Writer-director Del Shores serves up a heaping helping of Southern-fried comic melodrama in this adaptation of his own play about infidelity, country & western music, and Airstream trailers. When their sister dies, Latrelle (Bonnie Bedelia), LaVonda (Ann Walker), and Sissy (Beth Grant) plan her funeral -- an unenviable task, considering that they must carefully hide the deceased's affair with amputee G.W. (Beau Bridges) from his wife, the vindictive Noleta (Delta Burke). Meanwhile, the trio has to come to terms with two cases of sexual orientation: Latrelle's openly gay soap-opera star son Ty (Kirk Geiger), whose sexuality she continues to deny; and their only brother, Boy (Leslie Jordan), who's serving a sentence in a mental ward for his adamant belief that he is actually country & western legend Tammy Wynette. Playing an aspiring singer-songwriter, Olivia Newton-John turns up to provide the film with the occasional musical interlude. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
Review
The laughs are cheap and few in this satire based on director Del Shores' theatrical play. The gay themes, which resonate most honestly, are overwhelmed by crude and predictable characterizations that don't just capitalize on the eccentricities of Texas stereotypes but go so far as to make them sympathetic to the viewer. The result is a sagging sensation of discomfort. Before long you just want Shores to get to the point and get these people out of your face, which he is painfully slow to do. The staging is uncertain, as if they didn't know where to put the camera in some of the scenes, and the sets are flat and uninventive, with most of the dialogue recited with nothing but walls -- tavern walls, living room walls -- in the near background. It's saying a lot, but the most entertaining moments are when Olivia Newton-John, looking fabulous as a cowgirl singer, takes the microphone. Unfortunately, she's compelled to sing the same song not once but twice in its entirety. Gay audiences -- it won several gay film fest awards -- seem the most likely to appreciate the black comedy, but widespread appeal is unlikely. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Earl Bullock - Ty Williamson; Delta Burke - Noleta Nethercott; Kirk Geiger - Ty Williamson; Beth Grant - Sissy Hickey; Sarah Hunley - Juanita Bartlett; Leslie Jordan - Brother Boy "Earl" Ingram; Olivia Newton-John - Bitsy Mae Harling; Ann Walker - LaVonda Dupree; Terry Brannon; Mitch Carter; Mary Margaret Lewis; Lorna Scott
Credit
Steve Cubine - Art Director, Steve Cubine - Associate Producer, Monica Deeter - Associate Producer, Jourdan E. Krauss - Associate Producer, James Echerd - Associate Producer, Ferne Cassel - Casting, Annette Venson - Casting, William Edward Phipps - Co-producer, Scott J. Jones - Co-producer, George Conda - Co-producer, Linda Katzen Swartz - Co-producer, Matt Gohd - Co-producer, Reuben Jacobs - Co-producer, Paula Avazian - Costume Designer, James Echerd - Costume Designer, Brian Terwilliger - First Assistant Director, Del Shores - Director, Ed Marx - Editor, George S. Clinton - Composer (Music Score), Steve Cubine - Production Designer, Max CiVon - Cinematographer, J. Todd Harris - Producer, Max CiVon - Producer, Sharyn Lane - Producer, Victoria Alonso - Producer, Robert Gravenor - Sound/Sound Designer, Gail Carroll-Coe - Sound/Sound Designer, Del Shores - Screenwriter, Gary Krivacek - Supervising Sound Editor, James Echerd - Assistant Location Manager, Del Shores - Play Author
Sordid Lives was a 2000independent film, written and directed by Del Shores, which performed poorly at the box office. The movie is based on Shores' play of the same name and includes elements of his life, according to the director's DVD commentary. The film was followed by the 2008television seriesSordid Lives: The Series.
The original stage play premiered in Los Angeles on May 11, 1996 and ultimately won 14 Drama League Awards. The film met with mixed reviews from mainstream audiences but became a cult classic with LGBT fans, particularly in the South. The movie tells the story of a Texas family coming together in the aftermath of the matriarch's death. To keep the stories going, Viacom's new premium station Logo greenlit twelve episodes of Sordid Lives: The Series. The television version begins at a point before that covered in the film, providing a chance to cast Rue McClanahan as the mother, Peggy Ingram. Much of the film cast returned, including Leslie Jordan and Olivia Newton-John. Delta Burke was replaced with Caroline Rhea, while the part of Ty Williamson (formerly played by Kirk Geiger) is now portrayed by director Del Shores' partner (and apparent same-sex husband) Jason Dottley.[1] Dottley has been on the national tour of the stage production of Sordid Lives since September 2007.
The television series began airing in July 2008.[2]
A colorful family from a small Texas town must come to grips with the accidental death of the elderly family matriarch during a clandestine meeting in a seedy motel room with her much younger, married neighbor. The woman's family must deal with their own demons while preparing for what could be an embarrassing funeral.
The son of Latrelle, Ty is a closeted 20-something gay man who left behind the small Southern Baptist town in Texas and moved to West Hollywood to become an actor.
Hunley, SarahSarah Hunley
Bartlett, JuanitaJuanita Bartlett
Wardell's short-term memory friend and regular patron (a/k/a 'the town drunk') of Bubba's Bar.
Alexander, NewellNewell Alexander
Owens, Wardell 'Bubba'Wardell 'Bubba' Owens
G.W.'s friend and the object of Brother Boy's affection.
Ty's mother, who is primarily concerned with keeping up appearances. Latrelle wants to persuade her sister LaVonda and Aunt Sissy not to bury her mother, Peggy in a mink stole in Texas during the summer.
Alexis, SharronSharron Alexis
Kaufman, SaraSara Kaufman
Ty's deranged ex-girlfriend who is obsessed that they are meant to be together.
Walker, AnnAnn Walker
DuPree, LaVondaLaVonda DuPree
Peggy's eldest daughter, a free spirit who is also Noleta's best friend.
Lewis, Mary-MargaretMary-Margaret Lewis
Ethel
Brother Boy's confidant and best friend at the mental institution.
Alexander, RosemaryRosemary Alexander
Bolinger, Dr. EveDr. Eve Bolinger
"Doctor Evil" wants to de-homosexualize Brother Boy so she can write a book, appear on the Oprah television show and quit her psychiatrist job at the mental institution.
