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Sonny

R Released Dec 27, 2002 1h 50m Drama List
21% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 41% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings
After a stint in the army, former male prostitute Sonny Phillips (James Franco) returns to his home in a run-down New Orleans in search of a stable life. However, the financial difficulties faced by his mother, Jewel (Brenda Blethyn), who is also a prostitute, make escaping his former life difficult. With few job prospects, Sonny reluctantly begins working the streets. The only bright spot in his otherwise difficult life is his relationship with Carol (Mena Suvari), Jewel's new protégé. Read More Read Less
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Critics Consensus

Sonny is sunk by debuting director Nicolas Cage's evident inability to locate the heart of his movie's story - or properly modulate his cast's performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Glenn Kenny Premiere Magazine Too defensive and earnest about its topic to be either fun or illuminating. Rated: 1/4 Sep 17, 2003 Full Review Jan Stuart Newsday Actors generally make good actor's directors, but Sonny is a mixed bag in that department. Rated: 2/4 Dec 27, 2002 Full Review Michael Agger Slate Nicolas Cage isn't the first actor to lead a group of talented friends astray, and this movie won't create a ruffle in what is already an erratic career. Dec 27, 2002 Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel Cage the director makes as many baffling decisions as Cage the actor, but the effect is significantly less entertaining. Sonny is low-lighted by a full-tilt boogie turn from an impossibly brassy Brenda Blethyn that simply took my "Bleth" away. Rated: 1/5 Aug 8, 2023 Full Review Chase Burns The Stranger (Seattle, WA) ...this film is impossibly white, like Elvis's King Creole. New Orleans is a Black city, but you wouldn't know it from watching Cage's NOLA... Dec 9, 2021 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com This overlooked drama by Nic Cage packs an emotional wallop. Rated: 4/5 Feb 20, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (143) audience reviews
andrew h It's this type of story and dynamic that I gravitate to... when I'm in the mood for it. Desperate characters with flaws and humility. Set in New Orleans (I used to live there.) Maybe that has something to do with the attraction. It reminds me of a modern day Tennessee Williams story. Definitely not a waste of a couple of hours. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review andrew p Written well and very interesting from start to finish. Full of the extreme raw emotion, drama and eroticism you'd expect in a world of prostitution in New Orleans. James Franco gives a convincing performance, the guy that played his mother and her boyfriend were also good. Never a dull moment in this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member One of my favorite Nicholas Cage performances. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review arrem s Well, at least I tried it I was so excited to see Nic Cage making a directorial debut and even more so to learn that James Franco was taking the lead. God what a let down. Franco may has well have been on sleeping pills the entire movie, which never really goes anywhere. I appreciate Cage's love of New Orleans and can get down with the atmosphere of the story, but unless you have to watch this at gunpoint, I wouldn't waste your time. If you're thinking of buying it, don't. Just message me and you can have my copy. I don't want it back. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Great acting by Franco! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie lost me the moment Nicolas Cage (the film's director) shows up....being Nicolas Cage. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis After a stint in the army, former male prostitute Sonny Phillips (James Franco) returns to his home in a run-down New Orleans in search of a stable life. However, the financial difficulties faced by his mother, Jewel (Brenda Blethyn), who is also a prostitute, make escaping his former life difficult. With few job prospects, Sonny reluctantly begins working the streets. The only bright spot in his otherwise difficult life is his relationship with Carol (Mena Suvari), Jewel's new protégé.
Director
Nicolas Cage
Producer
Nicolas Cage, Paul Brooks, Norman Golightly
Screenwriter
John Carlen
Distributor
IDP Distribution
Production Co
Gold Circle Films, Saturn Films
Rating
R (Violence|Language|Strong Sexuality|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 27, 2002, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 19, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.6K
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Surround
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