A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

Director:

Shainee Gabel

Writers (WGA):

Ronald Everett Capps (novel)
Shainee Gabel (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The heart is a lonely hunter.

Plot:

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.

Plot Keywords:

Book | Funeral | Hospital | Singer | Alcoholism

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

John Travolta	...	Bobby Long
Scarlett Johansson	...	Pursy Will
Gabriel Macht	...	Lawson Pines
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Georgianna
Dane Rhodes	...	Cecil
David Jensen	...	Junior
Clayne Crawford	...	Lee
Walter Breaux	...	Ray
Sonny Shroyer	...	Earl
Carol Sutton	...	Ruthie
Warren Kole	...	Sean (as Warren Blosjo)
Bernard Johnson	...	Tiny
Gina 'Ginger' Bernal	...	Waitress
Douglas M. Griffin	...	Man #1 (as Douglas Griffin)
Earl Maddox	...	Man #2

Also Known As:

Love Song (France) [fr]
Lovesong für Bobby Long (Germany) [de]
Secretos del pasado (Argentina) (video title) [es]
Uma Canção de Amor para Bobby Long (Brazil) [pt]
Una canción del pasado (Spain) (working title) [es]
Una canzone per Bobby Long (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

Rated R for language including some sexual references.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Germany:6 | Brazil:16 | Malaysia:18SX | USA:R (certificate #41073) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 (original rating) (uncut) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Sweden:7

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Destination Films

Trivia:

The production ran into budgetary problems halfway through. Several background extras were brought to a New Orleans location, fitted for costumes, fed dinner, and then sent home without pay because their scene had been cut. Some New Orleans retailers complained that thousands of dollars worth of clothes were returned unused because the scenes they were bought for were never filmed.

Goofs:

Continuity: Lee comes to visit Pursey, enters the house, sits down, props his feet on the coffee table and helps herself to a cigarette from the pack on the table. There is a very short break to a shot of Pursey and back again to Lee who now has a lit cigarette in his left hand. It was not possible for him to light the cigarette in the short time the camera was on Pursey.

Quotes:

Lawson Pines: Damn girl, you woke up productive. Bobby, come see what Pursy did.
Bobby Long: I see what she didn't do. Leave.
Pursy Will: She ain't gonna leave.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

All I Ask Is Your Love

A Portrait from the Inside

Greetings again from the darkness. A good story overcomes many flaws for a movie and this is a prime example. Inconsistent direction by Shainee Gabel and a weak Cajun accent by John Travolta did not ruin what I found to be very interesting subject matter. Although we never see the local legend, Lorraine, her impact on this strange troupe of characters is beyond question. Watching Scarlett Johansson's quest to unlock her mother's mystique (and her own history) proved very enjoyable for this viewer. Johansson's Purcy Will (named after a weed) is both head strong and independent, while vulnerable and eager. Travolta's iconic Bobby Long and the even-keeled Gabriel Macht are nothing more than alcoholic shells of men who trade literature quotes when Purcy pops into their lives. Much of this is predictable and the flavor that is New Orleans plays a huge part of the feel of the film. Although the novel was difficult to bring to the screen, and improvements could have been made, this film should find an audience. Johansson may a bit "old" for this role (at the ripe age of 20) but her acting skills continue to grow and I love that she is always up for a challenge. She should be fun to watch for years to come.