Product Description

Nelson stars as a country music star in trouble--he has broken up with his partner, his wife has kicked him out, and his manager is stealing his material.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 22-JUN-2004
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23050 in DVD
• Brand: NELSON,WILLIE
• Released on: 2004-06-22
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 94 minutes

Customer Reviews

"Songwriter" an interesting glimse of music industry
I was in a Nashville music establishment in February of 2000 and heard legendary singer/songwriter Joe Sun talking about the movie "Songwriter" with Willie and Kris. I jumped on Amazon and ordered a copy. "Songwriter" is a look at the music industry through the escapades of two ornery music industry insiders (Willie and Kris) and the trail of schemes they leave behind. Willie is lovable as a singer-turned-con man. It's a fun movie to watch for music fans and fans of Willie and Kris. Real songwriters, singers, and producers will find it a little far fetched..... or simply a parady of experiences. The sound track is excellent, and Kristofferson fans will notice an early version of the song "Under the Gun" which appeared on his late 90's album "A Moment of Forever." Rip Torn and Leslie Ann Down are very entertaining in roles as dastardly promoter and a binge drinking singer respectively.

An Overlooked Gem
Perhaps unwarranted negative expectations about the cast (Willie and Kris) and the supposed subject matter of this clever and winning film (country music) can explain why so few movie lovers - who would surely recognize its merit - appear to have seen it. Far from being just another southwestern guy buddy picture, it's in fact a sharp, satiric comedy about rascally but talented artists, exploited by greedy entrepreneurs and managers who deserve and finally get witty comeuppances.
Nelson and Kristofferson are both strongly engaging actors here, while Leslie Ann Warren as a drunk chanteuse who becomes a celebrity and Rip Torn as a shameless promoter but good family man have never been better.
The film has a skillful screenplay by Bud Shrake which succeeds in the difficult job of balancing wit and commendable sentiment, so that the film's narrative and dialogue, at once funny and moving, are never corny.
Directing this first-rate comic script, the elsewhere inconsistent Alan Rudolph has here one of his finest achievements.

fun movie - great soundtrack
I enjoyed the movie a lot, but I enjoyed the soundtrack even more. Songwriter, Under the Gun, etc... now I just need to find a CD copy of the soundtrack (or maybe a DVD copy of the movie?).