CINEMA: Honeydripper

Here’s another soft, slow, soulful slice of Southern life from director John Sayles that will leave you with a warm glow and sense of satisfaction after viewing.

Set in the 1950s, it stars Danny Glover as Tyrone Purvis, owner of the Honeydripper Lounge, which is losing money to the new bar across the road that has a jukebox that doesn’t keep breaking down. But Tyrone has a plan to bring the punters back to his place; he’s going to hire legendary musician Guitar Sam for a night. He’s sure people will flock to see a man playing this new-fangled electric guitar. By coincidence, just such a man has already arrived in town, his name is Sonny Blake (Gary Clark Jr) and he knows all of Guitar Sam’s hits. But with just days to go before the highly anticipated concert, race politics, a corrupt sheriff (a very good Stacy Keach) and a missing musician all come together to give Tyrone a mighty headache but also a possible solution to his money worries.

You should be aware that with John Sayles at the helm slow means really slow, and the movie moves forward at a shuffling stroll. However, this gives you plenty of time to get to know Tyrone, his family and the regulars in the bar, all of them great characters with stories to tell. It’s not often these days to find a film that is so comfortable in itself it has the courage to give the people that inhabit it space to grow, but Honeydripper certainly does and with a lovely, dignified performance from Danny Glover at its centre, you’ll be more than happy to wait along with it. Dee Pilgrim