Show Bus

Willie is one of our National treasures in my opinion. I suppose some people would disagree, and that's o.k., you have every right to be wrong.

The best part of this film, I felt, was the fairly much realistic portrayal of what life is like on the road for entertainers. Or, more accurately what is was like back when this film was made. Who better to play the lead than one who's probably logged a million or so miles out there between the ditches? I also loved Slim Pickens performance, and the camaraderie between Willie and Slim was hilarious and heartwarming.

I can't imagine anyone in the world who hasn't seen this film. It should be required viewing for any new converts to Country Music. I gave this film a rating of 9 - shaving off one point for the aggrandizement of boozing/pill popping and womanizing. But you gotta love Willie et al in spite of it. Maybe because of it, who knows?

Despite what I wrote above in my summary line, I did not hate or dislike "Honeysuckle Rose". There were some things about it that I genuinely enjoyed. With Willie Nelson headlining the movie, there is of course a lot of opportunity for him to sing, which I found very enjoyable despite the fact that country music in normally not my thing. Nelson isn't a great actor - he's only adequate here - but in his defence he doesn't try to be something he's not, and his relaxed and easygoing manner is palatable. Speaking of relaxed and easygoing, director Jerry Schatzberg films the movie in that style, in a way that gives many of the scenes an almost documentary feel, making them surprisingly realistic. However, eventually this slow and steady attitude starts to backfire. The movie is extremely drawn out; there's not a heck of a lot of story here, and what there is could have been told at a length much shorter than the 119 minutes this movie takes. All the same, the movie does have its charms, and I can see some people really enjoying it despite its shortcomings.

Although I am not a country music fan,usually, I do like Willie. And this film is a fine vehicle for him. I personally would have cast someone else in the role of his wife. Don't get me wrong, Diane Cannon is a fine actress, but I just can't picture it, Willie Nelson and Diane Cannon married? Nah.

Willie Nelson stars in this movie depicting the life of a country western singer not unlike Willie Nelson. He's married to Dyan Cannon and they have a son Joey Floyd. To raise said child Cannon who used to perform with him retired from the business to become a full time mom.

Another retirement, that of Slim Pickens his long time guitar accompaniest sets the stage for our drama. Pickens's daughter Amy Irving whom he has taught the instrument goes on the road in his stead. Nelson who is a hedonist by habit on the road takes his pleasures where he finds them. When Irving admits she's had a thing for him, the rest is just another case of infidelity.

The best thing about Honeysuckle Rose is the great country western score that mostly Willie Nelson sings. Before he was a performer Nelson wrote songs for other performers. One of his songs On The Road Again received an Oscar nomination for Best Song.

Nelson and the rest of the cast perform well. Further down in the credits take note of Mickey Rooney, Jr. as a prominent country western star and Lane Smith his unctuous manager. Smith is into merchandising and promotion but doesn't know real talent if it sung in his good ear. Nelson and Rooney's joint appearance proves a disaster.

If you're into country music and especially Willie Nelson, Honeysuckle Rose is not to be missed.

Buck Bonham(Willie Nelson) and Garland Ramsey(Slim Pickens) are two country stars that have been on the road for probably too many years. Garland wants to retire and Buck is too stubborn to. There needs to be a temporary replacement for Garland and it is suggested that Garland's daughter Lily(Amy Irving)go out with Buck and the band for a few weeks.

Lily is living a dream being on the road and even more she acts on her long admiration for Buck. The two singers become an item and soon they don't even try to hide their entanglement.

There is a lot of Willie songs throughout and any Willie fan should feel high on the hog. For the non Willie fan it is still a good film, where your brain kind of slips into neutral.

Dyan Cannon plays Buck's wife and sure looks too hot for the role. Others in the cast are Lane Smith, Diana Scarwid and Mickey Rooney, Jr. Emmylou Harris drops in for a cameo role.

Gas up the tour bus and chase the white line.