Honeysuckle Rose

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.

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?

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.

I liked the movie, although I don't care a thing for Willie or his music. His band members did a good job as actors, and Slim Pickens was great as the booze swilling guitar player. The scene near the end where Pickens tried to kill Nelson was hilarious. The story never got real emotional nor did it drag around too much, so I considered it good enough.

Buck Bonham (Willie Nelson) is a traveling country singer with his band. His marriage to Viv (Dyan Cannon) has its hurdles. When his longtime guitar player Garland Ramsey (Slim Pickens) retires, he is replaced by his daughter Lily (Amy Irving). To the dismay of most, Buck starts an affair with Lily.

There is nothing that dramatic. It's a romantic melodrama dressed up in country singing robes. I don't know how Amy Irving won the 1st Golden Raspberry for the Worst Supporting Actress. I don't expect much praise but she's not actually bad. That's how I feel about the movie in general. The music is fine country. Willie Nelson lends a reality to his character. There is a general cinema verite feel with the concerts. This is a fine country western song in movie form.