Archive for the ‘Movies, Videos, DVDs’ Category

“Willie and Me”

Tuesday, March 5th, 2024

www.RogerEbert.com

“Willie and Me,” written, directed by, and starring German actress and first-time feature filmmaker Eva Hassmann, is about a German housewife named Greta Weingarten who bolts from her unsatisfying marriage to a rich jerk who doesn’t appreciate her, and goes to America to see the final performance of Willie Nelson, a performer she’s been obsessed with since she was a girl growing up with an alcoholic and (it seems) mentally ill mother. Nelson, who was 90 at the time of the movie’s release, plays himself in concert footage and has brief cameos as himself and a second (and rather unfortunate; you’ll know what I mean when you see him) character. Nelson reportedly got involved in “Willie and Me” because somebody sent him the script through a mutual connection. 

Willie Nelson, actor

Wednesday, February 7th, 2024

www.MSN.com

Willie Nelson is more than an acclaimed singer/songwriter. He is also an actor. Nelson has appeared in several movies and TV shows over the years. His credits include StagecoachThe Electric HorsemanHoneysuckle RoseRed-Headed Stranger and many more. In 1984, he co-starred in a movie called Songwriter with his fellow Highwaymen member Kris Kristofferson. Earlier this month, he shared some throwback photos from the film.

In the photos, Nelson is sitting behind a desk wearing a shirt with what appears to be nonsense lettering. In the second photo, though, he folds the shirt to reveal the hidden message. Check it out below. The Red-Headed Stranger appropriately captioned the post “The shirt that keeps on giving.”

Some say that writer Bud Shrake based much of Songwriter on Nelson’s life. In the early years of his career, Nelson wrote and sold several songs that went on to be hits for other people. For instance, he famously sold “Night Life” for $150. Then, it went on to be a hit with more than 70 covers. In truth, Nelson didn’t see success until he got away from Nashville completely. He moved back to Texas where he didn’t have to worry about the major label politics and could focus on creating the music he wanted to create.

It was at this time that he released albums like Shotgun Willie (1973), Red Headed Stranger (1975), and Stardust (1978). Those albums helped to propel Nelson to new heights.

Read article here.

Willie Nelson’s, “Honeysuckle Rose” premieres in Austin (7/3/1980)

Friday, July 14th, 2023
sheetmusic

On July 3, 1980, Willie Nelson’s movie “Honeysuckle Rose” makes its world premiere in Austin, Texas.

Dallas Times Herald
7/13/1980

AUSTIN – The 8th annual – and last, according to the creator – Willie Nelson, July 4th picnic drew more than 50,000 fans who survived the sweltering heat of the Texas Hill Country last week.

There were the usual number of drunks, exhibitionists and scores of Texas and Dixie flags. Tents and huge colorful umbrellas dotted the rolling fairway where the fans sprawled out to catch several of country music’s biggest stars, and of course, the main attraction — Willie Nelson.

Nelson, basking in the triumph of a seemingly successful movie debut and the announcement that his name will be carried on a new line of designer jeans, said the picnic had gotten just a bit out of hand.

“It just takes a lot of time.  It takes six months to put together and it takes another six months to get over it.”

The night before the last picnic on his country club overlooking scenic Lake Travis, Warner Brothers premiered “Honeysuckle Rose,” Nelson’s first starring movie performance.  Earlier he had played a small part in Robert Redford’s successful “Electric Horseman.”

Hundreds of reporters and Hollywood types converged at a local theater to watch the screening.  The gala was complete with celebrities and several shiny limousines.  But in his typical unassuming laid-back tradition, Nelson chose not to use a chauffer and drove himself and his wife, Connie, in a silver Mercedes.

Nelson, in the presence of Dyan Cannon and Slim Pickens, comes off well in the movie.  But then again he played the role of a country star bandleader who travels the country in a bus with a handful of renegade musicians.  There is plenty of singing and plenty of carousing — activities Nelson is not unaccustomed to in real life.

“I don’t think I ever really get nervous about it (filming the movie), but then I was never asked to do anything that hard.  I just kind of go where they point me, really,” said Nelson.

