Sweet and Lowdown

1999
PG
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

37K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:02

2 Videos

30 Photos

Comedy Drama Music

In the 1930s, jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute woman.In the 1930s, jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute woman.In the 1930s, jazz guitarist Emmet Ray idolizes Django Reinhardt, faces gangsters and falls in love with a mute woman.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

37K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 1 win & 15 nominations total

Videos2

Photos30

+ 24

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The guitar that Emmet Ray (Sean Penn) plays in the movie is a Selmer Maccaferri of about 1932, though it seems likely that it's a reproduction of the rare instrument and not an original. This is the same kind of guitar played and made famous by Django Reinhardt.

Goofs
Emmett's guitar playing is completely mis-matched with what is heard on the soundtrack. He plays the wrong chords, doesn't position his hands properly for the chords he does play, and is often strumming when he should be plucking (and vice versa).

Quotes
Emmet Ray: Wanna go to the dump and shoot some rats?

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: American Beauty/Blue Streak/For Love of the Game (1999)

Soundtracks
When Day Is Done
Written by Buddy G. DeSylva (as Buddy DeSylva) and Robert Katscher
Performed by Django Reinhardt
Courtesy of Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc.
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User reviews159

Review

Featured review

7/10

Very watchable, very charming

This is a very enjoyable movie. It has many touches in it that are classic Woody Allen, so it should appeal to his many fans. It is also so strong on the jazz material that it should appeal to jazz afficianados even if they are not Woody Allen fans.

The biographical / documentary styles keep this movie away from Woody's worst excesses (I am a fan, but not a blinkered one)and provide momentum. There are one or two scenes that migrate towards farce, such as the hold-up scene(s) and the "moon seat".

This film is well worth seeing.