“We just wanted to do an accurate and loving tribute to Willie,” Thornton said from the red carpet, shortly before the start of the premiere. “He’s a guy that’s been a legend, especially in these parts, for a long time and we thought he deserved kind of a full-length documentary.”
— Billy Bob Thornton
Janis Tillerson is at the ‘King of Luck’ world premiere in Austin tonight, and sent this billboard photo. Billy Bob Thornton produced/directed this documentary about Willie Nelson.
Janis texted me, and said that the movie was dedicated to Poodie Locke, and when Poodie came on the screen, the audience cheered!
Billy Bob spoke after the movie, and took questions from the audience. He said he got the call about Poodie’s passing while he was working on the documentary. He said it was one thing, working on it, editing it, and watching the scenes of the Poodie. But he said it was surprisingly hard seeing Poodie on the big screen. He said he had to leave the theater and go out in lobby for a minute.
Janis said it was in black and white, very factual, very moving, like a movie — not like a documentary. The band and crew were all interviewed in the movie. She asked him when it would be made available for everyone to see, and he said they were looking for a distributor.
Kinky Friedman, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Jimmy Kimmell, and Ray Benson were some of Willie’s friends who were there.