Sordid Lives

Del Shores adaptation definitely shows it's origin as a stage play. This movie seems to evoke strong reactions in both directions - love it or hate it. It does seem realistic to a lot of us who have exposure to southern families (if that sounds like stereotyping, this glove fits reality).

Good cast, very good performances. Though it's close to over-written, I think it lands more in realism. It's funny. Yes, it's edgy, bitter, maybe a bit mean.

Take it for what is, without expectations that Del Shore never intended. It's thorough, finely detailed, perfectly acted (except for the young male lead...). It's worth your time, and deserves good ratings.

One of the funniest movies I have ever seen. We've watched it so many times we know the lines by heart. These people are all in my family, and I've often wanted to holler out myself to some of my relatives "Shoot her Wardel, shoot her in the head." I can relate to being gay in a small southern town.

My partner and I are gay in Arkansas, although they have just tried to pass a law to prevent us from being so. But for some reason "It ain't a workin" and there are more of us coming out now that the election's over than before. You'll laugh til you cry when Brother Boy sings Til I Can make it on My Own to the psycho with a fish in her ear - although I do not believe this was one of her "early years" songs. Watch it 10 times and then you can pretend you're in the cast.

Sordid lives is a candid account of the south and what happens....Its camp but so is life the humor is over the top but then again white trash is too. If your southern and have a friend or friends who are gay you may have met some of these characters ( I do and have)... The only part I didn't find believable was the break out of the nut house although it was a hoot. I like this movie Delta Burke and Olivia Newton-John were both a stitch....The clothes, sets and make-up were right on I mean really I am southern I come from a small town this people are just wandering around here, u can't swing a dead cat without hitting one or two.... The stereo-types are exact but then again small minded people all tend to act the same way hence the term

Recognizing the recent passings of Olivia Newton-John and Leslie Jordan would add a certain poignancy to the film, I came back to this 2000 guilty pleasure from Del Shores. It's the familiar story of a gay WeHo actor who struggles with coming home to face his small town relatives for his grandmother's funeral. Clearly based on a stage play, the movie has long dialogue-heavy scenes with few cuts, but the one-liners still land on target. Standouts remain the always underrated Bonnie Bedelia, a fully liberated Delta Burke, and Jordan who brings true heart to his cross-dressing outcast role. In more of an observational part, Olivia plays sort of a trailer trash version of her "Xanadu" muse with her "Physical" outfit.

I saw this with my 30-something son who asked, still smiling, as we came out of the theater, "How long do you think they took to make that?" "About a week," I answered and I'll bet they had the time of their lives."

Sordid Lives manages to be sweet, glib, compassionate, irreverent, moving and very funny on an obvious shoe string budget. A triumph over crash 'em up Hollywood and stale romance flicks.

See it in a theater if you can, the group amusement is a pleasure to share.