Sordid Lives

2000 Comedy

Writer-director Del Shores serves up a heaping helping of Southern-fried comic melodrama in this adaptation of his own play about infidelity, country & western music, and Airstream trailers. When their sister dies, Latrelle (Bonnie Bedelia), LaVonda (Ann Walker), and Sissy (Beth Grant) plan her funeral -- an unenviable task, considering that they must carefully hide the deceased's affair with amputee G.W. (Beau Bridges) from his wife, the vindictive Noleta (Delta Burke). Meanwhile, the trio has to come to terms with two cases of sexual orientation: Latrelle's openly gay soap-opera star son Ty (Kirk Geiger), whose sexuality she continues to deny; and their only brother, Boy (Leslie Jordan), who's serving a sentence in a mental ward for his adamant belief that he is actually country & western legend Tammy Wynette. Playing an aspiring singer-songwriter, Olivia Newton-John turns up to provide the film with the occasional musical interlude. more..

Director: Del Shores

Starring: Olivia Newton-John,Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, Bonnie Bedelia, Beth Grant

Reviews

  • It's heady in the beginning, chaotic throughout, and numb with the suddenness of the Internet economy's plummet at the end.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    27 April 2013

  • A train wreck you can't help but watch.

    Robert K. Elder - The Chicago Tribune

    27 April 2013

  • When Sordid Lives does what it does best -- showing Southern gals in the full flight of rabid self-denial -- it's as screamingly funny as this subgenre can get.

    Ken Eisner - Variety

    27 April 2013

  • Has its moments here and there, but not nearly enough of them to add up to a satisfying movie.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    27 April 2013

  • To call this campy would be charitable.

    Ted Shen - Chicago Reader

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Feature

    Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival (2000)

  • Outstanding Soundtrack

    L.A. Outfest (2000)

  • Best Actor

    New York International Independent Film & Video Festival (2000)

  • Best Feature

    Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (2000)