Blaze

There's usually just enough colour in Shelton's scripts to make you feel like you haven't wasted your time getting where you knew you were going. They also attract likeable actors who really seem to enjoy the dialogue, which is nice. Lolita Davidovich enjoyed it so much she married him after their second of five films together; in this, their first, she's wonderful. Newman is also very good as Huey Long's whoring brother, but that's not quite enough to save the flabby second half.

Of course, I haven't seen this since it was new on video. I didn't like the movie that much when I was 14 years old. Maybe it's aged alright, but I have no urge to watch it again.

Fun movie

This is a different role for Paul Newman, he has a lot of fun with it. This is an entertaining movie that has a good mix of comedy/politics. Newman really stands out from the rest of the cast in this film.

Interesting but ultimately unsatisfying drama gets most of its juice from Newman's uncharacteristically flamboyant performance, and solid work from Davidovich in support. They both struggle with a combination of uninspired direction, and a screenplay that seriously loses its focus and traction, especially in the second half. Haskell Wexler's Oscar nominated cinematography is also very effective at times.

85

Quintessential Americana. It's what the great folk movies aspire to be - lived-in, colloquial, humorous and hard-boiled, all with a gentle, warm-hearted touch. But maybe it's even more about the South, say Louisiana. It ends with a Randy Newman song, and that seems about right.