A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG

US, 2004, 119 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht, Deborah Kara, Unger Dane Rhodes.
Directed by Shainee Gabel.

This is one of those films that audiences would like to be better than it seems. It will possibly be remembered for John Travolta’s white hair and his portrayal of an alcoholic former literary professor.

The film is set in New Orleans, initially showing a shuffling Travolta going to a funeral. It intercuts with Scarlett Johansson as a young woman living in Florida. The funeral is that of her mother. When she comes to New Orleans and meets Bobby Long (Travolta) and the other flatmate, Gabriel Macht, in her mother’s house, there is a set-up for conflict.

As might be expected, after the attempts made by the men to get rid of her, they take an interest in her studies, enable her to go to school, and bonds are created between them. The film is quite genial in its way although Travolta’s character originally displays quite some meanmindedness towards the young girl.

There are constant references to the works of Flannery O’Connor?, especially The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and it would seem that the characters are meant to be the same kind of fringe characters as in O’Connor’s? novel. There is a whole lot of drinking, a whole lot of music as these characters and their friends on the edge of society get together to eat, tell stories, play music, celebrate. However, there is a tragic background to the whole story which is gradually revealed, the beginning of Bobby Long’s downfall from being a celebrated professor to an alcoholic bum.

There is a surprise at the end (perhaps not so surprising) with some delayed feelgood sentiment.

1.A character portrait? An exploration of relationships? In the context of the South, Louisiana? The references to Carson McCullough’s? novels, especially The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, the focus on outsiders as a key to understanding this film?

2.New Orleans and its cityscapes, the suburbs, the area around the city, on the fringes? The use of locations? The house? The bar? The cemetery? An authentic atmosphere?

3.The musical score, the range of original songs, the ballads, the jazz?

4.The title, the focus on Bobby Long himself? John Travolta and a strong cast?

5.The credits and the focus on Travolta as Bobby Long, his appearance, his shuffle, his alcoholism, his bad foot? Arriving at the funeral, the bonds between the people at the funeral, audiences wanting to know more about Lorraine?

6.Pursey (short for Purslaine, the flower)? With her boyfriend, in Florida, the house? The boyfriend forgetting to give her the message, her anger, getting the bus to Louisiana?

7.A portrait of Bobby Long, his appearance, his story as it emerged from the discussions, the literature professor, his wife, young when married, children, the accidental death because of his fight for Lawson? His wife turning him out? His travelling to Louisiana, the universities, meeting Lorraine? The pregnancies? His not knowing? In the house, Lorraine in hospital, his not visiting? Friendship with Lawson, Lawson as his protégé, writing the book about him? The book as his redemption? The literary background, the range of quotes, especially the Dylan Thomas quote which hurt Lawson? His singing Lorraine songs? The sense of failure, the loser, the alcoholic?

8.The contrast with Pursey, her age, her absent mother? Her boyfriend? Her going to Louisiana, missing the funeral? Her discovery of Bobby and of Lawson? The house divided in three? Getting the books, going to the bus station, reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter? Her return, tidying up, their giving her the room? Her mother’s clothes? Wanting to know her mother’s story, creating memories of her mother, of herself? Her sullenness, the clashes? Bobby Long and his attempts to get rid film her, telling the story about Pursey? Her staying, the gradual change, Bobby and Lawson wanting her to learn, coaching her for school? Taking her to the school, continued coaching, preparation for exams? Bobby Long on the streetcar with her, his direct questions to the young students on the tram? Her going to work at the bar? Her wariness of Georgiana? Her getting to know Bobby’s other friends, their musical background, sitting around, his telling stories, singing?

9.Lawson and his story, his age, drinking? Wanting to be a writer but sense of failure? Writing Bobby Long’s story? Bobby urging him all the time? The back-story, his girlfriend, the dean’s nephew and announcing his sleeping with her, the punch, Bobby’s jaw being broken? His feeling that he was doing penance for Bobby saving him? The writing, Bobby reading it, making decorations for the Christmas tree, burning the pages to get warmth? The build-up to Christmas, his buying the tree, decorating it? Their going to the bar, Bobby and his harshness towards Georgiana, her being hurt? Quoting Dylan Thomas? The aftermath and the pain for each? Pursey and her staying with Lawson?

10.The portrait of Georgiana, in the bar, the owner, her relationship with Lawson, her being hurt – possible recovery?

11.The people in the group, Junior and his emphysema, discovering that he could play saxophone so well, Cecil and his long friendship with Lorraine since she was a girl, the garden, the flowers, his care for Pursey? Earl and the other members of the group? Listening to the stories, celebrating Christmas? On the fringes? Junior and his being in the club, Pursey’s visit with the student, the owner and offering her the drinks, perhaps her memories being real?

12.Bobby Long and his illness, blood in the urine, his not wanting to go to the doctor, his wearing Lorraine’s dressing gown, his eventually going to hospital, the tests, the possibility of recovery?

13.The boyfriend arriving, the truth about the ownership of the house, Pursey’s anger, putting their goods out on the veranda, for sale?

14.Their reactions, going to stay with Cecil, talking in the bar? Their not having told the truth?

15.Pursey and her packing, finding the cases in the closet, finding the song – and realising that Bobby was her father?

16.The change, in each of them, Bobby’s acknowledgment of his daughter, the pride in the graduation, the party?

17.The end, Bobby’s death, in the cemetery, Lawson with her, the bestseller and the gift for Bobby? The singing of the ballad?

18.A film of toughness, a film of sentiment? Insight into characters and relationships?