REVIEW -- Honeydripper

2007 Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Sayles introduced his newest film “Honeydripper” on Oct. 30. Set in the small town of Harmony, Ala, in the 1950s, “Honeydripper” is the story of Tyrone Purvis’ (Danny Glover) struggle to keep his nightclub alive. In an effort not to be taken under, he arranges for a recognized singer/guitar player to perform at the lounge. One successful night with this star will save Purvis from his debts. But when his arrangements fall through, he takes drastic action to provide a substitute. After arranging a deal with the sheriff for one of the inmates, Purvis can only hope this vagrant he’s pulled from the Judge’s cotton fields will sing well enough to save his club. The Honeydripper needs it bad.

The film has an all-star cast including Danny Glover, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Yaya DaCosta, Charles S. Dutton, Stacy Keach, Mary Steenburgen, Vondie Curtis Hall, R&B legend Mable John and singer-songwriter Keb’ Mo. The film also introduces Gary Clark, Jr.

Sayles wrote, produced and directed the film while Maggie Renzi handled production. Overall, the film adequately captures the Deep South, 1950s.Sayles and Renzi meticulously selected the locations. The settings chosen adequately portray what life was like at this time. The Honeydripper lounge itself is a clapboard shack, barely able to support the music with its weak electricity hookup and bleak insides.

But the acting, particularly that of Glover, Hamilton, Clark and DaCosta, enlivens the film. The cast skillfully vivificates the script, depicting the many emotions and struggles of one family through poverty, death, happiness and other times. Mary Steenburgen’s scene is particularly heartening on many levels. Not only does her placement as Mrs. Purvis’ boss signify the tension and relations of those times, but White female character Steenburgen. While Sheriff Pugh (Keach) complicates the plot with his brown nosing and insistent demands, the film centers on the soulful music and independence of this small black family.

“Honeydripper” carries themes of perseverance, hope and determination. Purvis, unable to accept the possibility of losing the Honeydripper, makes decisions both good and bad to keep the opportunities he has. “Honeydripper” is about the struggle to maintain the American Dream.

Despite its accuracies of the South and of the era, there are moments where the plot becomes slow and the dialogue is awkward. While Sayles is extremely talented and the information for the film is well researched, this is a movie about a southern black family written by a white man from the west coast. Perhaps the lack of suspense can be attributed to a conflict of heritage and culture, but whatever the reason, the film comes just short of immersing the viewer. Fortunately, the all-star cast does a great job of bringing to life these characters and this time period.

The music is wonderful lively, full of guitar, piano and horns, bluesy and jumping. Sayles and Renzi have a soundtrack deal with Rhino Records and it’s a good thing the lyrics will get stuck in your head for days.

By Elizabeth Rushing
Staff Writer, District