Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

Powerful

good back-story, and good acting

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

While 'Great Balls of Fire!' may not be an exactly accurate depiction of Jerry Lee Lewis (aka "The Killer") or the characters, and people would have preferred a more serious approach considering how dark parts of Lewis' life was rather than the more energetic and "campier" one, to me it was a fun romp and very entertaining.'Great Balls of Fire!' won't be a favourite of mine any time soon, it's not a masterpiece and there are better music biopics around. Am not ashamed however to admit to enjoying the film, though it is completely understandable why some may not like it. It does focus rather too much on Swaggart and while Alec Baldwin is a fine actor he is a little too silly and exaggerated in the role.While it is understandable as to why it was not, there could have been more of the darker aspects of Lewis' life. The lip-synching is also sloppy, very obvious and often behind the music.It is a good-looking film with a good authenticity of the period. A highlight of 'Great Balls of Fire!' is the soundtrack, which is unquestionably brilliant.Scripting has energy and wit, while the story is a lot of fun mostly and never feels dull.Dennis Quaid's performance seems to have divided viewers, am of the opinion that he did a good and on-the-edge job and that the exaggerated approach didn't stray too far from Lewis' actual persona. Winona Ryder in a relatively early role gives it a lot of sweetness without being cloying. Trey Wilson similarly fares well.Overall, good if not brilliant. 7/10 Bethany Cox

If you're looking for something the quality of La Bamba, The Buddy Holly Story or I Walk the Line you'll be extremely disappointed. The acting in this film isn't just over the top it's painfully awful to watch. The fake Southern Accents make it even worse if that were possible. I suppose one could find a modicum of entertainment in this disaster if you were looking for a good laugh but that's about all it will provide you.

As a child in rural Louisiana, Jerry Lee Lewis is entranced by black music. In 1956 Memphis, Jerry (Dennis Quaid) moves in with his cousin Rusty Brown's family including his daughter Myra Gale Brown (Winona Ryder). Sam Phillips of Sun Records, who signed Elvis, signs Jerry. His cousin Jimmy Swaggart (Alec Baldwin) tries to get him to serve God. He marries 13-year-old Myra after already married twice. It becomes a scandal during a 1958 British tour.This is a fun light rock-and-roll movie with a great manic performance by Dennis Quaid. The drama is backloaded with the scandal well into the second half. This has great music. A more dramatic story could be done concentrating not on his music but on his personal life and marriages. This is nevertheless a fun rock biopic and a memorable performance.

The Title is "Middle Age Crazy". Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder are on board along with the rest of the original cast. Unfortunately we have lost the great Trey Wilson and Lisa Blount, but Alec Baldwin will play Jimmy Swaggart again, which should be great because this will be during the years leading up to his scandal. Rumor has it that John Travolta will play Mickey Gilley (a little wink to Urban Cowboy) and Sean Penn as Lewis' guitar player Kenny Lovelace.The movie starts with Jerry Lee Lewis' Live at the Star Club in Hamburg concert in 1964 and I believe ends in 1986 when he gets inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of fame. This is going to be a treat for real fans of Lewis who enjoy his country music. We are going to get his 1968 top ten single "Another Place, Another Time" along with "What's Made Milwaukee Famous, "She Still Comes Around (To Love What's Left of Me)", "Me & Bobby McGee" and of course 1977's "Middle Age Crazy". The scenes of Quaid as Lewis in North Hollywood's Palomino Club, Country Music's most important West Coast club during the 70's and 80's is going to be epic. This should be in production by 2012.