Ms. Cannon, who did a splendid job of singing a few country songs herself, said she was impressed with Nelson, although she admitted she did not even know who Willie Nelson was before she hired on to co-star in the movie.

“Willie has a basic honesty,” she said.  “The screen just doesn’t lie.  It captured that about Willie.”

Nelson said he had two more movies to do in the next year, including one with Kris Kristofferson, but indicated music would continue to be his first livelihood.

“Honeysuckle Rose, actually will do much for Nelson’s music career.”

Part of Nelson’s contract with Warner Brothers called for him to write several songs for the movie.  Time went by and Nelson had not written any songs.  But then, during a flight with director Jerry Schatzberg shortly before filming began in Austin last year, the director reminded Nelson of his obligations.

Nelson pulled out his plane ticket and a pencil and wrote the movie’s biggest song, “On the Road Again.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hv5Et2sf7II%3Flist%3DPL0AF43E24C5666375

amywillie

Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration, in the theater

Saturday, June 10th, 2023

Willie’s 90th Birthday Celebration at Hollywood Bowl to be shows in theaters

Tuesday, May 16th, 2023


https://www.willienelson90experience.com/

Willie Nelson & Family Film at Sundance Film Festival 2023

Monday, January 23rd, 2023
A still from Wille Nelson and Family by Thom Zimmy and Oren Moverman, an official selection of the Indie Episodic program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Timothy D. Easley

Can’t make it to Sundance? Learn how to stream it HERE.
It will be available from January 24 through January 30th.

wwwfestival.sundance.org

With a career spanning seven decades, Willie Nelson is widely recognized as one of the greatest singer-songwriter-guitar players in the history of popular music. A badass American outlaw cowboy who transcended his humble beginnings in small-town Abbott, Texas, he remains beloved in blue states, red states, and let’s not forget — altered states. Willie continues to speak for people from all walks of life with his music, philanthropy, marijuana advocacy, and activism on behalf of the American farmer.

Award-winning filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman fuse their own unique styles to construct an intimate and cinematic memoir of the Red Headed Stranger, traversing the highs, lows, and in-betweens of Willie’s personal life and professional career. Alongside close friends and family who have accompanied him on a remarkable journey, Willie tells his story in his own voice, staying true to his longtime philosophy: “Don’t be an asshole. Don’t be an asshole. Don’t be a goddamn asshole.”

Sundance is proud to present all five episodes of this definitive multi-part film series about a true American icon.

Barbarosa

Monday, January 16th, 2023

“They Called Us Outlaws” — new documentary

Tuesday, September 6th, 2022

www.dallasnews.com
by: Michael Granberry

Read article here.

They transformed Austin and country music, and now, ‘They Called Us Outlaws’ is a film.

It is a sprawling, six-part, 12-hour undertaking, which includes rare performance footage from the now-defunct Armadillo World Headquarters.

It is a sprawling, six-part, 12-hour undertaking, which includes rare performance footage from the now-defunct Armadillo World Headquarters.

Way back in 1976, RCA Records released a compilation album, featuring a new wave of country stars — Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter and Tompall Glaser. Titled Wanted! The Outlaws, it earned its place in music history by becoming the first country album to be Platinum-certified, reaching sales of 1 million.

By that time, Nelson had made his famous move from Nashville to Austin, where he changed his image and his style. Heck, his entire persona. Those of us who remembered him showing up at a Sissy Farenthold for governor rally in Dallas in 1972, where he looked more like Howdy Doody, realized that Austin had helped trigger a major metamorphosis.

And now, we will soon be treated to a new documentary titled They Called Us Outlaws, a sprawling, 6-part, 12-hour undertaking which, of course, includes rare performance footage from the now-defunct Armadillo World Headquarters, which was to the outlaw movement what the Colosseum was to gladiators.

Rest in Peace, James Caan

Thursday, July 7th, 2022

Professional safecracker Frank (James Caan) visits Okla (Willie Nelson) to get some advice for his life on the outside and gets some very good advice: “Lie to no one,” and then is asked to do the impossible — get Okla out of prison before he dies.

In addition to James Caan and Willie Nelson, the movie, released in 1981, Tuesday Weld, Dennis Farina, James Belushi.

