IMDb > Crazy in Alabama (1999)
Crazy in Alabama
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Crazy in Alabama (1999) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 34 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2 NEW)
Crazy in Alabama (1999) -- An abused wife heads to California to become a movie star while her nephew back in Alabama has to deal with a racially-motivated murder involving a corrupt sheriff.
Crazy in Alabama (1999) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   3,811 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Antonio Banderas
Writers (WGA):
Mark Childress (novel)
Mark Childress (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Crazy in Alabama on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
22 October 1999 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Comedy more
Tagline:
Sometimes you have to lose your mind to find your freedom
Plot:
An abused wife heads to California to become a movie star while her nephew back in Alabama has to deal with a racially-motivated murder involving a corrupt sheriff. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
3 wins & 4 nominations more
User Comments:
Decent performances and well made, but contains too complex of a script. **1/2 (out of four) more (68 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Melanie Griffith ... Lucille Vinson

David Morse ... Dove Bullis

Lucas Black ... Peter Joseph 'Peejoe' Bullis
Cathy Moriarty ... Earlene Bullis

Meat Loaf ... Sheriff John Doggett (as Meat Loaf Aday)

Rod Steiger ... Judge Louis Mead

Richard Schiff ... Norman the Chauffeur
John Beasley ... Nehemiah Jackson

Robert Wagner ... Harry Hall
Noah Emmerich ... Sheriff Raymond

Sandra Seacat ... Meemaw

Paul Ben-Victor ... D.A. Mackie (as Paul Ben Victor)

Brad Beyer ... Jack
Fannie Flagg ... Sally the Waitress

Elizabeth Perkins ... Joan Blake
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some violence, thematic material, language and a scene of sensuality.
Runtime:
111 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Two of Lucille's children are played by Melanie Griffith's real-life children: Dakota Johnson and Stella Banderas. more
Quotes:
Peejoe: Uncle Dove, do you really think Aunt Lucille stole that car?
Dove Bullis: Absolutely. Baby sister wants a car, she's gonna get one!
more
Movie Connections:
Features "Bewitched: It Takes One to Know One (#1.11)" (1964) more
Soundtrack:
These Boots Are Made For Walkin more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
Decent performances and well made, but contains too complex of a script. **1/2 (out of four), 2 February 2001
6/10

CRAZY IN ALABAMA / (1999) **1/2 (out of four)

By Blake French:

"Crazy in Alabama" is actually very well constructed; with good performances by a strong supporting cast, including David Morse ("The Green Mile"), Rod Steiger ("End of Days")" Meat Loaf Aday ("Fight Club"), and a compelling leading performance by director Antonio Banderas' wife, Melanie Griffith. Based on the novel by Mark Childress, who also wrote the screenplay, the movie suffers not from poor quality of filmmaking, but from the filmmakers trying to cram way to much material in the 111 minute movie.

The performers are hard at work here, but they can not possibly conquer the problems the production experiences due to the overcrowded script, which actually includes three separate stories of equal importance. The first details a woman named Lucille (Melanie Griffith), who dreams of becoming a famous actress in Hollywood after chopping off her cruel husband's head. She commits the murderous act to escape his overbearing clutches. "There are a lot of ways you can kill a person. There are fast ways, and there are slow ways. Chester was killin' me the slow way for thirteen years." Obviously Lucille preferred the fast way when it came to putting an end to her spouse.

The next story revolves around a civil right movement in Alabama. A young black teenager, Taylor Jackson (Louis Miller) is killed by a local prejudice sheriff named John Doggett (Meat Loaf Aday), who angrily pulls the innocent victim off a fence after he and his friends protest against the prohibition of swimming in the city pool. The late boy's parents attempt to lead a civil right crusade while trying to build a case to make Doggett pay for his crime.

Through another story is where these stories are linked. We see these events through the point of view of a young man's realization of life in the South without parents. This character, named Peejoe (Lucas Black), is the nephew of Lucille. She trustingly reveals all her secrets to Peejoe before she heads for Hollywood. He is also the only witness the violent act of Sheriff Doggett, placing him in the middle of the civil rights movement. Peejoe is not the center of the movie, however, and his character is completely unneeded and only adds additional complexity to the screenplay. He is simply an excuse to interlock the other two plots, and the attempt does not work.

The stories by themselves are very interesting, with inventive and original ideas and some thought-provoking messages. The film feels convincing in its development of the setting and atmosphere; the 1960's are captured with intrigue. Although it is his first feature film, Antonio Banderas, also a well-known actor starring 1999's Viking drama "The 13th Warrior," he should have realized the complexity of the plot as a negative contribution. There are movies in which multiple stories make the production unique and innovative, like "Traffic," "Magnolia," and "Pulp Fiction," but those movies blended their narratives together carefully, "Crazy in Alabama" only makes excuses for its actions.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (68 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Crazy in Alabama (1999)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Is it based on a true story britabrat6
Chester? crazykenj04
The judge? ctabor-1
Must see!!! dean-452
one more thing...? missmusician8191
carolyn clay velvetbunny
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Intruder in the Dust Ghosts of Mississippi A Lesson Before Dying To Kill a Mockingbird Sweet Home Alabama
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.