Ruby's Bucket of Blood

First of all, what's up with the title of the bar? Where did that come from? Secondly, what was up with that husband? He seemed downright hostile towards her and for what reason? She cooked for him, looked good for him and was a hard worker. What was his problem? I kept waiting for some answers and none came. And that ending! Please! Just where did she think she could go and not get found? What a terrible example for her daughter. The introduction of the gay theme was interesting, but it went NOWHERE. Still...I loved watching Angela Bassett, one of my favorite actresses.

I really enjoyed the movie although I wish some of the plotline was a little more developed or detailed. However, what really got me was the music. It was incredible. I am hoping they come out with a CD of the actual music used in the movie. Kevin Anderson's voice was incredible. I was blown away.

Billy Dupree was a real person yet there ia absolutely no information on his music and radio personality. Was this based on his true story? Where did you find this information if it is?

This movie was very good and touched my heart. I cried for the loss of such a musical talent. Especially if this is actually what happened to Billy Dupree. It was a true loss to the entire music industry and a real waste of a great talent.

As an Asian curious about the civil rights movement, I always take the opportunity to watch any movie based on that period of time. I can't judge the authenticity of the movie but it is well played, even if they are flaws. The story telling wasn't strong enough but Angela Bassett made up for it with her powerful acting. Stories of racial injustice always tear at my heart so it was refreshing to watch a movie about the segregated American South without the usual racial hate drama. There are subtle scenes of racial discrimination but it wasn't enough to make me want to bash some people up. The homosexuality subject was very thinly included in the sub plot and it was interesting to see how such a taboo subject was handled by the blacks in that era of time as even the whites had trouble with homosexuality. There wasn't even any intimate scenes between the two homosexual characters, just a little touch here and there. It was really cool to see the cars of that era - I much like them than the present ones; they had character. It was just a simple movie about a black woman trying to run her bar and maintain a marriage with a man who didn't love her anymore and keep her wilful daughter out of trouble.

As with "O Brother, Where Art Thou," the music in this film is a major reason to watch it--if you like The Blues, that is. In fact, the first half of the film is mostly filled with terrific performances of blues music (with dashes of jazz and cajun.) In 1961, in a Louisiana backwater, Billy Dupree, a white singer (played by Broadway's Kevin Anderson) lands a gig at Ruby's joint, whose clientele is black, when she suddenly needs a replacement act. Angela Bassett is Ruby, one tough cookie, who inexplicably doesn't realize her own sexy beauty. Her philandering fool of a husband walks out on her early on. Of course, Billy proves himself as a blues belter and romance blooms between the two singers, despite the interracial barrier, and despite Billy also being married--to a woman with mental problems. There are sub-plots, one involving Ruby's teen-aged daughter, and one about two of the black band members who are gay. (One wants to leave for New Orleans to find fame while the other is content where he is.) But this is mainly a love story. Despite a somewhat predictable plot and some credibility lapses (given the severe black anti-gay prejudice today, would the two musicians be so open about their attraction 40 years ago?) this is an engrossing film--well acted and directed--that will appeal to blues fans.