Songwriter

Songwriter is absolutly one of the best movies I have ever seen. Willie and Kris play there parts as though it was there lives and I somewhat believe it was pretty close. The songs , (which I've never heard any in full length) are some of the finest country songs I've ever listened to. I personally know this movie word for word and can't wait to get a new one because I wore the old one out. Due to the wife I had to dig it from the garbage more than once. I couldn't get enough of kris's "Raspy" (He's workin on that raspy) voice or willie playing that guitar. And nothing compares to Blackie Bucks band , and the harmonizing . I recommend this movie to anyone with a flair for the old days or who (like myself} played in the honky tonks for peanuts. If you haven't seen it . GET IT.

Willie Nelson turns in a surprisingly effective performance as Doc Jenkins, a travelling singer/songwriter whose dreams of greater success (primarily in financial terms) collide with his lack of business sense in Alan Rudolph's entertaining Songwriter. It's up to his friends, fellow performer, Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson) and rising star, Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren) to help him out of a bad deal made with Rodeo Rocky, played by Richard C. Sarafian.

I was delighted to see how effortlessly Nelson threw himself into the role of Doc. Did his inspiration come from the real life financial troubles he faced a while back? You decide. It's just a pleasure to see him using that golden voice and interacting with old pal, Kristofferson. I also enjoyed the trip that Rudolph takes us on the road and behind the stage of the country music scene.

Setbacks include the discovery of Gilda. Although possessed with a fine voice, I had trouble believing that she had enough talent to sweep Blackie and Doc off their feet. Showing a newcomer as "gifted" in film is always tough. The voice has to be right and the songs interesting. I just don't think it worked here. I also didn't agree with Rocky's character who came off as a little too slimy, although we are talking about the record industry.

I enjoyed it overall. The story keeps you watching and Nelson with his guitar is worth the price of the rental alone. Watching this songwriter was a pleasure.

Alan Rudolph always makes interesting films and this little-seen mid-80s effort is no exception. The plot involves a singer/songwriter who discovers that the record company who initially signed him up have screwed him over with a disadvantageous ironclad contract that he is unable to break. Not one to give up though, the music legend attempts to release his own songs using a female singer as a front, but will the record company eventually catch on? While this might sound very slim as far as plot lines go, 'Songwriter' is a film more about its characters than any story, with lots of memorable dialogue as lead actor Willie Nelson interacts with various associates who band together to help him out of the jam. "Everybody has to kill their own snakes," he philosophises at one point and a poolside treatment that one such associate gets from sleeping around leads to possibly the film's most memorable scene. The film takes a while to warm up though, and catchy as Kris Kristofferson's songs for the film may well be, the song performance scenes are never as interesting as the character drama, but generally speaking, this is a worthwhile experience. There is a lot of fun to be had in Nelson using the tricks of the trade that he has acquired over the years to get back at the record company and Lesley Ann Warren's internal dilemmas resonate as the young female singer fronting for Nelson. The title for the movie is really quite astute in this regard; it could apply equally to her and Nelson as the actual and fake songwriters of the film respectively.

"He Lost Everything...Now Its Time To Get Even." Kick back and enjoy Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson as a pair of hard-living Texans in this funny, original and very real look at the country music business. It's Willie and Kris, on the road again, sharing music and raising hell! Melinda Dillon and Rip Torn give a great performance. This movie was pretty good to watch on VHS. I don't know if this movie has come out on DVD or not. The acting wasn't too well performed...but the music was. It's an "ok" movie to enjoy watching. A friend of mine, Tommy McClure, R. I. P., had told me to watch this movie. He was in the "Roarers Band" in this movie.

Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is a broke songwriter and session musician. He had a hit song but all the money goes to his unscrupulous producer who owns all the rights. He still loves his ex-wife and former music star Honey Carder (Melinda Dillon). He only has managing his old singing partner Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson) who introduces him to new singer Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren). Dino McLeish (Rip Torn) is her money-grubbing manager who agrees to go 50-50.

The story is a little messy and meandering. It's scruffy like Willie Nelson himself. This almost feels like an Altman film if there is a few more crowded dialogue scenes. It did get an Oscar nomination for music. It also has the undeniable easy charms of Willie Nelson. That goes a long way.