Sweet and Lowdown | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Sweet and Lowdown

      PG-13 Released Sep 4, 1999 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy Drama List
      77% 61 Reviews Tomatometer 82% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) isn't an easy guy to be around -- among other things, he's inconsiderate and egomaniacal. He also happens to be a jazz guitarist with undeniable talent, and despite his many faults, he ends up winning the heart of Hattie (Samantha Morton), a kind young mute woman. Hattie's seemingly endless patience with Emmet is tested, however, with his incessant irresponsibility and infidelity, leading their relationship to the breaking point. Read More Read Less Watch on Peacock Stream Now

      Where to Watch

      Sweet and Lowdown

      Fandango at Home Peacock Prime Video Apple TV

      Rent Sweet and Lowdown on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

      Sweet and Lowdown

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      Critics praise Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown for its charming, light-hearted comedy and quality acting.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (515) audience reviews
      Alec B The mix of a traditional narrative and documentary structure allows allows for Allen's unabashed music history nerd flag to fly and keeps the fictional material from getting too out of control. Penn and Morton give two delightful performances. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review Taylor L Samantha Morton managed to pull an Oscar nom for her role, which is all the more remarkable since she says absolutely nothing at all. Though Woody Allen does appear in it, Sweet and Lowdown is one of the writer-director's more dry comedies - a fictitious jazz guitarist in the 1930s that has both talent and arrogance in excess but who can't get out of his own way, punctuated by modern-day critical interviews about his career. The film is awash in period detail (Allen apparently is a jazz lover himself, and paid particular attention to the elements that went into the setting) and features strong performances, but it should be pointed out that fans of the director's traditional style might be a bit confused when it comes to tone; there aren't really any laugh-out-loud moments or traditional jokes, it's much more of a character-driven film about the dark side of performing arts, the ego and exploitation. Penn's take on Emmet Ray is a highlight, with everything from surface-level charm to self-deception on display as he makes his way from pool halls to dance clubs; there's also more than humor at his character's expense, as the film invests time in his relationship with Morton's Hattie and really nails home the themes about emotional honesty especially as they relate to as soulful an outlet as jazz. Only rate this slightly low out of personal taste; it's relatively reserved for a mockumentary and probably could have done with a few more over-the-top moments. (3/5) Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review isla s I thought this was an amusing film, with Sean Penn playing the somewhat of a 'wise guy', quirky jazz guitarist Emmet Ray. I enjoyed it as a period drama, even though it is decidedly cheesy at times and the comedy is mostly visual, somewhat slapstick in nature. Samantha Morton is quite charming too as the very facially expressive mute lady, Hattie. Of course a film like this is very much centered on music and I enjoyed the 'bright and breezy' style of jazz music played in the background of some scenes. I prefer this to some other Woody Allen films, certainly. I quite enjoyed this film and so I'd recommend it to others, yes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I would categorize this as a classic musical with a touch of biography... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Nice biopic on a man that was supposed to be a genius. (I am not into jazz but his guitar did sound amazing). Well acted especially by Penn, Morton and LaPaglia. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review jaime h Perhaps Sean Penn's greatest performance ever! Genius film! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Discover

      Best Movies to Stream at Home

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      95% 91% Hundreds of Beavers TRAILER for Hundreds of Beavers 67% 28% The Stranger TRAILER for The Stranger 50% 92% The Stolen Valley TRAILER for The Stolen Valley 93% 95% Dune: Part Two TRAILER for Dune: Part Two 71% 60% Immaculate TRAILER for Immaculate 82% 75% In the Land of Saints and Sinners TRAILER for In the Land of Saints and Sinners 69% 81% Sweet Dreams TRAILER for Sweet Dreams % 43% Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer 56% 83% DogMan TRAILER for DogMan % % An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th TRAILER for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Movie News & Guides

      View All Movie News & Guides

      This movie is featured in the following articles.

      Definitive Jazz Movies Total Recall: Walk Hard While My Biopic Gently Weeps Trailer Bulletin: Monster House

      Photos

      View All Sweet and Lowdown photos

      Sweet and Lowdown

      Sweet and Lowdown (1999) Sweet and Lowdown (1999) Sweet and Lowdown (1999) Sweet and Lowdown (1999) Sweet and Lowdown (1999) Sweet and Lowdown (1999) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (61) Critics Reviews
      Susan Stark Detroit News Rated: 2/4 Oct 18, 2008 Full Review Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times Droll and amusing. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 15, 2002 Full Review Edward Guthmann San Francisco Chronicle Rated: 3/4 Jun 18, 2002 Full Review Catherine Graham Santa Cruz Sentinel The subtitle could be "Everything You Always Hated About Woody Allen." Rated: D Mar 1, 2019 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Woody Allen, in his thirtieth outing as writer-director, still shows signs of change, improvement, depth of feeling. Rated: B Sep 23, 2007 Full Review Joe Lozito Big Picture Big Sound Rated: 3/4 Jul 14, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) isn't an easy guy to be around -- among other things, he's inconsiderate and egomaniacal. He also happens to be a jazz guitarist with undeniable talent, and despite his many faults, he ends up winning the heart of Hattie (Samantha Morton), a kind young mute woman. Hattie's seemingly endless patience with Emmet is tested, however, with his incessant irresponsibility and infidelity, leading their relationship to the breaking point.
      Director
      Woody Allen
      Screenwriter
      Woody Allen
      Distributor
      Sony Pictures Television, Columbia TriStar Domestic Television, Sony Pictures Classics
      Production Co
      Sweetland Films, Magnolia Pictures
      Rating
      PG-13
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 4, 1999, Original
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $4.2M
      Sound Mix
      Dolby Digital
      Most Popular at Home Now