SWEET AND LOWDOWN/ ***1/2

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Sweet and Lowdown

***1/2

Rated on a 4-star scale
Screening venue: Cornerhouse (Manchester)
Released in the UK by Columbia TriStar on June 9, 2000; certificate PG; 95 minutes; country of origin USA; aspect ratio 1.85:1

Directed by Woody Allen; produced by Jean Doumanian.
Written by Woody Allen.
Photographed by Zhao Fei; edited by Alisa Lepselter.

CAST.....
Sean Penn..... Emmett Ray
Samantha Morton..... Hattie
Uma Thurman..... Blanche
Anthony LaPaglia..... Al Torrio
Brian Markinson..... Bill Shields
Gretchen Mol..... Ellie
James Urbaniak..... Harry
John Waters..... Mr. Hayes

Historical legends inspire the most amusing stories. Woody Allen's "Sweet and Lowdown" is such a good little movie because it knows that. It's the tale of a fictional 1930s jazz guitarist named Emmett Ray, shot with fake documentary-style interviews of music buffs and historians recounting their knowledge, and scripted drama that recreates Emmett Ray's 'life'. The idea is perfect, because it gives a great director the freedom to show off his talent through an episodic structure.

'Interviewees' include Doug McGrath, Ben Duncan and Allen himself. The drama stars Sean Penn as Ray, a shifty kleptomaniac with a thin, greasy moustache, who drinks and smokes too much, spends like there's no tomorrow even when he's broke, works as a pimp when he should be playing shows, and calls himself "the second best guitarist in the world!" Ray idolises and envies the famed Django Reinhardt, a real-life musician whose work appears on the film's soundtrack. At times he calls him "a little gypsy from France," but that's just to cover up his awe, and when he gets the opportunity to meet him, Ray faints from nerves.

He's a quirky guy, in other words; the kind of creation a comic genius like Allen and a terrific actor like Penn can bring to life in a wonderfully entertaining way. Drama professors often talk of "the humour of the drunk" -- in the same vain, there's the humour of the bozo, which is every bit as pathetic, sympathetic and amusing. Ray is an unlikely protagonist for a Woody Allen movie, and so although its humour is not broad or benign, "Sweet and Lowdown" has a more accessible appeal than most of the man's work. Many viewers find Allen's nostalgic, analytic, intellectual romanticism annoying, especially when delivered via his jittery persona. I don't, but I'm familiar with the argument, and think that the style of this movie may be just about conventional enough to endear a wider audience. They probably won't give it the chance, and that's a pity. Maybe they'll catch it on TV.

Penn's love interest in the film is Samantha Morton, whose character Hattie is a mute -- the perfect woman for Ray, as she values her sense of hearing, and so adores his music; but cannot talk, let alone talk back. Her gorgeously expressive eyes, shy face, tiptoe walk and wool hat make her look like a fantasy from a silent movie, and she gazes at Ray lovingly throughout their relationship. It is a touching moment in the film when even she decides to move on -- it's the only possible event that could make Ray realise the severity of his ways.

The emotional content of "Sweet and Lowdown" is only strong in parts, though; generally it doesn't have the force of Allen's masterpieces, like "Hannah and Her Sisters" or "Crimes and Misdemeanors". But as a collection of anecdotes it works splendidly. It's constantly making us smile in different ways, and to get an idea of what I mean, just look at the title.

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