Songwriter

R

Released Oct 14, 1984

1 hr. 34 min.

Musical

List

89%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

43%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is a country music star who's become fed up with the industry. With some help from Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson), his old partner, and Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren), a rising star he's been mentoring, he tries to get back at Rodeo Rocky (Richard Sarafian), a ruthless promoter who's swindled him out of the publishing rights to his songs. Doc also sets out to get back together with his kindly ex-wife, Honey (Melinda Dillon).

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isla s

This is a wistful film - an old tearjerker. It features the usual violins played while the two main characters discuss their visions of the future, plus a young boy and some, I assume, deprived young children, so there's plenty to 'well up to' during this film. There is also the obligatory mist/fog in the distance when characters stare along the train tracks out by the platforms. Suffice to say, it is a bit cliched but its a pleasant enough watch regardless, although I did feel the music was irritatingly loud. Its almost like it was trying far too hard to be taken too seriously as over melodramatic but if you turn down the volume it isn't quite so bad, of course. Overall this is an ok film of its type. I suppose if your keen on these kind of films then yes, I would cautiously recommend it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

gene r

It's taken me a few decades to warm up to this movie. I blame that primarily on the first act, which is not only confusing in its clipped and stepped-on dialogue and unexplained music-business jargon, but also to the fact that the major characters are presented as loutish swindlers. However, Doc Jenkins soon begins to present a subtle character arc that is only revealed after the fact, and his influence brings other characters along with him. I've also grown fonder of Willie Nelson's voice and songbook, over the years, and I really enjoyed listening to him croon. There is no doubt that this is a rat-pack style movie, with none of the actors taking it too seriously, but they turn in good performances, nonetheless.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

There isn't enough plot here to help the surprisingly effective performances.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Despite an Academy award nominated score and a break out performance by Lesley Ann Warren the studio didn't know what to do with it and it was unceremoniously dumped into a mere handful of theaters. It's a damn shame because it's one of the most charming films about the music business ever made. This film is worth the time and trouble it will take you to see it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A cute little film. You need to be a Nelson & Kristoffer fan to really like it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Aos quatro minutos, o personagem do Willie Nelson jÃ¡ despachou dois casamentos e depois Ã (C) sempre a somar. Ã uma histÃ³ria de tramas e de sede de poder na indÃºstria da mÃºsica country. Nem sempre muito cativante ou especialmente organizada na narrativa. Vale essencialmente pelos excelentes momentos musicais e por todas as cenas em que o Kris Kristofferson pega numa guitarra. O final Ã (C) um pouco inacreditÃ¡vel e tonto. A quantidade de microfones visÃveis dÃ¡-lhe tambÃ (C)m alguma graÃ§a extra.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Alan Rudolph

Director

Willie Nelson

Doc Jenkins

Kris Kristofferson

Blackie Buck

Melinda Dillon

Honey Carder

Rip Torn

Dino McLeish

Lesley Ann Warren

Gilda

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Songwriter is a satirical comedy about an artist trying to break free of the crooks who are binding him, but it never loses its sense of perspective on what a wily, frisky old pirate Doc himself is.

Sep 13, 2023

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's about spending some time with some country musicians who are not much crazier than most country musicians, and are probably nicer than some. It also has a lot of good music.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

An ornery and always amusing country music comedy built around Nelson’s story, Nelson’s persona and Nelson’s attitudes about Nashville and the country music industry.

Rated: 3/4

May 5, 2023

Full Review

Edward Morris

Billboard

Nelson and Kristofferson do quite well imparting interest in the frail script they have to work with. But it is Rip Torn who comes close to stealing the show...

Mar 28, 2023

Full Review

Michael Lasky

Bay Area Reporter

The pacing is flash. bang. pop, with nonstop singing, talking, and carrying on, suggesting the manic pace entertainers on the road must endure.

Apr 30, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

If you're fans of country music and especially of Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, you should love this free-wheeling road film.

Rated: B

Dec 8, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is a country music star who's become fed up with the industry. With some help from Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson), his old partner, and Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren), a rising star he's been mentoring, he tries to get back at Rodeo Rocky (Richard Sarafian), a ruthless promoter who's swindled him out of the publishing rights to his songs. Doc also sets out to get back together with his kindly ex-wife, Honey (Melinda Dillon).

Director: Alan Rudolph
Production Co: TriStar Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 1984, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 24, 2020
Sound Mix: Surround

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