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From Amazon.co.uk
It's clear why Melanie Griffith saw Mark Childress's bestselling book Crazy in Alabama, as the perfect vehicle for herself. The role of Lucille, a beautiful, battered wife in rural Alabama who dreams of glamorous movie stardom, is tailor-made for her. Griffith's husband, Antonio Banderas, has done quite a respectable job guiding her in this, his directorial debut; her performance--compelling, funny, and warm--is her best since Something Wild. (She also looks simply smashing.) Otherwise, the film is a curious amalgam of genres: an antic, surreal Southern Gothic comedy combined with a deadly serious civil-rights parable. As the movie opens, in the summer of 1965, Lucille (Griffith) has just murdered her abusive husband and is blowing town for Hollywood with his head in a Tupperware container. Scenes of her wacky cross-country road trip are interspersed with incidents back in Alabama involving clashes between protesting blacks and murderously intolerant whites. One can't imagine how these two seemingly disparate narrative lines will come together, but they do, in a surprisingly effective manner. The moral of both stories turns out to be: "You can bury freedom, but you can't kill it". Stand-out performances by Robert Wagner, as Lucille's Hollywood agent; Rod Steiger, as a quirky Southern judge; Lucas Black (Sling Blade) as Lucille's highly principled young nephew; and, believe it or not, Meat Loaf, as a brutal, bigoted Southern sheriff give the film an additional boost. --Laura Mirsky
Synopsis
Antonio Banderas' directorial debut weaves together the stories of a boy coming of age in racially charged 1960's Alabama, and his eccentric aunt (Melanie Griffith) on the run to Hollywood where she hopes to fulfill her dreams of TV stardom.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a directorial debut Banderas should feel exceptionally proud of Crazy in Alabama. I never fail to be completely captivated by the beauty and bittersweetness of this film.
The main narrative drive of Lucille's bid for stardom before the law catches up to her is entertaining and moving, Griffith provides an engaging performance and the supporting cast is utterly wonderful. The script is adapted neatly from the novel and there are some genuinely fantastic cinematic devices used that make the film a pleasure to watch.
But what makes this film so special ( definately one of my favourites) is the powerful use of racist characters and incidents and the representation of the black community of Industry, Alabama. I challenge anyone to stay dry eyed and passive during the funeral scene, to remain unthankful that we live in a fairer society than the deep south in 1965. Tyler Jackson is a character who will break your heart and nag at your conscience. Please just watch this film.
The main narrative drive of Lucille's bid for stardom before the law catches up to her is entertaining and moving, Griffith provides an engaging performance and the supporting cast is utterly wonderful. The script is adapted neatly from the novel and there are some genuinely fantastic cinematic devices used that make the film a pleasure to watch.
But what makes this film so special ( definately one of my favourites) is the powerful use of racist characters and incidents and the representation of the black community of Industry, Alabama. I challenge anyone to stay dry eyed and passive during the funeral scene, to remain unthankful that we live in a fairer society than the deep south in 1965. Tyler Jackson is a character who will break your heart and nag at your conscience. Please just watch this film.
By Nads
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was a brilliant little film basically centreing around two characters and two seperate stories which are intwined. Tackles many issues like the civil rights era, womens treatment in society, murder, coming of age. The two leads do well, Lucas Black is superb and Melanie Griffith a light hearted relief from the turmoil. Can't speak more highly of it to be honest except watch this film! It's one of those forgotten gems that you come across and you need to own. Good moral lessons for people of all ages in this one, which makes it a good family film.
'Life and death are only temporary but freedom goes on forever.'
'Life and death are only temporary but freedom goes on forever.'
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is a good film. Nice price.
Good adaptation of the book. Good performance by the actors.
An entertaining film.
Good adaptation of the book. Good performance by the actors.
An entertaining film.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
What a shame.
Once I finished reading this book - which was absolutely incredible...I can't praise it highly enough, I was really looking forward to the film to see everything brought to life. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Varied Read
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mellanie's best role ever! Best picture of the year!
Lucille wants to become a famous star called "Carolyne Clay" but her husband Chester wouldn't let her go so she decaputaded him and took his head with her to... Read more
Published on 10 July 2000
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