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Sordid Lives

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Sordid Lives
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDel Shores
Screenplay byDel Shores
Based onSordid Lives
by Del Shores
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMax Civon
Edited byEd Marx
Music byGeorge S. Clinton
Production
companies
Distributed byRegent Entertainment
Release dates
Running time
111 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$500,000[2]
Box office$1.1 million[3]

Sordid Lives is a 2000 American comedy film written and directed by Del Shores, in his directorial debut. It is based on his 1996 play, which is inspired by Shore's own coming out experience, and about a Texas family coming together in the aftermath of the matriarch's death. Produced independently, filming took place in Los Angeles on a $500,000 budget in late 1999. It was filmed digitally that was later transferred to 35mm film.

It premiered at the Palm Beach International Film Festival on February 4, 2000. It was given a limited eight-theater release in the United States on May 11, 2001, that ran until April 2003 and grossed $1.1 million. Reviews from critics were negative, but was described as gaining cult status.

It was followed by the 2008 television series, Sordid Lives: The Series and the 2017 film, A Very Sordid Wedding.

Premise[edit]

A family from a small Texas town must come to grips with the accidental death of the elderly family matriarch during a clandestine meeting in a motel room with her much younger married neighbor. The woman's family must deal with their own demons while preparing for what could be an embarrassing funeral.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

The film is based on Del Shores's stage play Sordid Lives, inspired by his own coming out experience to his parents. It began playing in Los Angeles on May 11, 1996, and ended 13 months later.[4] The play received 14 Drama-Logue Awards and 13 Critic's Choice honors.[5] After writing the script for the film in 1999, he created his own independent company to produce.[6] It also marks his film directorial debut.[7]

Casting[edit]

Beau Bridges was the first to sign on and gave permission to use his name to help raise funds for the film. Cast that reprised returned from the play are: Beth Grant, Leslie Jordan, Rosemary Alexander, Mary-Margaret Lewis, Kirk Geiger, Ann Walker, Mitch Carter, Newell Alexander and Earl H. Bullock. Olivia Newton-John replaced Margot Rose as Bitsy Mae. The role of Noleta originally portrayed by Patrika Darbo was replaced by Delta Burke, because of Darbo's commitment to Days of Our Lives.[7] The gay character of Ty Williamson that Geiger originated from the play, was offered to actors Noah Wyle and Chris O'Donnell, who both turned it down. A fan of Geiger, Shores showed the producers a tape of his stage performance and agreed to cast him.[7] Geiger, who is straight, said in a 2000 interview "To tell you the truth, I've been petrified from day one of getting in there and not (playing a gay man) right".[8]

Filming[edit]

On a production budget of $500,000,[2] principal photography took place in Los Angeles in late 1999.[9] It was shot in digital video and transferred to 35mm film, which according to Shores "saved a lot of money on this production".[7]

Music[edit]

The score was composed by George S. Clinton. The soundtrack was produced by Varèse Sarabande and released by Universal Music Distribution on June 12, 2001.[10] AllMusic gave it a score of two out of five.[11]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Sordid Lives" Olivia Newton-John02:07
2."Opening"George S. ClintonGeorge S. Clinton02:12
3."Trash Talk" Delta Burke / Beth Grant00:49
4."Better a Painful Ending, Than an Endless Pain"Sharyn Lane / Mark McGuinnBobbie Eakes / Doo Wah Riders04:08
5."Blue Country"George S. ClintonGeorge S. Clinton02:28
6."Tallywacker Talk/Mano a Mano" Bonnie Bedelia /George S. Clinton / Kirk Geiger / Beth Grant02:48
7."Truth Talk" Bonnie Bedelia / Beth Grant / Ann Walker00:54
8."Will the Circle Be Unbroken"A.P. CarterOlivia Newton-John02:05
9."Ty's Theme"George S. ClintonGeorge S. Clinton01:34
10."Someone to Grow Young With"Kacey Jones / Sharyn LaneKacey Jones03:44
11."No Fault Love"Kacey Jones / Sharyn LaneKacey Jones03:11
12."Sh*t Talk" Beau Bridges / Earl H. Bullock00:13
13."Get off the Cross, We Need the Wood"Kacey Jones / Sharyn LaneJ. Scott Jones02:24
14."Cheatin'" Newell Alexander01:39
15."Break-Out Talk/Escape" Newell Alexander /Rosemary Alexander /Mitch Carter /George S. Clinton / Leslie Jordan / Mary Margaret Lewis01:39
16."Please Don't Be Gay"Sharyn LaneSharron Alexis02:19
17."Mother/Son Talk" Bonnie Bedelia / Kirk Geiger01:55
18."Coming Home" Olivia Newton-John02:10
19."In Daddy's Eyes"George S. ClintonGeorge S. Clinton04:17
20."Tex-Mex"George S. ClintonGeorge S. Clinton01:59
21."Funeral Talk" Olivia Newton-John01:03
22."Just As I Am"William B. Bradbury / Charlotte ElliotOlivia Newton-John01:01
23."Transvestite Talk" Bonnie Bedelia / Beau Bridges / Kirk Geiger / Beth Grant / Leslie Jordan / Olivia Newton-John /Ann Walker00:32
24."Just As I Am (Conclusion)"William B. Bradbury / Charlotte ElliotOlivia Newton-John00:41
25."Mama Talk" Leslie Jordan00:05
26."Sordid Lives (Reprise)" Olivia Newton-John00:58
27."Trust Yourself"Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John05:38
Total length:54:33

