AliceofX The Sweet and Lowdown will make you believe it is a story about actual people. The narrators and the stranger than fiction portraits of life give a realistic feel to it. It's a typical Woody Allen flick in its combination of humour and interesting story.The movie follows a dislikeable character, played by Sean Penn, who you love to see through out his many failures in life. The film has vibrant characters and that is arguably the best part of it.The only really bad thing I could say against this film is that it doesn't really have an ending. It just goes on until it ends at an arbitrary point. If this were an actual biopic you could understand it as just following history, but as it is it just seems odd. Though it could be said that it just sticks to style.Overall the Sweet and Lowdown is like a familiar meal that is filling while not exactly novel. It's a movie that will be more enjoyed by Woody Allen's fans because while it is funny the plot leaves one feeling empty and longing for more.

leonblackwood Review: I really enjoyed this movie. Sean Penn really put in a brilliant performance along with the other actors who contributed into making this movie a great watch. Throughout the movie you see people telling there own stories about the talented Emmet Ray, including Woody Allen who had wrote and directed this movie extremely well. I hadn't heard of this talented guitarist before watching this film so I found this movie interesting and enjoyable. In the film, Emmet Ray was a completely different person when he was playing his guitar to when he was womanising and breaking hearts. Mixed with his outrageous spending habits and his addiction to stealing, there is enough drama throughout the movie to keep you entertained. The main shocking aspect to the film has to be Sean Penn's guitar playing. Woody Allen made a point of showing the audience that it was actually Sean Penn playing the guitar so I have to tip my hat to Penn for learning such a difficult, unique way of playing the instrument. Anyway, if you know of Emmet Ray then its definitely worth a watch and its also worth watching just for entertainment. Watchable!  Round-Up: Emmet Ray really did have a weird and wonderful life. From dating a mute, falling into a house with loads of cash and marrying a lady who he didn't really know, he really lived each day as it comes. His random unpredictable lifestyle made everyone around him wonder if he would have been a better guitarist if he got his life together, but he never thought that he had a problem. He was a very cocky individual that had his head in the stars, which is why the concept for the film was so good. Sean Penn really did play his role well along with Samantha Morton who played the mute convincingly. The only thing is that you don't really know what truly happened in some of the scenes because his life was documented. People throughout the movie are using hearsay more than evidence about the mans life, which is made obvious when you hear there stories about the man. Anyway, enough said, watch the film.Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $4.2millionI recommend this movie to people who are into there Woody Allen movies which follows events in Emmet Rays life, who was a talented guitarist with personal issues. 7/10

namashi_1 Mr.Cinema aka Woody Allen, Emerges a WINNER yet again with his 1999 Cinematic Delight 'Sweet and Lowdown'. A Highly Entertaining & Hilarious Film, that also packs in tremendous performances.'Sweet and Lowdown' Synopsis: In the 1930s, fictional jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute.'Sweet and Lowdown' explores Emmet Ray's Journey, beautifully. Its Funny & Very Entertaining. Allen's Writing & Direction, both, are Delightful. The Master Storyteller Emergers a Winner yet again with 'Sweet and Lowdown'. Cinematography is good. Editing & Art Design, are perfect.Performance-Wise: Sean Penn is Tremendous as Emmet Ray. Like Always, The Legendary Actor gives his all & shines from start to end. Samantha Morton is fantastic. She delivers a career best performance in here. Uma Thurman is fluffy in a cameo, while Anthony LaPaglia is impressive.On the whole, 'Sweet and Lowdown' is a must see. Woody Allen is Mr.Cinema! The One & Only!

Nuno Duarte When Sean Penn embodies any sort of psycho or sociopath, you know he'll do good. Under the direction of Woody Allen, Sean Penn gives life to Emmet Ray, supposed to be the best guitar player of his time, around the 30's. Emmet lives haunted by one Django, who he believes to be way better than himself, fainting every time he makes visual contact with him. Travelling around the states for money, he eventually meets Hattie (Samantha Morton), a mute girl somewhere around his age, very simple but also quite dumb girl. A not quite mutual relationship begins but only took a couple years for Hattie to wake up with a letter on the bedside table. Emmet had gone. Living like an artist, another woman gets his attention, this time she ain't mute but isn't very smart, still. Blanche (Uma Thurman), has this habit of writing everything that comes to her mind and annoys Emmet for talking too much. Emmet ends up marrying her anyway. I interpreted his marriage to be some sort of regret for leaving Hattie, later in the movie you may understand why. As you see the story ain't the most interesting. The interviews that putted in between scenes don't work out well. Sean Penn is good and Samantha Mortonwas very cool. The music is also very cool. Woody Allen could have surely done it better. 6/10