Main Cast: James Franco, Brenda Blethyn, Mena Suvari, Harry Dean Stanton, Brenda Vaccaro
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 110 minutes
Plot
Film superstar Nicolas Cage's directing debut, Sonny follows a very unconventional family as they struggle to overcome personal and financial adversity. Young Sonny (James Franco) returns home to New Orleans from Army service to find his mother Jewel (Brenda Blethyn), a prostitute, in dire financial straits due to her marketability decreasing exponentially as her age increases. Jewel takes heart at her son's return, however, as she had raised him to be a male prostitute and his mid-'20s vitality should be able to provide a much-needed boost to her family's income -- which until now has primarily been based on Jewel's boyfriend Henry's (Harry Dean Stanton) small-time thievery, as well as the income generated by Jewel's new recruit, Carol (Mena Suvari). Sonny initially scoffs at the thought, having been offered a chance for a legitimate job from his Army buddy (Scott Caan), but when that possibility falls through, Sonny finds he has no choice but to work for his mother. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
Review
A disappointing effort from Nicolas Cage in his directorial debut, Sonny doesn't have much of a story, isn't acted particularly well, and is written in a way that repeatedly telegraphs the next scene or line. Early on in the film, it's made very clear to the audience in a conversation between the lead, Sonny (James Franco), and Henry (Harry Dean Stanton), that there is something about their relationship that Henry hasn't expressed to Sonny. This turns into a dramatic revelation to Sonny near the end of the film, but it's not news to anyone in the audience. In the same way, one can often guess what a character is about to say before they say it. Perhaps the film's only surprise is a brief appearance by Nicolas Cage as a gay, cocaine-snorting pimp. It's among the worst and most pointless scenes in the film. Brenda Blethyn and Mena Suvari often seem to be struggling with TV movie writer John Carlen's cliché-laden script which requires that they scream, yelp and cry throughout the film. However, Harry Dean Stanton overcomes the material and is excellent as a lowlife thief and gambler with just a touch of class. ~ Adam Bregman, All Movie Guide
Debra L. Gainor - Associate Producer, Jeffrey Passero - Casting, Elizabeth Passero - Casting, Shawn-Holly Cookson - Costume Designer, Mark Anthony Little - First Assistant Director, Nicolas Cage - Director, Howard E. Smith - Editor, Glenn Gainor - Executive Producer, Norm Waitt - Executive Producer, Clint Mansell - Composer (Music Score), Monroe Kelly - Production Designer, Barry Markowitz - Cinematographer, Nicolas Cage - Producer, Paul Brooks - Producer, Norm Golightly - Producer, Jeffrey Haupt - Sound/Sound Designer, John Carlen - Screenwriter
