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 | mother son relationship | loss of father | 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

Sonny: Come on, Henry. You know half the people in the quarter know me as a whore. No one's gonna give me a straight job.

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Connections

References Chariots of Fire (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Eh tout quelqu'un"
Written by Bruce Barnes
Performed by Sunpie

User Reviews

A Breath of Fresh Air

What a beautifully, honest film! Nic Cage makes his Directorial debut and an extremely successful one at that. Not knowing what to expect going into this film I was thrilled to find a brilliantly acted, enthralling story unfold before my eyes.

My hat is off to James Franco who did an amazing job of portraying an emotionally conflicted young man in a performance that reminds me a great deal of a young Brando or Montgomery Clift. In fact all the actors did a sterling job with each character slowly unraveling as the script built. What struck me the most about this film was the evidence of creative freedom that can only come from a director who truly understands the vulnerability and sacred space that an actor must work in.

"Sonny" is a film that gives me hope that all is not lost in "Hollywood". It is a film that you can't help but become a part of. It is a film that reeks of truth, honesty and character. A perfect cast, solid script, excellent music and the lightest of directorial touches make for a must see film.