Sonny (2002)

An honorably discharged soldier returns home to New Orleans, hoping to break away from his upbringing as a trained male-prostitute, but his brothel-madam mother has other expectations.

Director:

Nicolas Cage

Writer:

John Carlen

Stars:

James Franco, Brenda Blethyn, Harry Dean Stanton

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Franco	...	Sonny
Brenda Blethyn	...	Jewel
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Henry
Mena Suvari	...	Carol
Seymour Cassel	...	Albert
Brenda Vaccaro	...	Meg
Josie Davis	...	Gretchen
Willie Metcalf	...	Cal
Janet Shea	...	Wealthy Woman
Cary Wilmot Alden	...	Catherine
Nicolas Cage	...	Acid Yellow
Scott Caan	...	Jesse
Graham Timbes	...	Troy
Wallace Merck	...	Scott
Doug Barden	...	Maitre d'

Storyline

New Orleans, 1981. Sonny Phillips, just discharged from the Army, returns home where the only life he's known is as a gigolo working for his mother. He wants to leave that behind, but the job his Army buddy promised doesn't materialize, and he can't escape his past.

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Plot Keywords:

brothel madam | gigolo | drinking | brothel | duffel bag | 

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Taglines:

His life was the morning after, until he decided to change the night before.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, language, some drug use and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Pony Rides

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$19,782 (Hong Kong) (17 October 2003)

Gross:

$19,782 (Hong Kong) (17 October 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gold Circle Films, Saturn Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2010, New York Magazine reported that while doing research for his role in Sonny, 'James Franco' visited male strip clubs in New Orleans and also followed a male prostitute around, even into a hotel room while the prostitute did his job.

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Quotes

Henry: If I take you to the restaurant, will you come and stay the night in my room?
Jewel: Oh, Henry, not if front of my boy.
Henry: "Not if front of your boy?" He's a grown man, for God's sake. Besides that, you've had him out selling cock since he was twelve years old. It ain't like we haven't known each other for awhile.

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Connections

References Chariots of Fire (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Rigoretto - Questa o quella"
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi

User Reviews

Odd, but worth a watch

I just recently saw this movie on either HBO or Cinemax, and let me tell you, for me it was like a train wreck, once you start watching, you cant stop watching. So, it was after 1:00am when I flipped it on, thinking I had found something to help me go to sleep, but once I started listening to it and getting the movie plot down for what it really was, I was shocked, then very interested in what would come of the characters. When Sonny went crazy in Texas when he was with that blonde girl, that is when I really just went 'what the hell kind of movie is this?' That didn't stop me from watching however, just kept me on the edge as to what he was going to do from then on. Mena Suvari I thought was great, because this wasn't the typical nice little Hollywood roll for her to do, it was different and edgy, and she was wonderful in it. The ending threw me off, but still made you think and kinda make up your own conclusion as to what happened with them.