Sonny (2002)

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

Director:

Nicolas Cage

Writer:

John Carlen

Stars:

James Franco, Brenda Blethyn, Mena Suvari

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

1981: Sonny is the son of Jewel who runs a small brothel in New Orleans. He returns home from the army, staying with his mother while waiting to start the job an army buddy of his promised him. Jewel tries to convince him to come back to working for her as he had before the army, saying many of his old clients still miss him and he was the best gigolo she had ever had. He repeatedly turns her down, wanting to leave that life behind. However, the job he was promised never materializes and he is forced to return to working for his mother. Jewel had recently recruited a new girl to the brothel, Carol, who meets him and falls in love with him. They talk of getting out together. One of Carol's clients, an older man, proposes to her. She initially declines, hoping to go away with Sonny. She and Sonny fall out as he fails to make an effort to get out of the business, instead becoming increasingly introverted and depressed, with occasional outbursts as he looks for more work. Ultimately, ...

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Plot Keywords:

older woman younger man relationship | gigolo | brothel madam | prostitute | cough syrup | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2010, New York Magazine reported that while doing research for his role in Sonny (2002), 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

Jewel: Now you listen to me, bitch, and you better listen good. You don't know Sonny like I do. Y' spend one night with him, you'll think he'd do anything for you. Now, he's that way because I trained him to be that way, so don't you go gettin' no fancy ideas about running off and living happily ever after in Texas City, 'cause he don't care ' damn thing about cha. You still belong to me, girl, and you still do as I say, and if you don't, I'll have you cut and thrown out into the street for the winos,...

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Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

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Soundtracks

L'elisir d'amore, 'Quanto e bella'
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti

User Reviews

good flick

i am a film student and i make it a point to stay up till 330 a.m just to watch movies like this. first there were slow moments, and some forced actions between characters, but franco's acting is always superb. i mean the shot where he flips out in the car, or when he screams at the naked girl on the floor. directing is basic. the editing is fast and tells the story well. i liked all the characters, the mother had me hating her the second she spoke and james made me feel bad for his character.

i honestly think that if you want to see a good undiscovered movie that wont win awards, but can be picked apart for joy and scrutiny then this will do it. overall acting is very well, and the story has a few plot holes but if you watch the direction the director wants you to then it makes up for it

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Pony Rides

Filming Locations:

Otis House, Fairview Riverside State Park - 119 Fairview Drive, Madisonville, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,639, 29 December 2002

Gross USA:

$30,005

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$132,221

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gold Circle Films, Saturn Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1