- Release Date: 2000
- Runtime: 95 min
- Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
- Starring: Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman, Brian Markinson ... see all
- Director: Woody Allen
- Plot: A comedic biopic focused on the life of fictional jazz guitarist Emmett Ray. Ray was an irresponsible, free-spending, arrogant, obnoxious, alcohol-abusing, miserable human being, who was also arguably the best... Read more
User Reviews
watch it if you are in the mood for some Jazz
Sep 17, 2006
andyguuu - yahoo.com
Sep 17, 2006andyguuu - yahoo.com
Good stories telling. Great acting on Sean Penn's part, delightful and sad at the same time. A movie to be enjoyed with a bottle of good wine.... Full review
For The Love Of Django
Jan 16, 2006
jldmp1 - imdb.com
Jan 16, 2006jldmp1 - imdb.com
When we try to understand genius, or love, or "why?", we run into the same problem that the ancients encountered:"I went to the poets
I took them some of the most elaborate passages in their own writings, and asked... Full review
Hats Off To 'Hattie!'
Oct 24, 2005
ccthemovieman-1 - imdb.com
Oct 24, 2005ccthemovieman-1 - imdb.com
This is a strange movie, but one made a little bit special to me because of one memorable character: "Hattie," played by Samantha Morton. What a wonderful, endearing character! The sweet look on her face alone makes this movie worth... Full review
Messy, Not Expected From Allen
Jul 14, 2005
joshuabsa - yahoo.com
Jul 14, 2005joshuabsa - yahoo.com
Sean Penn, and Uma Thurman carry the only really good parts of this film. Samantha Morton's characters just annoying, with her sweetness, and the seens of Woody Allen, and some other Emmet Ray fans talking about the story, in the middle... Full review
Wonderful
May 08, 2005
Mary Kae - imdb.com
May 08, 2005Mary Kae - imdb.com
A slow, rich movie. Though it lags in places, the three lead performances are indelibly written in my memory. And the great jazz soundtrack and warm colors made this movie go down like a glass of bourbon.Embodying the archetypal difficult... Full review
Proof that Sean Penn can really act
Sep 09, 2004
drosse67 - imdb.com
Sep 09, 2004drosse67 - imdb.com
The two movies that come to mind when I think about Sean Penn and his acting ability are not Mystic River and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. They are Carlito's Way and Sweet & Lowdown. In both of these movies,... Full review
A virtuoso performance by the greatest actor of our time.
Aug 04, 2004
jaspoet - imdb.com
Aug 04, 2004jaspoet - imdb.com
Sweet and Lowdown is the story of a fictional jazz guitarist who is self admittedly the second best in the world(next to that gypsy in France) but there is one thing that is clear while watching this movie, sean penn... Full review
The first essential Woody Allen film in a long time.
May 31, 2004
Ben_Cheshire - imdb.com
May 31, 2004Ben_Cheshire - imdb.com
Sean Penn plays Emmett Ray, a little-known jazz guitarist, an eccentric, egocentric genius self-proclaimed as the "greatest guitar player in the country" or the "second greatest guitar player in the world" - because of that gypsy from France, the bane... Full review
Very watchable, very charming
May 29, 2003
ian_harris - imdb.com
May 29, 2003ian_harris - imdb.com
This is a very enjoyable movie. It has many touches in it that are classic Woody Allen, so it should appeal to his many fans. It is also so strong on the jazz material that it should appeal to jazz... Full review
Proof that Allen still has it
Apr 04, 2002
Spleen - imdb.com
Apr 04, 2002Spleen - imdb.com
I didn't find out until afterwards that Woody Allen made it all up - that Emmet Ray didn't even exist. Nor did my sister. She thought the lack of accuracy took some of the shine off the film; I thought... Full review
Critics Reviews
| Jan 29, 2009Urban Cinefile
Sweet and Lowdown is a cinematic gem, and one that is thoroughly recommended.
Andrew L. Urban "Epitomising the absurd and the poignant simultaneously, Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown is a delightful fable, full of quirky characters, humour and marvellous jazz.
... Full Review
| Mar 07, 2007eFilmCritic.com
Sean Penn, himself a great artist, doesn't make the mistake of making Emmet lovably obnoxious....Often, Woody Allen likes to examine characters who are trapped in situations he himself managed to avoid.....As in Bullets Over Broadway and Deconstructing Harry , one should never expect a good artist to be a good human being..... ... Full Review
| May 08, 2005Bigpicturebigsound.com, NY
By providing a glimpse into his love of this music, "Sweet and Lowdown" is also a rare glimpse into the lighter side Mr. Allen himself - and a very welcome one.
As usual, Mr. Allen assembles a wonderful ensemble cast.
... Full Review
| May 13, 2004Houston Chronicle
Morton, a young Briton, plays Hattie's silent character with the warm radiance of the silent film actresses.....Because it is offered as an anecdotal "history," Allen has no strong responsibility for narrative....Penn adeptly fingers the Ray performances, which Howard Alden performs..... ... Full Review
| Mar 10, 2000Deseret News
But thanks to the lighter tone, as well as the terrific jazz-era music and the even more terrific performances, "Sweet and Lowdown" is just charming enough to get by.
"Sweet and Lowdown" is hardly groundbreaking material, and on whole, the film may not quite stack up with his best work.
... Full Review
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