Release[edit]

Sordid Lives premiered at the Palm Beach International Film Festival on February 4, 2000,[12] and was screened at the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on July 18, 2000.[13] It began an eight-theater limited run in the United States by Regent Entertainment on May 11, 2001. In its opening weekend it made $14,000 and grossed a total of $1.1 million after ending its run on April 20, 2003.[14]

Home media[edit]

The film's DVD was released by Fox Home Entertainment on March 18, 2003, and sold over 300,000 units.[15][2] A Blu-ray was released by Wolfe Video on September 30, 2014.[16]

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 37% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.8/10.[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[18]

Ken Eisner of Variety wrote what Sordid Lives does best is "showing Southern gals in the full flight of rabid self-denial — it's as screamingly funny as this subgenre can get". He took issue with Shore's addition of "poignant confessions, gay polemics and heart-tugging family redemption", saying the "high fizz eventually goes flat". He gave praise to the production value and the cast, particularly Bonnie Bedelia.[19] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote "Sordid Lives has its moments here and there, but not nearly enough of them to add up to a satisfying movie. [It] is most likely to be appreciated by Shores fans simply grateful to have one of his plays preserved on film".[20]

Wesley Morris of the San Francisco Chronicle described the film quality as a "vaguely underwater look of a sunken sitcom". He ended his review with "[T]he laughs come in all the wrong places when they come at all. Shores took all this from his play, which on the stage must have been like catching a taping of the Springer show on a stupendously off day".[21] Robert K. Elder writing for the Chicago Tribune called it "a train wreck you can't help but watch".[22] The Globe and Mail's Rick Groen wrote: "But if the film's flaws are large, so are its laughs. Large and intermittent and unexpected -- they sneak up on you. Just as you're about to give up on the picture, as the erratic tone lurches from bald farce to strained poignancy and back again, a laugh is there again, doing what laughter does best–redeeming Sordid Lives.[23]

Legacy[edit]

Though not popular with film critics upon release, the film was described as becoming an "unlikely cult hit" and a "cult phenomenon".[a] A 20th anniversary stage play was produced with an new cast. It played at Orlando's Parliament House from August 19, 2016, to September 3, 2016.[28]

Television prequel series[edit]

Main article: Sordid Lives: The Series

Logo produced and aired Sordid Lives: The Series from July 2008 to October 2008. It consists of 12 episodes and is a prequel to the film.[29] Many of the film's cast returned. However, Caroline Rhea replaced Delta Burke, and Jason Dottley replaced Kirk Geiger as Ty Williamson.[30] Rue McClanahan was added as mother Peggy Ingram. A second season was not ordered due to legalities with producers not paying out residuals to the artists. The crew would later be awarded $2.5 million in unpaid residuals and penalties.[2]

Sequel film[edit]

Main article: A Very Sordid Wedding

In June 2014, Del Shores announced that he was working on a sequel to the film titled A Very Sordid Wedding.[31] Beard Collins Shores Productions launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to assemble the project and secure investor financing.[32] The film is set in 2015 Winters, Texas, which is 16 years after the first film, and deals with the impact of the advancement of same-sex marriage in the conservative Southern community.

