Ruby's Bucket of Blood

I thought that movie was interesting and I enjoyed the scenery. But I wanted to see a love story develop between Angela Basset and Kevin Anderson. But it was a good movie. Angela Basset was beautiful as always and delivers well in the story.

This movie appeared, at first, to be something that would turn out to be more interesting than it was. Taking place in the '50's in Louisiana, it sold out far too frequently to the expectations today's audience. The music was not authentic for its time, and there was way too much of it. The dialog was stilted---everyone speaking acting-school English, and the efforts by some actors to mix English with Cajun-French was very self-conscious. There was just no natural flow to the language. A few of the actors were very well-cast and captured the spirit of the thing, and the sets and scenery were pretty good. Having lived in Louisiana in the 50's, I actually relived the scent of the place a few times, but such reveries were infrequent. I didn't stay around for the whole thing, so the plot may have redeemed something by the end, but as I tuned out to watch a higher priority on cable), "Ruby" was just revealing itself as another of those films about homosexuality, and I have no idea how far that went. If you're an old car buff, though, there were some nice DeSotos and Hudsons and Packards. With authentic Louisiana license plates from 1956.

As with "O Brother, Where Art Thou," the music in this film is a major reason to watch it--if you like The Blues, that is. In fact, the first half of the film is mostly filled with terrific performances of blues music (with dashes of jazz and cajun.) In 1961, in a Louisiana backwater, Billy Dupree, a white singer (played by Broadway's Kevin Anderson) lands a gig at Ruby's joint, whose clientele is black, when she suddenly needs a replacement act. Angela Bassett is Ruby, one tough cookie, who inexplicably doesn't realize her own sexy beauty. Her philandering fool of a husband walks out on her early on. Of course, Billy proves himself as a blues belter and romance blooms between the two singers, despite the interracial barrier, and despite Billy also being married--to a woman with mental problems. There are sub-plots, one involving Ruby's teen-aged daughter, and one about two of the black band members who are gay. (One wants to leave for New Orleans to find fame while the other is content where he is.) But this is mainly a love story. Despite a somewhat predictable plot and some credibility lapses (given the severe black anti-gay prejudice today, would the two musicians be so open about their attraction 40 years ago?) this is an engrossing film--well acted and directed--that will appeal to blues fans.

First of all, what's up with the title of the bar? Where did that come from? Secondly, what was up with that husband? He seemed downright hostile towards her and for what reason? She cooked for him, looked good for him and was a hard worker. What was his problem? I kept waiting for some answers and none came. And that ending! Please! Just where did she think she could go and not get found? What a terrible example for her daughter. The introduction of the gay theme was interesting, but it went NOWHERE. Still...I loved watching Angela Bassett, one of my favorite actresses.

Billy Dupree was a real person yet there ia absolutely no information on his music and radio personality. Was this based on his true story? Where did you find this information if it is?

This movie was very good and touched my heart. I cried for the loss of such a musical talent. Especially if this is actually what happened to Billy Dupree. It was a true loss to the entire music industry and a real waste of a great talent.