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Movies / On DVD / Great Balls of Fire
Great Balls of Fire

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Great Balls of Fire (1989)

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Reviews Counted:23

Fresh:15

Rotten:8

Average Rating:6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Film biography of rock 'n' roll hellraiser Jerry Lee Lewis, concentrating on the years 1956 to 1959, when Lewis rose to stardom. It was also during this period that Lewis married his third wife... Film biography of rock 'n' roll hellraiser Jerry Lee Lewis, concentrating on the years 1956 to 1959, when Lewis rose to stardom. It was also during this period that Lewis married his third wife Myra, who not only was his second cousin, but only 13 years of age at the time. This action nearly killed Lewis's career, and the uproar and controversy created by the wedding while they were in England forced Lewis to cancel his tour. Other aspects of Lewis's life are examined, including: his relationship with his brother, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart; his competition with Elvis Presley; and how his "devil music" was inspired by what he saw and heard at black dance halls. The score contains many of Lewis's songs, among them "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", "Real Wild Child", and a rather fiery rendition of the title tune. [More]

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Lisa Blount

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Lisa Blount, Lisa Jane Persky

Director: Jim McBride

Director: Jim McBride

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jun 4, 2002

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Great Balls of Fire

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z)
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Fire is a fascinating, often terribly compelling failure. Much like Lewis's life, I suppose.

Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com | comment Comment
08/26/09
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
BrianOrndorf.com

Surely contains some quality components, but the movie as a whole may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
07/25/02
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
Apollo Guide

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Caryn James
Caryn James
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Rita Kempley
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews
N/R

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Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
05/12/01
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Eve Zibart
Eve Zibart
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An outrageous bio-pic with Quaid over the top as Jerry Lee Lewis

comment Comment
06/20/03
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Dennis Quaid actually manages to make Jerry Lee Lewis likeable.

comment Comment
06/17/05
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

Underrated Dennis Quad performance as rocker Jerry Lee Lewis.

comment Comment
03/19/09
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

Vastly entertaining biopic.

comment Comment
04/08/05
Forrest Hartman
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal

Ryder and Quaid seem to be in two different movies, but Baldwin is brilliant.

comment Comment
06/26/03
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Dennis Quaid is amazing, this could be the film of his career

comment Comment
09/17/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

Quaid is surprisingly good and has plenty of fun in this musical biopic.

comment Comment
11/15/05
James Plath
James Plath
DVDTown.com

Average biopic.

comment Comment
09/21/05
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

Not a total success, but it does have a sense of style

comment Comment
01/12/03
James Sanford
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette
 
 
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