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

11 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:

They're all connected... whether they like it or not!

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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, Limited Release

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

Delta Burke's role was originally supposed to be played as a larger woman, but when she showed up on the set having lost a lot of weight, a pivotal scene was played as if she had lost the weight, but her neglectful husband hadn't noticed. (The role was originally to be played by Patrika Darbo.)

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Goofs

During Brother Boy's therapy session, his fingernails are dark red. Immediately following the session, he performs as Tammy Wynette, and his fingernails are now pale pink.

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Quotes

Sissy: Leticia Bustamonte, that sweet little Mexican girl who stocks the shelves, told me TOM-Ed had to reinforce that stool with lugnuts...
Latrelle Williamson: I swawn!

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

References Thelma & Louise (1991)

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Soundtracks

Cheatin'
Written by Del Shores
Title song from the play "Cheatin'"
Arranged by Rick Cunha
Performed by Newell Alexander
Background vocals: Rosemary Alexander
© 2000 Del Shores Music.
Administered by Mamalama Music Publishiing, Inc. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Pure laughs

As a rule, I hate superlatives, but this is one of the 4 or 5 funniest movies I've ever seen. Everyone in the cast is excellent, though I have to single out Beth Grant and Leslie Jordan, who give the greatest performances of their great careers (so far). The only shortcoming of the film is the Ty-in-L.A. scenes. They aren't really bad per se, but "coming out angst" scenes appeal to virtually no one besides the screenwriter. If you're gay, you're sick of them, and if you aren't, they either offend you or mean nothing to you. They should've been left out (or at least scaled back). Fortunately, they're over after a while and we can get on to the comedy peak of the show--the funeral, which is hysterical. This movie played for months in cities around the country, and for good reason.