Mena Suvari Movie:

Editorial Review:
Nicolas Cage once acted in a notably sexy and atmospheric New Orleans movie called Zandalee, so nostalgia may have recommended Sonny as a directorial debut project. The handsome young title character (James Franco) returns to his bordello-district home after Army service, wanting only to lead a normal life, work in a bookstore, meet a nice girl, and settle down. Sonny spent his pre-Army years expertly pleasuring well-to-do ladies, having been taught "everything he knows"--as we are oft reminded--by his own mother (Brenda Blethyn in sub-Tennessee Williams rampage). After discovering that "normal" people can be as fallible as lowlifes, our boy reluctantly resumes his former trade, with dispiriting results. Not half as dispiriting, though, as Cage's maiden directing effort. Marginal compensation is supplied by Harry Dean Stanton, sweetly weary as an old family friend, and the copiously zaftig Brenda Vaccaro (cf. Midnight Cowboy) as a once and future client. Cage himself turns up as a poodle-toting pimp named Acid Yellow. --Richard T. Jameson

Sonny Reviews:
James Franco doesn't disappoint
2009-05-03 - This movie was very moving, and absolutely fantastic. James Franco does an amazing job, and is definitely one of the most underrated actors around today. The storyline of the movie at times seems almost ridiculous, mother-son prostitution and so on, but it really does bring a combination of many things: tragedy, drama, & even comedy. I would definitely recommend this to James Franco fans.

Sonny was trained to do this by his mother? Come again?
2009-04-29 - When Sonny (James Franco) returns from his stint in the Army, he has high hopes of a new life. Hoping to move away from his old life in New Orleans, and pinning his chance at change on a bookstore job offered by his Army buddy, he makes a cursory stop to see family and friends before getting on the road. Getting away from the town and influence is a simple decision; moving on from his former life as a gigolo is not so easy. Trained by his mother Jewel (Brenda Blethyn) to be nearly the perfect male prostitute (huh!?), Sonny lets his loins lead his path when the job offer falls through.

At its core, this movie is the classic underdog tale. Granted, not many underdogs get to have continuous sex and get paid for it, but it's nonetheless a story about someone attempting to rise above the trappings of his meager beginnings towards the white-picket fence dreams of normalcy, and possibly love.

Franco is fairly believable as a slick sex-peddler Sonny, but Henry (Harry Dean Stanton) is the character with the most resonance. Streetwise enough to survive, but feeble enough to be a failure, Henry is a beaten soul who exudes depression and would beg to be put out of his misery if he didn't feel such responsibility for his relationship with Jewel and his friendship with Sonny. He completely nails his role and brings about the only true emotion of the film. Carol (Mena Suvari), a young up-and-comer (?) in Jewel's ranks, futilely and unconvincingly portrays a lady of the night who becomes Sonny's love interest. I guess she went from the gateway drug in American Beauty, to meth in Spun, and hooking was her last-ditch alternative. Her performance, however, is praiseworthy compared to one other. Brenda Blethyn had the effrontery to apply on a southern accent like a hooker slathers on cheap makeup: appallingly thick, staggered and disjointed like a clown's face-paint, and an insult to the senses. There hasn't been a worse accent since James Van Der Beek butchered a Texas accent in Varsity Blues.

The plot is underdeveloped, and the emotion is lacking. In his directorial debut, Nicholas Cage succeeded in creating a state of emotional, psychological prison, but failed to truly bind relief or freedom into the resolution. Production-wise, the picture represented Louisiana well, but the visual was not enough to overpower the message-delivery failure.

Sonny
2008-02-18 - Excellent film. James Franco is truly a great actor...just wished he'd get more recognition for his body of work. He's outstanding and this movie is a perfect vehicle for his rare talents.

James Franco shines
2006-08-09 - You really do not want to miss James Franco's soulful and raw portrayal of Sonny. This movie would be easily forgotten by most people after watching it, if it weren't his performance that fleshes out this character and burns him into your mind. A very passionate, gritty, and sad movie. Worth watching.

Great house!
2006-03-16 - I love the campiness and the awesome house in which it was filmed!