Holiday Movie Preview 2004

by By Suzy Byrne and Beth Pinsker

Lions Gate Films

A Love Song for Bobby Long

Scarlett Johansson's talent thrives in small spaces, particularly when she's stuck with a dynamic older gentleman. As riveting as Bill Murray was in Lost in Translation or Colin Firth in Girl with a Pearl Earring, they've got nothing on John Travolta playing Bobby Long, completely white-haired and pot-bellied and as far from his teen-idol days as he has ever been in his career. The charisma is still there, though, and that makes him something to behold.


An 18-year-old high school dropout should be no match for drunkard Bobby, who pompously spouts poetry from his long-ago English professor days. But when Perslane (Johansson) shows up a day late to her mother's funeral in New Orleans, she and Bobby circle each other like caged animals in a dilapidated house, trying to establish control of the property. Throw in a struggling novelist roommate (Gabriel Macht), who is just seething with testosterone, and you've got a class-A sparring match from first-time director Shainee Gabel.


Give this movie to: Your daughter or younger sister ‑- you don't want to encourage dropping out of high school, but you can't argue with the compelling character played by Johansson

Stars: John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht
Director: Shainee Gabel
Release date: December 29
Rated: R

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