Yes, it's pretty much the story of Willie's life in Nashville, but Kristofferson is great in it (and wrote most of the songs, thank you very much). He's playing this on at least two levels: first, as a parody of his sex symbol image (with a sleep mask with eyelashes embroidered on it, and you don't think that's FUNNY, for cripes sake; and second, as the adult in the room trying to connect Doc to some reality. When fully informed about the wild scheme that Doc (Willie) has thought up to pry the legal ownership of his songs back from Rodeo Rocky, Blackie (Kris) -- recalling no doubt that (a) he had warned Doc about Rodeo Rocky, and (b) that the scheme involves utilizing Gilda, who is about as convincing as a successful songwriter as Doc is as a successful vacuum cleaner salesman, Blackie says sadly "you've been smokin' your running socks again, haven't you?" THAT is the best single line of dialogue in the film. When Doc tells Blackie he simply has to help him out, despite misgivings, because otherwise Doc will have no income at all, Blackie's response is "Jesus, Doc." Obviously, this is not the first time Doc has embroiled them in some loopy scheme. Later, just before he boards the bus to return to his regularly scheduled gig, he asks Doc ""Do you do stuff like this because you get bored, so you can stay interested?" Doc punts answering the question, and instead tells Blackie to get some rest because his voice is getting raspy. I think that was an adlibbed line out of the ongoing real-life Nelson-Kristofferson comraderie in which Nelson periodically needles Kristofferson about his singing voice. Kristofferson sasses right back "I'm workin' on that rasp; I think it makes me sound soulful." Greatly enjoyable film, but it requires both of them to carry it. It's not a solo tour-de-force for Willie.
Review of Songwriter
