Sonny Boy (1989)

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Found in the back of a stolen car, an infant is raised by a crime family to be a "lean, mean and hungry" killer in this unusual film from 'Dr. Giggles' screenwriter Graeme Whifler. Only a handful of scenes are spent on the title character's abusive childhood, but they are highly memorable, accompanied by poetic narration from Michael Boston, who plays the character as an adult. Never uttering a comprehensible word (his character's tongue was cut out for a "birthday present"), Boston is excellent, utterly sympathetic when staring into mirrors and wondering what he has become. There is also a great scene in which Boston finds solace in Christ with wounds similar to those that his adoptive parents have afflicted on him. Impressive as Boston is, 'Sonny Boy' is best known as the film in which David Carradine plays a female character. In all fairness, Carradine gives it his all, donning a dress and exuding maternal instincts. He is never convincing as a real woman though and always looks like a man in need of a good shave and therefore his performance is sadly distracting in a film with otherwise serious undertones. Indeed, 'Sonny Boy' has lots to offer as a personal identity study, a look at the effects of improper parenting and an examination of choice. There is also a lot of mindless violence near the end and a bland romance that likewise distract, but in general, this is a solid motion picture. Making his feature film directing debut, Robert Martin Carroll does a great job matching the desert locations to desertion themes at hand and Boston's performance is simply exquisite.

Somebody compared Sonny Boy to the above. I think not. Maybe Wes Craven crossed with John Waters. An OK 70s cult film which inexplicably wandered into the 80s. One lapse in the screenplay. Sonny Boy's voice is taken from him by removing his tongue. Well, the tongue has nothing to do with production of the voice; it's the larynx that produces the voice; the tongue governs articulation of the sounds already produced. So he would always have had a voice, even if only grunts. I must admit I couldn't figure out who the heck David Carridine in the movie was until the final credits, which pairs the actors with the roles. I had to wind back and look at his face carefully to recognize him.

If you have ever appreciated any movie containing violence and depravity...SEE THIS FILM.The acting is WONDERFUL...the writing is WONDERFUL...the direction is WONDERFUL.Denouncing the violence and depravity in this film is on par with denouncing the violence and depravity in Shakespaere's "Richard III" OR "Titus Andronicus."It is sad to learn that the director of this movie lost his career over it...and that the movie is forgotten...when snooze-fests like "No Country for Old Men" are now heralded and have awards hurled at them as though they were something new.This movie is simply better in every way than "Pulp Fiction"..."No Country...." or so many other ultra-violence-and-depravity-as-art films. I notice that Reservoir Dogs (1992)and then Pulp Fiction (1994) came out 3 years after this film. How tragic for all the talent associated with this movie. It is interesting, and a little sad, to contemplate the reception this movie might have received in a post-"Pulp Fiction" America. With our squeamishness for "depraved violence" mostly behind us....this film might have been recognized as the masterpiece it is.

This is the worst piece of garbage I've ever seen. A total waste of celluloid. What were they thinking? Stay away from this one. This belongs on somebody's "Top ten Worst Movies of All Time" list. Not even funny or cute, like Plan 9 from Outer Space. Abominable.