"A Love Song for Bobby Long" is the essential film one can truly appreciate. The story is compelling, the script is an editorial delight, the ensemble containing a talent pool of outstanding performers and characters that are three dimensional interesting to enjoy. Purslane Will (Scarlett Johansson) travels to New Orleans to attend her mother's funeral, oblivious to the fact that she inherited a house from her will. But she must also share the abode with two other people; a greying literature professor Dr. Bobby Long (John Travolta) and his young assistant Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht). Both are attempting to usurp each other with quotes and booze. As Pursy cleans up their acts and the house, a bit of a bond ensues between them even through their quarrelling.
As the three live in peace and harmony (yeah right!), more secrets are discovered in Pursy's late mother's will that only Bobby and Lawson know of and another secret that all three don't know about.
It was an all-around emotional roller-coaster ride. It contains humor, intelligent dialogue, sentimental moments and scenes that will lift up your hearts if only a tad bit obscene in some areas. Sure it was a frugal budget, but I've seen high budget movies turn into god-awful clunkers before. I admired the transformation of the house going from a condemned house whose makeover could've been solved by a wrecking ball to an artistically crafted piece of architecture. Where they got the dough is a mystery since the triad are jobless. The bayou setting in New Orleans never looked so sophisticating and the neighborhood they lived in was a landscape's paradise.
John Travolta was terrific from the the likable tough guys he's played like Tony Moreno and Vincent Vega to a more subtle Southerner like Bobby Long, though he was still a bit tense at times. The other leading characters were amazing here too. Scarlett Johansson was really into the character she played and it was hard not to sympathize with her and still looked good, even in shabby apparel. Gabriel Macht shows what he can do with a clever script and at times can out-perform the other two leading performers. And the chemistry between Macht and Johansson didn't feel forced or scripted, but real and natural. This is a movie for the intellects and one to watch if you are a true movie fan.
As the three live in peace and harmony (yeah right!), more secrets are discovered in Pursy's late mother's will that only Bobby and Lawson know of and another secret that all three don't know about.
It was an all-around emotional roller-coaster ride. It contains humor, intelligent dialogue, sentimental moments and scenes that will lift up your hearts if only a tad bit obscene in some areas. Sure it was a frugal budget, but I've seen high budget movies turn into god-awful clunkers before. I admired the transformation of the house going from a condemned house whose makeover could've been solved by a wrecking ball to an artistically crafted piece of architecture. Where they got the dough is a mystery since the triad are jobless. The bayou setting in New Orleans never looked so sophisticating and the neighborhood they lived in was a landscape's paradise.
John Travolta was terrific from the the likable tough guys he's played like Tony Moreno and Vincent Vega to a more subtle Southerner like Bobby Long, though he was still a bit tense at times. The other leading characters were amazing here too. Scarlett Johansson was really into the character she played and it was hard not to sympathize with her and still looked good, even in shabby apparel. Gabriel Macht shows what he can do with a clever script and at times can out-perform the other two leading performers. And the chemistry between Macht and Johansson didn't feel forced or scripted, but real and natural. This is a movie for the intellects and one to watch if you are a true movie fan.