Young boy leaves the Oklahoma farm to travel with his country musician uncle who is trying out for the Grand Ole Opry. Set during the Great Depression.
Eastwood took great pains in telling this story of an aging, struggling country singer...
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
26 Oct 2008
fresh:
The whole thing veers wildly in quality, and no Eastwood-hater should go within a mile of it; but few lovers of American cinema could fail to be moved by a venture conceived so recklessly against the spirit of its times.
– Derek Adams,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
fresh:
This is a sweet, whimsical, low-key movie, a movie that makes you feel good without pressing you too hard.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
23 Oct 2004
rotten:
The film comes across sympathetically but unconvincingly, as an attempt by a well-established movie tough guy to reveal his tender side.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
30 Aug 2004
fresh:
It is a guileless tribute not only to plain values of plain people in Depression America, but also to the sweet spirit of country-and-western music before it got all duded up for the urban cowboys.