Crazy in Alabama (1999)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Antonio Banderas

Writers (WGA):

Mark Childress (novel)
Mark Childress (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Sometimes you have to lose your mind to find your freedom

Plot:

An abused wife heads to California to become a movie star while her nephew back in Alabama has to deal with a racially-motivated murder involving a corrupt sheriff.

Plot Keywords:

Alabama | Hollywood | Star | Murder | Abusive Husband

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Melanie Griffith	...	Lucille Vinson
David Morse	...	Dove Bullis
Lucas Black	...	Peter Joseph 'Peejoe' Bullis
Cathy Moriarty	...	Earlene Bullis
Meat Loaf	...	Sheriff John Doggett (as Meat Loaf Aday)
Rod Steiger	...	Judge Louis Mead
Richard Schiff	...	Norman the Chauffeur
John Beasley	...	Nehemiah Jackson
Robert Wagner	...	Harry Hall
Noah Emmerich	...	Sheriff Raymond
Sandra Seacat	...	Meemaw
Paul Ben-Victor	...	D.A. Mackie (as Paul Ben Victor)
Brad Beyer	...	Jack
Fannie Flagg	...	Sally the Waitress
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Joan Blake

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, thematic material, language and a scene of sensuality.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | France:U | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-8

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Green Moon Productions

Trivia:

Two of Lucille's children are played by Melanie Griffith's real-life children: Dakota Johnson and Stella Banderas.

Quotes:

Peejoe: Life and death are only temporary, but freedom goes on forever.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Mulholland Dr. (2001)

Soundtrack:

Lucille

Enlightening, feel good movie.

Aunt Lucille just could not stand her husband destroying her life. After poisoning and beheading her "problem," she leaves home for Hollywood or bust, the latter not being an option. Meanwhile back at the ranch, poor Pee Joe gets into trouble from the the law. He is not actually in trouble, but a key witness to a murder the sheriff committed. The movie feels great, and Melanie Griffith does an excellent job playing the "crazy" Lucille. Stand out belongs to the actor who played Judge Mead, who's over the top role was excellently done. Feel good slow pace may make everything feel lame compared to other movies of the time (let's face it, this movie does not have special eye candy for people's attention). Not a movie to see in the theater, but a good one to wind down to.