the role purely because of his dad. Red and Whitt become partners in crime, a little like what Butch and Philip would be in future Eastwood movie A Perfect World. Both these films equally explore redemption (for the senior character) and rights of passage (for the junior) only this movie makes more of a childs entrance in to adult hood. Of the rest of the cast Alexa Kenin (who tragically died a few years after this movie, in a death that has never been explained) is charming and sweet and John McIntire is great as Grandpa. But I despise Barry Corbin, in his second Eastwood movie, he appeared in several Burt Reynolds movies of this era too, and his voice just irritates me.

For such a serious movie, it has some scenes (dim witted cops and jail breaks) that would not look out of place in a movie where Clint is playing Philo Beddo!! Personally, I don't know how any lover of movies, can not be moved by Honkeytonk Man, but it seems to be a movie nobody seen at the time, and nobody remembers now.

In a year that saw a new breed of hero, with Sly Stallone bringing Rambo to the screen for the first time in First Blood and Arnold Schwarzenegger play Conan for the first time in Conan The Barbarian. Sadly audiences had no interest in seeing an ailing Eastwood, and Honkeytonk Man failed to draw in audiences of even modest proportions (for an Eastwood movie) and disappointingly it only grossed $4million at the domestic box office to end the year as the 100th highest grossing movie of 1982.

Fmovies: Its a road movie featuring an interesting boy character who learns the harsh realities of life. The movie's depiction of the depression is outstanding and the songs are good. One of Clint Eastwood's one. The songs played are very soothing to the ear and the movie is very tragic. The movie is also bittersweet with the relationship between Eastwood and his nephew played by his real life son. This is a change for Clint Eastwood. He drops his tough guy persona and turns it into a completely different character. Clint and his son Kyle Eastwood shine together in this warmhearted adventure.

...and for that matter any human being.

Clint Eastwood's little masterpiece is filled with insights of human

nature and our dreams and how futile but nonetheless honorable

they are in most cases.

Watch out for many keys to understand low(er) class white Americans

and how music is one of the very best ways to bring them together

with, or at least closer to, African Americans. Without gospel, blues

and jazz - three styles developed by black people in the US during

the early 20th century - there would (arguably) be no country music and of

course no pop music (as it is today).

I am a musician and this little masterpiece certainly means a lot to

me and my colleagues all over the world.

This movie definitely is a metaphor of life and Clint Eastwood uses his second passion after cinema, music, as the

base but it contains so much more deep philosophy and homage

that I do not hesitate calling it a small masterpiece.

IMHO Honkytonk Man is for Clint Eastwood what Little Man Tate

(1991) is for Jodie Foster - only better, much better. Just think

about the fact that Clint went back (explained in a monologue) for

his skinny girl. After all he did love her.

It takes cojones to make a movie like that. Great work Mr.

Eastwood.

Honkytonk Man fmovies. An under appreciated 80s effort (being Eastwood's ninth stint directing a major feature), which rarely gets a mention and if so it mainly gets a "meh". This Clint Eastwood directed/performed feature 'Honkytonk Man' shows much more a vulnerable Eastwood in a very dramatic role (of an aging, alcoholic drifting country singer) that asked a lot from him. Set during the period of the great depression that ravaged the 1930s, Eastwood manages to capture the authentic atmosphere and dusty locations of the times with Bruce Surtees's earthy photography and his very-grounded direction, but also letting the harshness move over for some very sentimental openings that never manipulate the situations. There's a real homegrown feel, mixing elements of a coming of age story to someone longing to be somebody and this is all coming together to learn not to take everything on face-value. We watch two people, fulfilling a dream as it ignites the passion leaving to a series of adventures and an insightful script exploring the interactions.

It's an inspired turn by Eastwood, but his son Kyle Eastwood is just as impressive in a sincerely down-to-earth performance as the young lad Whit, the 14 year old nephew that makes sure that he gets his uncle to the Gran Ole Opry stage to do his thingÂ… albeit trying to keep him sober to perform. Along for the journey you'll find the likes of John McIntire, Alexa Kenin, Tim Thomerson, Barry Corbin, Macon McCalman, Joe Regalbuto and Charles Cyphers making up a splendidly admirable cast. A very heart-warming Verna Bloom and sturdy Matt Clark do leave their marks as Whit's worrying parents. While rather long, the chemistry makes sure the story marvelously flows and the relax temperament lets the emotional factor seep in. I don't know, but I found it hard not to like. The score is a perfectly delightful country twang featuring numerous names in Marty Robbins, Frizzel and West, Ray Price, Linda Hopkins and supervised by Snuff Garrett. Let's not forget Eastwood himself adding to the arrangement.

A wonderfully brassy and enterprising Eastwood fable.

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...

As with most movies i prefer to read professional critics after viewing,although i do sometimes read them first. Frankly as a retired sound man i do not allow critics to influence me either way. This movie with (my first viewing of a Clint family member)Kyle succeeded in roller coasting emotion from humour to unsentimental portrayals of all the cast. I looked out for Marty Robbins, whose name was referred to as the one (albeit brief) sole touching moment in the film. It was undoubtedly a touching moment, but certainly not the only one. The entire theme was skillfully intertwined with some really great songs and lyrics. This is another DVD I will add to my collection. A movie to watch, and even learn from, as to how humanity can be humble and unpretentious with subtlety, warmth and understated aggression. Clint is understandably angry, and we feel real sympathy for his place in the world he inhabits.