Willie Nelson, “Stagecoach”

Saturday, December 4th, 2021

'Stagecoach' (1986)

Courtesy: Everett Collection

This remake of the John Wayne classic was released in May 1986, exactly one year after the Highwaymen’s debut album hit shelves, and it more or less functions as a Western-themed commercial for the chemistry between Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. They’re not the only country stars here, though. With additional cameos by June Carter, Jessi Colter and David Allan Coe, Stagecoach cracks its whip by focusing on country star power, not necessarily acting ability.

stagecoach6

On May 18, 1986, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings appear in a CBS-TV remake of the western movie “Stagecoach,” along with June Carter, John Schneider, John Carter Cash, Jessi Colter, David Allan Coe and Billy Swan.

This movie stars Willie Nelson, and his Highwaymen buddies, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. Great soundtrack, lots of Trigger playing throughout. Willie sings the title song, which he wrote with David Alan Coe, who also is in the movie, along with June Carter and other faces you will recognize.

Willie Nelson plays Doc Holiday. The movie has some great movie lines:

Willie: “Is that the deck you play with?”

Waylon: “One of them.”

Willie: “May I see it, please? I must say, I admire your guts.”

Waylon: “Does that mean you wouldn’t play cards with me?”

Willie: “That means I’d shoot you on sight.”

Kris: Where ya headed?

Dallas: “I knew the answer to that when I was about 14. Then I hit 15 and I ran head onto that thing called reality. And I been walking with a lantern ever since.”

Waylon: “Don’t light that.”

Willie: “Did you say something?”

Waylon: “A gentleman doesn’t smoke in the presence of a lady”

Willie: “I wouldn’t like to think that you are implying that I am anything less. I may be, you understand, but I just wouldn’t want to hear you say it.”

Willie: “And what are you looking at, friend?”

Man: “That’s a filthy habit, smoking, just filthy.”

Willie: “I have a lot of filthy habits. Most of them I find very enjoyable”

Man: “Don’t you have any good habits.”

Willie: “You mean something that can be admired, and held up to a child as a good example?”

Man: “Yes, something like that.”

Willie: “No sir. Children despise that. There’s nothing a child despises more than a good example.”

 

June Carter to Willie (when he drinks a shot of whiskey): “Did you eat?”

Willie: “I ate a lot when I was young.”

“Where the Hell’s that Gold?” (November 13, 1988)

Saturday, November 13th, 2021

He makes his living robbing banks.
She makes hers banking on robbers.

Release date: 13 November 1988

Willie Nelson stars with Jack Elam, and Delta Burke in this move about two outlaws on the run after stealing and hiding a large amount of gold.  The two find themselves travelling through 1895 Mexico on a train full of dynamite as rebels, Apache Indians, Wells Fargo agents, and Federal troops trail them. When they are captured by the Mexican authorities, they scheme to keep their ill-gotten riches with the help of a madam and her prostitutes. Willie Nelson, Jack Elam, Delta Burke star in this rowdy western.

Willie Nelson, on Honeysuckle Rose set

Sunday, July 25th, 2021

“Honeysuckle Rose” Soundtrack (7/18/1980)

Sunday, July 18th, 2021

“Honeysuckle Rose”, the soundtrack to the 1980 musical drama film of the same name, starring Willie Nelson, was released today in 1980. The album features the hit single “On The Road Again”.

Willie Nelson and Amy Irving, in “Honeysuckle Rose”

Monday, May 10th, 2021

This day in Willie Nelson history: “The Big Bounce” released (January 30, 2004)

Saturday, January 30th, 2021
for tgif 1/30/04 photo from movieweb.com
bigbounce

On January 30, 2004, the movie “The Big Bounce”, opened.

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Thank you, Mark, from Willie Nelson’s Museum and General Store, (www.WillieNelsonMuseum.com), for finding this gem, a still from the movie, “The Big Bounce” released in 2004, also starring Owen Wilson, Gary Sinese, Morgan Freeman, Charlie Sheen, Bebe Neuwirth, Harry Dean Stanton, Gregory Sporleder, Steve Jones, Director: George Armitage

bigbounce2