Sordid Lives (2000)

As three generations of a family in a small Texas town gather for a funeral, we learn the hilarious, sad, trashy truth of the "Sordid Lives."

Director:

Del Shores

Writers:

Del Shores (play), Del Shores (screenplay)

Stars:

Olivia Newton-John, Kirk Geiger, Delta Burke

5 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Olivia Newton-John	...	Bitsy Mae Harling
Kirk Geiger	...	Ty Williamson
Sarah Hunley	...	Juanita Bartlett
Newell Alexander	...	Wardell 'Bubba' Owens
Beau Bridges	...	G.W. Nethercott
Earl Houston Bullock	...	Odell Owens (as Earl H. Bullock)
Beth Grant	...	Sissy Hickey
Delta Burke	...	Noleta Nethercott
Leslie Jordan	...	Earl 'Brother Boy' Ingram
Mitch Carter	...	Bumper
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Latrelle Williamson
Sharron Alexis	...	Sara Kaufman
Ann Walker	...	LaVonda DuPree
Mary Margaret Lewis	...	Ethel (as Mary-Margaret Lewis)
Rosemary Alexander	...	Dr. Eve Bolinger

Storyline

We become intimate with the "Sordid Lives" of a family in a small Texas town preparing for the funeral of the mother. Among the characters are the grandson trying to find his identity in West Hollywood, the son who has spent the past twenty-three years dressed as Tammy Wynette, the sister and her best friend (who live in delightfully kitschy homes), and the two daughters (one strait-laced and one quite a bit looser).

---

Plot Keywords:

texas | funeral | friend | actress | santa monica boulevard hollywood | 

---

Taglines:

A black comedy about white trash.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rongy élet

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$13,167 (USA) (11 May 2001)

Gross:

$1,079,726 (USA) (2 July 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Daly-Harris Productions, Davis Entertainment Classics, Sordid Lives LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film contains many of the original actors from the long running stage-production, with the actors who originated the Bonnie Bedelia and Beau Bridges roles (Mary Margaret Lewis and Mitch Carter) playing the receptionist Ethel and security guard in the mental institution.

---

Goofs

In our first view of the corpse, it is wearing red lipstick. In the very next view, the lips are pink. Then they are red again in subsequent scenes.

---

Quotes

Noleta: We just finished watching "Thelma and Louise", and we're pissed!
LaVonda: At men! Ain't that right, Louise?
Noleta: No, I'm Thelma!
LaVonda: I thought I was Thelma.
Noleta: No, Thelma was the one with the shitty husband!

---

Crazy Credits

The featured cast sings a karaoke type song at the beginning of the final credits. This is frequently interrupted by Juanita making inane comments.

---

Connections

References Philadelphia (1993)

---

Soundtracks

"There's A Land That IS Fiarer Than Day"
Lyrics by Sanford F. Bennett
Music by Joseph Webster (as Joseph P. Webster)

User Reviews

Seriously Funny!

I got this DVD on the 'recommendation' of Amazon...normally I wouldn't touch anything they try to sell me, but it looked like it could be an interesting movie, what with ONJ and all. Well, am I ever glad I got it..This is a seriously funny movie, and not a little bizarre maybe that's why the humor is so good? Lesbians, Transvestites and more, and all done in the worst possible taste! Coupled with the Tammy Wynettee music in the soundtrack it all adds up to a great and camp movie. Although I do like Olivia Newton John, she is really a bit superfluous here, and I have to say that the songs she sings aren't of the best quality..but..If you want a really good laugh, get this. It will probably appeal more to gay viewers, but my mom enjoyed it!