Sweet and Lowdown (1999)
84%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
1 win & 15 nominations total
Critics praise Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown for its charming, light-hearted comedy and quality acting
Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown is like a jazz tune that you can’t help but tap your foot to, even if you don’t quite understand it. Critics seem to be split on whether it’s a shallow portrait of a cad or a deep exploration of an artist’s search for meaning. Personally, I think it’s just a fun movie to watch, especially with Sean Penn’s hilarious portrayal of a guitar virtuoso with terrible taste in clothing and women. It’s like a Woody Allen movie without Woody Allen, but with all the quirks and charm that make his films so enjoyable. So sit back, relax, and let the sweet sounds of Sweet and Lowdown wash over you.
Production Company(ies)
20th Century Studios, Amblin Entertainment, Amblin Partners
Distributor
Sony Pictures Television, Columbia TriStar Domestic Television, Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Haverstraw, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some substance abuse
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 4, 1999 Original
Genre(s)
Keyword(s)
starring Sean Penn, Samantha Morton, Uma Thurman, Brian Markinson, Anthony LaPaglia, Gretchen Mol, directed by Woody Allen, written by Woody Allen, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Susan Stark, Kenneth Turan, Edward Guthmann, Liam Lacey, George Perry, Sarah Hepola, Catherine Graham, Rob Gonsalves, Joe Lozito, Jeffrey M Anderson, Ron Wells, Jeffrey Overstreet, PG-13, jazz, guitar, infidelity, relationship, Hattie, Blanche, Al Torrio, Ellie, Jean Doumanian, Dolby Digital, Sony Pictures Television, Columbia TriStar Domestic Television, Sony Pictures Classics
Worldwide gross: $4,525,794
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,849,609
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,040
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 856,010
US/Canada gross: $4,197,015
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,279,369
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,699
US/Canada opening weekend: $94,686
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $164,225
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,743
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $29,750,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $51,598,869
Production budget ranking: 773
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,785,991
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$71,535,252
ROI to date (est.): -90%
ROI ranking: 1,962
Samantha Morton – Hattie
Uma Thurman – Blanche
Brian Markinson – Bill Shields
Anthony LaPaglia – Al Torrio
Gretchen Mol – Ellie
Director(s)
Woody Allen
Writer(s)
Woody Allen
Producer(s)
Jean Doumanian
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
1 win & 15 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (61) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (14)
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 2/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Droll and amusing.
August 15, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A shallow portrait of the artist as a cad.
March 22, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
It is put together so well you can believe that this human misfit with a terrible taste in tailoring, an insatiable thirst for liquor, an appalling way with women, yet with a guitar in his hand seemingly guided by angels, was a real person.
April 17, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
George Perry
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4.5/5
Sarah Hepola
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The subtitle could be “Everything You Always Hated About Woody Allen.”
March 1, 2019 | Rating: D
Catherine Graham
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Woody Allen, in his thirtieth outing as writer-director, still shows signs of change, improvement, depth of feeling.
September 23, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Thanks to Morton’s presence, it gets closer to the sweetness of the wonderful Everyone Says I Love You.
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Focusing on the story, the auteur explores his two favorite topics, jazz and s—-heels, to enter the new millenium in style.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Ron Wells
Film Threat
… seems to be the latest chapter in a great work on the artist’s search for meaning, for self-worth, for redemption.
December 6, 2004 | Rating: B
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer…
Plot
Emmet Ray, a talented but flawed jazz guitarist, falls in love with a kind young mute woman named Hattie. However, his irresponsibility and infidelity put their relationship to the test.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Samantha Morton’s performance as the kind young mute woman, Hattie, is described as “amazing” by one audience reviewer.
Woody-Allen.jpg