Several actors from the first film reprise their roles, including Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan, Newell Alexander, Sarah Hunley, Rosemary Alexander, Ann Walker, and Kirk Geiger. Joining them from the Sordid Lives series are: David Steen, David Cowgill, and Caroline Rhea.[32] Original actors Beth Grant and Olivia Newton-John turned down offers to return for the sequel. While Grant's role of Sissy was recast, Newton-John's role of Bitsy Mae was written out of the script.[33] It premiered in Palm Springs, California on March 10, 2017.[34]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Attributed to multiple sources:[24][25][26][27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sordid Lives (15)". BBFC. September 23, 2008. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Shores, Del (September 30, 2014). "Del Shores Looks Back On Making Cult Gay Classic Sordid Lives". IndieWire. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "Sordid Lives". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  4. ^ topofthemorning (January 24, 2012). "NLT presents Sordid Lives". The Natchez Democrat. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Morgan, Kendall (April 17, 2017). "Texas-born director returns to sordid roots with Dallas film premiere". CultureMap Dallas. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Lapham, Bob (December 26, 1999). "Del Shore's own life inspires the controversial Sordid Lives". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d Provenzano, Tom (November 4, 2019). "Stage & Screen: Functional Dysfunction". Backstage.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Persall, Steve (October 6, 2000). "Gay films offer opportunity, not stigma". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "Tennesseans hit Canada for Christy shoot". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 22, 2000. p. E2. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Sordid Lives Soundtrack (2000)". Soundtrack.net. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "Sordid Lives - Original Soundtrack", AllMusic, archived from the original on June 8, 2024, retrieved June 3, 2024
  12. ^ "Tommy Lee takes the prize, meet folks behind the cameras". The Palm Beach Post. February 4, 2000. p. 12. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Rea, Steven (July 18, 2000). "Cartoonish coming-out comedy covers more serious issues, too". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F2. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Sordid Lives Domestic Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Epstein, Ron J. (February 23, 2003). "Sordid Lives". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "Sordid Lives". High Def Digest. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  17. ^ "Sordid Lives". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 3, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  18. ^ "Sordid Lives". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  19. ^ Eisner, Ken (June 26, 2000). "Sordid Lives". Variety. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Thomas, Kevin (May 11, 2001). "Shameless Moments From Sordid Lives". Los Angeles Times. p. F8. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Morris, Wesley (June 15, 2001). "Film Clips / Also opening today". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  22. ^ K. Elder, Robert (July 20, 2002). "Movie review, Sordid Lives". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 18, 2004. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Groen, Rick (January 18, 2002). "Laughs weren't thrown out with the trash". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  24. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (May 31, 2002). "Unlikely Mates". The Los Angeles Times. p. 40. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Fessier, Bruce (March 11, 2017). "'Very Sordid' cast shows up for premiere". The Desert Sun. p. 7A. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Runnells, Charles (October 3, 2014). "Sordid Lives creator performs locally". The News-Press. p. 17. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Del Shores launches ShoresStore.com to share behind-the-scenes-memorabilia and online sequel to Sordid Lives: The Movie". Seattle Gay News. July 25, 2003. p. 38. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ J. Palm, Matthew (August 16, 2016). "Del Shores, Leslie Jordan help Parliament House celebrate 20 years of Sordid Lives". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  29. ^ Garron, Barry (July 21, 2008). "Sordid Lives: The Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  30. ^ Spindle, Les (November 5, 2019). "Sorting Out Sordid Lives". Backstage.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  31. ^ Lucas, Deborah. "Sordid Lives: See creator Del Shores this weekend". The News Journal. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  32. ^ a b Robbins, Caryn (September 22, 2014). "Sequel to Del Shores' Smash Cult Hit Sordid Lives Announced". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  33. ^ Schenden, Laurie (March 3, 2015). "Del Shores Continues Ministry With A Very Sordid Wedding". GoWeho.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  34. ^ Foster, Emily Chavous (March 5, 2017). "A Very Sordid Wedding Premieres in Palm Springs". Palm Springs Life. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.

External links[edit]

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