ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Patience Watson One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

TOMASBBloodhound The rest of us, on the other hand.... we might think it's okay. Perhaps if I hadn't seen Tender Mercies so recently, then Honeysuckle Rose might have seemed better. Where as Mercies had a real actor trying to play a country singer, this one has a real country singer trying to act. The results just aren't as good, but Willie is the last person I'd blame. This is more of a showcase for Nelson's music than it is a regular film with a well-developed story line. Nelson's acting is really pretty good, when they let him act.The plot centers around a successful, yet not quite hugely popular country singer going out on the road and having an affair with a young member of his band. Nelson is perfectly suited for the role of Buck Bonham who needs a fill-in guitar player after his long time ax player (Slim Pickens) retires from the band. As luck would have it, his plucky young daughter (Amy Irving) can also play a mean guitar and eagerly accepts the position meant to only last a few weeks. But of course this leads to all kinds of hurt feelings and conflict as the young woman admits a long time crush on the old crooner and the two quickly begin sleeping together. Bonham's band mates can only do their best to look in the other direction as it is an awkward situation for them, too. They are close with the girls father of course, and also quite friendly with Bonham's long suffering wife played very well by Dyan Cannon. Obviously, it is only a matter of time before those left at home find out, and things will most certainly come crashing down.The film runs for quite a long time considering how little plotting there is. Much of the film takes place on stage with Willie and the band belting out a lot of slow, emotional country songs to a doting fan base. The director of this film, who I've never heard of, seems to struggle with the material when scenes are taking place off stage. He seems to put the camera too far away from the actors, taking some of the edge off their more dramatic scenes. The film is also under-lit, even for a film taking place mostly on a gloomy tour bus and darkened venues. Exterior shots of the bus traveling down the road look pretty good, though. The acting by all is quite good. Cannon has the most memorable lines, most of which coming when she announces their divorce in front of a packed house after catching Nelson and Irving slobbering over each other during a duet. Pickens is as watchable as ever, and likely didn't make many more films after this. Irving is quite good, as well. So is the fellow who plays Nelson's manager.Only fans of Willie Nelson are bound to get a real kick from this film, and I'm sure many of them did. He has such a wonderful and distinct style that he deserves a feature film of this type. As a film buff I just wanted more focus on the story and to learn more about these characters. Again I would recommend the film Tender Mercies which basically takes the Buck Bonham kind of character a few years later into his life. To a place where he has finally hit rock bottom and lost most of those around him who ever cared about him. It's highly likely that Buck Bonham would have eventually landed on the same motel room floor somewhere and not have a clue how he got there. 6 of 10 stars.The Hound.

bob-walsh-1 Great news!!! After years of waiting, this is finally on DVD, but for some strange reason only as the B-side of "Pure Country"! Don't know why they did this, but the picture and sound quality are both great.Either way, it's a movie worth watching again and again: decent story line and fine acting (especially Willie and Slim Pickens!), but the musical performances are the real stars. Unlike many other music related films, there are dozens of songs, in full-length live performances (eg: unlike The Buddy Holly Story, which has dozens of lip-synced snippets of the same song) Also, the band members are authentic and likable characters, remarkably natural actors. The soundtrack album is also excellent, and available on-line as a three-for-price-of-one with two other Willie records. Enjoy!!!

pezidon-2 Let's get it on DVD. Willie and Dyan are great and the whole movie is first class entertaining. Humor, music and romance. Give this movie what it deserves and make all those thousands of fans happy. I have seen this movie about three times and every time again it was like new. It gives a good idea how a band on the road is living and though it's a tough life, it's a good life. I am country singer myself and a lot of Willies songs I perform. He and the late Waylon are my favourites. So this movie means a lot to me.This story is not a fiction, it is as if you are watching your own life passing by.I can understand Willie when Amy tries to make love to him, but at the end Willie returns to his beautiful Dyan. The story of life for so many people.

rshan2587 Willie's acting ability in 1980 left much to be desired. The music, however, was great! Willie and Dyan Cannon's duet (Loving You is the Easiest Thing I'll Ever Do Again) was outstanding...deserving, alone, the "9" that I gave this movie.