Sordid Lives

One of the funniest movies I have ever seen. We've watched it so many times we know the lines by heart. These people are all in my family, and I've often wanted to holler out myself to some of my relatives "Shoot her Wardel, shoot her in the head." I can relate to being gay in a small southern town.

My partner and I are gay in Arkansas, although they have just tried to pass a law to prevent us from being so. But for some reason "It ain't a workin" and there are more of us coming out now that the election's over than before. You'll laugh til you cry when Brother Boy sings Til I Can make it on My Own to the psycho with a fish in her ear - although I do not believe this was one of her "early years" songs. Watch it 10 times and then you can pretend you're in the cast.

My girlfriend and I saw trailers and the great website for Sordid Lives over a year ago and couldn't wait to see it. We kept checking back to see if it had finally made it's way out to us in LA every so often and had begun to figure we'd have to wait for the dvd release. Then driving today we saw it playing at a little house on LaBrea and hit up the next showing.

This film was well worth the wait. It's true that the camera work isn't flashy and it's easy to tell it was adapted from a play. But all the great characters and witty dialogue are so engaging you hardly notice. The whole cast does and excellent job and I honestly haven't laughed during a film this much since Waiting for Guffman. Although I think the film may be more targeted at gay audiences there seems to be something for everyone in this. Rarely have I seen a movie that managed to be this funny while being touching and real at the same time without seeming completely contrived and cheesy.

This is a well-oiled little film that flows back and forth between characters seamlessly. Filled with laughs over things you know you shouldn't be laughing at, but they are so ....

No slick filming, just down home, small town life and it's filmed that way.

I could have done without the character Olivia Newton-John played, but she was funny while doing it! And it isn't her fault, the character just seems to be something tossed in because she was there.

While it's funny, it has some things to say. Enjoy!

We found out about "Sordid Lives" earlier this year while visiting Palm Springs, where it had been playing for many weeks (maybe it still is...?)

We loved it! I'm not a film reviewer, and the only reason for this note is to wonder out loud why film has not been released on video. Could it be because it's still packing 'em in (in very select theaters and festivals) or because the distributor doesn't think the video will sell?

And it's not just a "gay" movie, even though there are a lot of gay issues presented. There are all kinds of issues--social, cultural, regional, economic, alcoholic, disability---you name it. The cast is superb. As for its "Politically Incorrectness?" Take this up with Bill Maher....

dw

Sordid lives is a candid account of the south and what happens....Its camp but so is life the humor is over the top but then again white trash is too. If your southern and have a friend or friends who are gay you may have met some of these characters ( I do and have)... The only part I didn't find believable was the break out of the nut house although it was a hoot. I like this movie Delta Burke and Olivia Newton-John were both a stitch....The clothes, sets and make-up were right on I mean really I am southern I come from a small town this people are just wandering around here, u can't swing a dead cat without hitting one or two.... The stereo-types are exact but then again small minded people all tend to act the same way hence the term