New Orleans is a major character in this film. Not the French Quarter as we usually see but the slums that gave us the music and character of this unique place in all the world. You have to ask yourself why and how did a first time unknown director get two major stars to make this budget film in three weeks in August of 2004. The answer is script, script and script. A good story seems harder to find than $100 million in LA. We have remakes of remakes of TV shows and comic books. The story is very good; the look of the film is great and Travolta and Johansson bring their gifts to the lead roles. Deb Unger is particularly fetching and dignified. The real New Orleans that is probably gone forever after the Katrina disaster is reason enough to cherish this film and add it to your permanent collection. Also loved the way JT used that old Gibson LG-1 as a prop and actually played it and sang a few tunes!
