Sordid Lives

SORDID LIVES, a politically correct film espousing gay rights in a heavy Texas accent, won't appeal to everyone, but several of the performances are surprisingly excellent. Jordan is positively superb as Earl, who spends his life dressed up as CW singer Tammy Wynette, and has a permanent gig entertaining his fellow inmates in the asylum.

Also exceptional is Rosemary Alexander as the sexually frustrated Dr. Eve Bolinger, the institution psychologist assigned to Earl's case. Eve's career, as well as a lucrative book deal and an appearance on Oprah, are all dependent on her ability to successfully de-homosexualize her charge. Therapy has not progressed well after sixty-eight sessions, and Eve is prepared to take Earl's problem in hand, so to speak. The single, on-screen session between Earl and his shrink is brilliantly scripted and worth the price of the video rental, and then some.

A very nice touch is Olivia Newton-John as Bitzy Mae Harling, an ex-con and local bad girl, whose timely live performance of topical songs augments recorded Tammy Wynette vocals. Delta Burke as Noleta, G.W.'s unhappy spouse, is also effective, as is Sissy's striking hairdo.

Sometimes, the film's humor becomes shrill and a little forced. For that reason, I'm lopping off a fifth star. However, though SORDID LIVES is perhaps not suitable for screening at a Southern Baptist potluck, it's one that may offer a pleasant surprise if selected off the rental store shelf as a "well, why not?" afterthought.


Buy This DVD Now!   March 26, 2003
MarkChristian (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
16 out of 20 found this review helpful

I first saw Sordid Lives at the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival back in the Summer of 2001 and it was the audience hit of the festival. My friends and I thought sure it would be released in the art house theaters..and we waited...and waited...and were quite surprised that it seemed to just disappear (although I did hear it was quite a hit in Palm Springs, CA and a few other theaters around the country ).

So I patiently waited for it to come out on DVD and I am happy to say that it is just as funny as I remember. It has many, many laugh-out-loud moments and the entire cast is great. However, Leslie Jordan as Brother Boy and Beth Grant as Sissy are standouts and you will be quoting their lines all the time...they are just that good! And the DVD comes with lots of extras for the truly obsessed Sordid Lives fan!

I know that My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a movie that became a hit by word of mouth. I think it is time that Sordid Lives became a DVD hit too! So spread the word...


Full of characters you can identify with!   May 29, 2006
Monty Rainey (New Braunfels, TX)
11 out of 18 found this review helpful

Comedy comes in a wide variety of forms and individual tastes in comedy are just as varied. Many people, for example, tend to appreciate that New York brand of comedy, like you would find on Seinfeld. Others tend to like a more slapstick variety like something Mel Brooks or Gene Wilder would come up with. Still there is the dry wit type such as Charlie Sheen. I go into this because I want to make a point that SORDID LIVES is not the kind of humor everyone will appreciate and for a good review, it should be qualified as to just what type of audience would like it. Personally, I don't remember very many movies that made me laugh as much as this one.

This comedy would fall under the genre of redneck, white trash, hick, small town Texas, trailer trash or any such other similar descriptions. Let me put it this way, if you would find it hilarious to watch an old bar tramp putting on her lipstick without removing the cigarette from her mouth, then by all means, buy this movie!

We are subjected to a seemingly endless array of gay themed movies these days, and I don't normally like any of them, but here it is presented in a mockingly hysterical fashion as one is trying to stay in the closet, another comes to the realization of his gayness, and a third is being treated by a semi-psychotic therapist who is willing to go to any length to cure him of it. Also, anyone who has ever endured the agony of quitting smoking will die laughing watching dear old Aunt Sissy struggle with her addiction.

This movie is brilliantly cast. The filming, which looks almost like it was shot with a home movie camera, adds ambience to this film. I wouldn't normally like that type of filming, but here, it is a perfect fit. This is a hysterically funny movie that, if you appreciate this kind of humor, will have your sides hurting. Parents should heed the "R" rating for language and brief nudity.



Destined to be a cult classic of 'white trash' humor   June 21, 2004
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This DVD came highly recommended by several friends. I was sure not disappointed. I've watched it a half-dozen times now and loved it every time.

The actors are fabulous, especially Leslie Jordan as 'Brother Boy' Earl. Far from playing the role in typical drag queen camp, Jordan brings depth and even poignancy to his (hilarious) character, who copes with his hellish looney bin existence by living out vicariously the life of Tammy Wynette. Beth Grant is also sensational in her protracted nicotine fit.

I've seen enough of mega-studio Hollywood not to mind the fresh, offbeat, low-budget feel of this film. The big-name talent certainly delivers, including, as musical backdrop, Olivia Newton-John's awesome guitar numbers (impressively sung live on camera--wow what a talent, she's still got it).

Apart from uproarious laughs, the film offers a meaningful theme of the dysfunctionality that non-acceptance from DENIAL can inject into family relationships. Be sure to add 'Sordid Lives' to your DVD collection, because it's becoming a cult classic of white trash humor--and memorable lines from the film are starting to go around. I'd tell you more about this movie, but you'll have to, in the words of Brother Boy...."excuse me...I got a show to do!"


One of the funniest films I've EVER seen!   December 9, 2002
Virginia T. Couillard (Bangor, PA United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I saw this film at a fund-raising event in East Stroudsburg, PA today (12/8/02)to benefit the Lehigh Valley F.A.C.T. (Fighting Aids Continuously Together) and I can't recall a more enjoyable movie. I have a good friend who is very active in the organization and, when I read about the performance, thought it sounded like something I might find interesting. Well ... that was certainly the case.Excellent cast and the actor portraying the young gay male is yummy (and, I couldn't care less if he's straight or not ... he's talented!). The audience was truly diverse and everyone there seemed to find it vastly amusing and -- in some scenes -- extremely touching. Talented cast and great music. I'm ordering the DVD because: 1) I missed some of the lines due to the audience's (and my) raucous laughter and 2) I want to share it w/ family and friends and revel in their enjoyment.
I LOVED this movie! (For the record, I am 70 years old and a grandmother, happily married and lucky to be who I am!)