Sweetwater (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Lorraine Senna

Writer (WGA):

Victoria Wozniak (written by)

Release Date:

15 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Plot:

In 1969, the band Sweetwater led by lead vocalist Nancy Nevins (Amy Jo Johnson) opened Woodstock and subsequently got considerable media attention...

Plot Keywords:

Woodstock | 1970s | 1960s | Loss Of Voice | Car Accident

Cast

Amy Jo Johnson	...	Nansi Nevins
Kelli Williams	...	Cami Carlson
Kurt Max Runte	...	Alex Del Zoppo
Robert Moloney	...	Fred Herrera
Nancy Moonves	...	Mrs. Nevins
Michael Rawlins	...	Ian (as Michael Anthony Rawlins)
Adam Ant	...	Todd Badham
Michelle Phillips	...	Nancy Nevins (present day)
Frederic Forrest	...	Alex (present day)
Trevor Roberts	...	Alan Malarowitz
Peter Williams	...	Albert Moore
Zak Santiago	...	Jorge (as Zak Alam)
John Burgess-Murray	...	August Burns
Mark Murphy	...	Benny Hartman
Ingrid Tesch	...	Mary Nevins

Also Known As:

Sweetwater: A True Rock Story (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug and alcohol abuse.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

VH1 Television

Goofs:

Factual errors: This film erroneously claims several times that Sweetwater opened the 1969 Woodstock Festival. In truth, Sweetwater was the fifth act on the bill, after actual opener Richie Havens, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian and The Incredible String Band.

Good rookie effort from VH-1

While I was born about 2 years too late to have even been alive during Woodstock, this TV movie about the first band to play this legendary festival was informative and did an excellent job of telling this story.

The story's primary focus is on Nansi Nevens...a young girl with a golden voice who fronts an unknown rock band and takes them straight to the top, only to fall prey to the demons of fame. Amy Jo Johnson (who has been primarly known as the Pink Ranger to this point) does a stellar job as young Nansi, and delivers surprisingly good vocals on the Sweetwater songs (yes, she sang, check the credits)

The story is believeable, and focuses on a typical American trait..."whatever happened to......." Good turns from Michelle Phillips as present day Nansi (perhaps exorcising a few 60's demons of her own??) and the rest of the cast add to the enjoyability of this movie.

This was VH-1's first shot at making movies, and based on this movie I will likely watch any others that are made. A good addition to their "Behind the Music" series, as you learn much about the characters and the history of the first band to play Woodstock