Sordid Lives

2000 "A black comedy about white trash."
6.7| 1h51m| R| en| More Info
Released: 31 May 2000 Released
Producted By: Daly-Harris Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.sordidlives-themovie.com/
Info

"Sordid Lives" is about a family in a small Texas town preparing for the funeral of the mother. Among the characters are the grandson trying to find his identity in West Hollywood, the son who has spent the past twenty-three years dressed as Tammy Wynette, the sister and her best friend (who live in delightfully kitschy homes), and the two daughters (one strait-laced and one quite a bit of a loser).

Genre

Comedy

Watch Online

Sordid Lives (2000) is now streaming with subscription on HULU

Director

Del Shores

Production Companies

Daly-Harris Productions

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Sordid Lives Audience Reviews

Mjeteconer Just perfect...
CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
OCDirectorActor This one of the funniest movies I have seen. From Beth Grant's rubber band snapping to Delta Burke's white trash housewife this is a fun ride. Stars Bonnie Bedelia, Beau Bridges, Oliva Newton John and Delta Burke were brought to the movie to bring some Hollywood names.The story of a gay actor is faced with going back to Texas for his grandmother's funeral. The reason this is a difficult choice is that his grandmother has had his gay uncle, Brother Boy locked in a mental institution for the last 20 years for being gay. The irony is that the grandmother died tripping over his lover's (Beau Bridges) wooden legs in a seedy hotel and hit her head. Yes, this is a black comedy and teeters the line between laugher and tears wonderfully.Has Delta Burke ever been funnier? Bonnie Bedelia is excellent in a more dramatic part than most of the cast. Beau Bridges (also in Del Shores' "Daddy's Dyin' Whose Got the Will") is also enjoyable. Olivia gives an eye opening performance as an ex-con country singer.Del Shores directs his script as he did in the original Los Angeles stage production which I saw. It was hysterical. Written in chapters on stage, each at a different locations, the movie benefits from being able to inter-cut the stories.The rest of the cast are the original stage cast. If for no other reason, seeing Leslie Jordan as Brother Boy is a must. As a cross dressing Tammy Wynette this is one of his signature roles. He is so terribly funny and also extremely moving. Rosemary Alexander matches him step by step as the depraved Dr. Eve.Newell Alexander and Earl Bullock are a great pair as the brothers Wardell and Odell. Ann Walker is a stitch as the wild aunt LaVonda. Kirk Geiger is a great center as Ty, the young actor who escaped Texas to be an actor. (In the play it is New York, the movie places him in LA). His confessional scene with his mother (Bonnie Bedelia) is a highlight. Beth Grant is one of the most wonderful actresses working in films today. While often in smaller roles she gets a chance to shine in this one as Sissy, sister of the late Peggy who picked the wrong day to quit smoking. A new role added is one of the greatest characters, a drunk bar customer, Juanita played to perfection by Sarah Hunley.After seeing the movie I directed the play version. What a wonderful experience that was. We went on to become the most nominated play in Orange County, CA for a recent awards. Not an easy feat in this conservative burg.
rcltrh One of the funniest movies I have ever seen. We've watched it so many times we know the lines by heart. These people are all in my family, and I've often wanted to holler out myself to some of my relatives "Shoot her Wardel, shoot her in the head." I can relate to being gay in a small southern town.My partner and I are gay in Arkansas, although they have just tried to pass a law to prevent us from being so. But for some reason "It ain't a workin" and there are more of us coming out now that the election's over than before. You'll laugh til you cry when Brother Boy sings Til I Can make it on My Own to the psycho with a fish in her ear - although I do not believe this was one of her "early years" songs. Watch it 10 times and then you can pretend you're in the cast.
Locomojo30 I took a chance on buying this DVD on Amazon after it was recommended to me based on other DVD's I had bought. When I received it and popped it in, I was immediately homesick. I am from San Antonio Texas and a lot of the situations brought it home to me. The mother is my mother, with the nails, the hair, the makeup. Ha Ha Ha Aunt Sissy reminded very much of the aunts in my family as well. And yes, in my part of the state the women do not knock but they do yell "woohoo!" The acting was wonderful and it really was an experience. I have taken to showing this movie to friends every chance I get and everyone has liked it. I wish another movie would come out with these actors, especially Beth Grant and the Bonnie B. I understand that this movie has created a following in California, and it's easy to see why.
jlcdean I saw the movie with friends, and immediately went out the next day and bought it. I guess one would have to be raised in the South to appreciate the wonderful writing of Del Shores and his subtle (and not-so-subtle) references to deep-south living. Let's face it, if you live down here, the question is not which side of your family has the crazy people on it, it's which side has the *most* crazy people on it, and I can relate to nearly every character in the movie.And while it makes light of the goings-on of a white-trash family and how they come to terms with the death of their matriarch, the underlying story of Ty coming out to his family is simply precious. Anyone that is battling with the process of coming out and the right way and time to do it should definitely watch the film.