Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Low Down

Play trailer Poster for Low Down R 2014 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
50% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The daughter (Elle Fanning) of jazz pianist Joe Albany (John Hawkes) witnesses her beloved father's struggle -- and failure -- to kick his heroin habit.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Low Down

Low Down

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Rich in mood and on-screen talent but lacking in narrative depth, Low Down tells an oft-told tale with a troubling dearth of imagination.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Sarah Mirk Bitch Media 01/22/2021
It's disappointing that Low Down unspools toward the end, since the first half is filled with great characters and a smart script. Like Amy's character herself, the film is astute in some ways and overwhelmingly awkward in others. Go to Full Review
Brad Wheeler Globe and Mail 11/21/2014
2.5/4
Somewhere over the rainbow the skies are blue, that's the dream. Some make it, some don't - this eloquent daughter's tale shows both sides. Go to Full Review
Linda Barnard Toronto Star 11/20/2014
2.5/4
Gets stuck in a cycle of addiction and morning-after regret while missing a chance to explore the how and why of its characters. Go to Full Review
Michael J. Casey Michael J. Cinema 10/24/2021
3/5
Jazz isn't just a style, it's a musical mood, and 'Low Down' gets right in there. Go to Full Review
Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 09/06/2019
2.5/5
A rather unremarkable treatment of a slipping down life, bright lights dimmed by the self-induced depravity of drugs and alcohol. Go to Full Review
Charles Mudede The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 08/28/2018
Certainly one of the best biopics of an artist I have seen in a long time. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Ronald H 09/20/2024 Low Down is in the tradition of 'Round Midnight and Bird: dark, slow moving, and ultimately tragic. In spite of the fact that it's based on the memoir of jazz pianist Joe Albany's daughter, it has a feeling of contrivance. The colors are desaturated brown and dingy beige; the settings are seedy and dismal. Jazz in the movies is all about suffering due to heroin or alcohol abuse, The joyous nature of jazz, not to mention the talent and discipline it takes to play it, is barely touched upon. John Hawkes and Dakota fanning are both memorable. See more 02/25/2020 Pretty powerful movie about addiction. Profound and wonderful. Elle Fanning is terrific. See more 10/28/2018 Well portrayed but no real depth. See more 08/13/2016 Too dark, too long, too sad, too slow See more 04/24/2016 An increasingly dark film with no climax, no point, and a sunny ending that emerged out of nowhere. See more 12/07/2015 Slow-burning exploration of the fragile relationship between a heroin-addicted jazz musician and his devoted teenage daughter, set in 1970s LA. John Hawkes and Elle Fanning are superb, with support from Glenn Close. Director Jeff Preiss builds on all the senses, from sumptuous visuals to layered jazz sounds. See more Read all reviews
Low Down

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
What They Had 87% 82% What They Had Watchlist TRAILER for What They Had Little Children 81% 82% Little Children Watchlist Anesthesia 27% 51% Anesthesia Watchlist TRAILER for Anesthesia Back Home 73% 52% Back Home Watchlist TRAILER for Back Home The Judge 49% 72% The Judge Watchlist TRAILER for The Judge Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis The daughter (Elle Fanning) of jazz pianist Joe Albany (John Hawkes) witnesses her beloved father's struggle -- and failure -- to kick his heroin habit.
Director
Jeff Preiss
Producer
Albert Berger, Mindy Goldberg, Ron Yerxa
Screenwriter
Amy-Jo Albany, Topper Lilien
Distributor
Oscilloscope Pictures
Production Co
Live Free or Die Films, Epoch Films, Heretic Films, Bona Fide Productions
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 24, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.5K
Runtime
1h 58m
Most Popular at Home Now