Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Blake Rivera If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

eric262003 Aside from starring in this movie, Clint Eastwood directs and produces, "Honkytonk Man" a story of a mindless drifter in the Depression Era who travel to get a big break in music by traveling to Nashville with his nephew Whit (Kyle Eastwood) tagging along with him. Their hopes to get a big break by auditioning at the world famous Grand Ol' Opry. The script was written by Clancy Carlile to which the movie is based on his novel. What drew Eastwood to star in this film can easily reflect on the similar upbringing Eastwood experienced compared to Carlile's. Before his path to stardom, Eastwood, born during the Depression was helping out his father pump gas around the rough roads of the West Coast. And like all performers, they all each had to work menial jobs to make ends meet. In Eastwood's case, he used to be a logger and a steel- furnace stoker. But I feel that Eastwood took the role because in ways that may not necessarily that outwardly. As a whole, the movie is subtle, but energetic feel-good film that never once presses on your luck. The film is refreshingly contrast to Eastwood's normal tough guy films Eastwood is famous for. His son Kyle turns in an equally stunning performance as Whit, who's very smart, independent and is never annoying in his delivery. The events on their traveling is secondary than compares to what happens to them in between. The opening scenes has Red Stovall (Eastwood) driving his old 1930's touring car as it crashes into a windmill as he makes a return to his old homestead. Red has similar persona of Jimmie Rodgers and it doesn't leave a lasting impression towards the rest of the family (except for Nephew Whit). Not only is he an inebriated middle-aged bumpkin, he is also dying from tuberculosis. But that still won't hold him back from chasing his dream to go to Nashville and pay off several IOU's to several people. He is actually a talented singer and musician, just down on his luck and finds that the Grand Ol' Opry might be the savior the unlucky streak he's on.Red wants to bring Whit along, even though Whit's parents are reluctant to do that. But after much thinking, Whit's mother (Verna Bloom) decides to let Whit go on his journey. Just as long as he can help clean up Red from his alcoholism and not do any sort of activities that Red has been infamously known to do which includes fooling around with women and something that his mother made a stern note of. Joining them on their journey is an aging Old Grandpa (John McIntyre) who's also going to Nashville to reunite with friends he hasn't seen in over 40 years.The cinematography of the road scenes are quite impressive with all the remarkable landmarks there and we have the feeling of nostalgia and romance in the air. They take a quick gander at a gambling house where they meet up with a nonconformist young lady (Alexa Kenin) who wants to also go for the ride. She's got quite the talent for taking generic sentiments by adding romantic prose to it. The best scenes are when they're in Nashville when Eastwood auditions at the Opry and then auditions at the recording studio. Although he puts in a good effort, his songs have a bone-weary vibe that doesn't hit the spot of country music until a backup musician kindly lends him a hand. The real gist of this film is all about chasing your dreams and turning your life around. It's quite surprising that the happier scenes are actually quite bittersweet. "Honkytonk Man" has lot of idiosyncrasies that make this very special. It was refreshing that Eastwood took a backseat from his Dirty Harry image to making a more vulnerable character than his normal domain. Sure his violent movies can still be your minds when seeing him perform, but the more he steps away from those movies, you eventually get used to more upbeat projects he eventually starred in like "Gran Torino" and "Million Dollar Baby". He has a bit of a stake coming into this movie, but he's hiding it through the country songs he's performing for his audience.

edwagreen 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.

Lechuguilla Set in Depression era Oklahoma, this film tells the story of a dirt poor, alcoholic singer named Red Stovall (Clint Eastwood), who heads out for Nashville, in hopes of making it big as a country singer. The story begins on a dilapidated farm composed mostly of dust, where Red's sister hesitatingly allows her son Whit (Kyle Eastwood) to go with Red to Nashville. The kid's Grandpa (John McIntire) also wants to go, to return to his native Tennessee. The film's beginning is dreary and depressing, but wonderfully realistic of the dust bowl days of the 1930s.Much of the plot takes place on the road, as the three travelers encounter an assortment of characters and problems along the way. The most important character they meet is a young girl named Marlene (the late Alexa Kenin), who yearns to be a country singer. It's one of many plot contrivances, but at least this contrivance offers some humor, especially when Marlene ... "sings". Other plot contrivances include a jailbreak, an angry bull, an aborted robbery, and an incident involving a chicken coop.If the film's weakness is excess contrivances, the film's strength is the portrayal of Red as an interestingly complex character. He coughs a lot, a symptom of tuberculosis. And the TB is getting worse. The question is ... will Red be able to reach the promise land before the disease affects his ability to sing? And, in a long monologue aimed at Whit, Red talks about his long-ago love affair with Mary Sims.The film's acting is credible, if not outstanding. Kyle Eastwood does a nice job as Whit. The film also features cameos by several then-current country singers. At the end, there's some sad real-life irony as Marty Robbins helps Red."Honkytonk Man" has some good atmosphere. Arguably, the best segment is at the Top Hat Club on Beale Street in Memphis, where the great Linda Hopkins belts out a blues number. If the film's writer had ditched some of those hokey "on the road" contrivances, and focused the plot more in smoky old bar rooms with low light levels and mournful music, the film would have been a lot better. As is, "Honkytonk Man" is still worth a look, if for no other reason than to see a low-key character study, in contrast to the brash and gaudy big ticket films of that cinematic era, like "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" and "Star Wars".

maggie85-2 I have seen this movie many times and i think its the best movie in the world.Every time i watch it i cry, its sad,its funny and its a side of Clint Eastwood i have never seen before.I would like to know if Clint Eastwood sang the songs and i would like to know who wrote the songs and if i can purchase them anywhere.Marty Robbins and Ray Price were just great,i love the sound of Marty Robbins.I want to buy the book by Clancy Carlile if i can find it,i am in the process of looking it up on the internet or if anyone can help me find it i would appreciate it.It was great to see Kyle Eastwood play the part of Red Stovall,has he been in many movies since then? if any which ones? Well thats all for now see you soon Michael M.