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 their "Sordid Lives."

Director:

Del Shores

Writers:

Del Shores (play), Del Shores (screenplay)

Stars:

Delta Burke, Bonnie Bedelia, Olivia Newton-John

10 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).

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | vomiting | woman wears eyeglasses | funeral | texas | 

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Taglines:

A black comedy about white trash.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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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:

Nedza zywota

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,167, 13 May 2001

Gross USA:

$1,111,273

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.

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Goofs

When Ty and Sara are talking in the psychiatrist's office, the boom mic is reflected in the glass behind the two actors.

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Quotes

Brother Boy: I think you are just an evil, bitter, old, alcoholic sex fiend who needs a lifetime of therapy herself!

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Crazy Credits

After all the credits, Grandma Peggy asks "Where'd everyone go?"

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Two of a Kind (2014)

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Soundtracks

Someone To Grow Youn With
Written by Sharyn Leavitt (as Sharyn Lane) and Kacey Jones
Arranged and Performed by Kacey Jones
© 2000 Zamalama Music Publishing, Inc. (BMI) Mamalama Music Publishing (ASCAP) Used by permission

User Reviews

Funny, kind, hip and in its 23rd week in Palm Springs, CA

I saw this with my 30-something son who asked, still smiling, as we came out of the theater, "How long do you think they took to make that?" "About a week," I answered and I'll bet they had the time of their lives."

Sordid Lives manages to be sweet, glib, compassionate, irreverent, moving and very funny on an obvious shoe string budget. A triumph over crash 'em up Hollywood and stale romance flicks.

See it in a theater if you can, the group amusement is a pleasure to share.