RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / A Love Song for Bobby Long
A Love Song for Bobby Long

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
43 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:98

Fresh:42

Rotten:56

Average Rating:5.5/10

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for language including some sexual references

Runtime: 2 hrs

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Dec 29, 2004 Limited

Box Office: $121,476

Synopsis: Lions Gate Films' A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG is the poignant story of a wayward girl and two men, each scarred by their pasts, who struggle to mend their broken lives and create a home together in... Lions Gate Films' A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG is the poignant story of a wayward girl and two men, each scarred by their pasts, who struggle to mend their broken lives and create a home together in a forgotten section of New Orleans. Starring John Travolta, Scarlett Johannson, Gabriel Macht and Deborah Kara Unger, A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG is the feature film directorial debut of Shainee Gabel (ANTHEM), who wrote the screenplay based on Ronald Everett Capps' soon-to-be-published novel, Off Magazine Street. The film is produced by Bob Yari, R. Paul Miller and David Lancaster. Upon hearing of her mother's death, jaded teenage loner Purslane Hominy Will (Scarlett Johansson) returns to New Orleans for the first time in years, ready to reclaim her childhood home. Expecting to find her late mother's house abandoned, Pursy is shocked to discover that it is inhabited by two of her mother's friends: Bobby Long (John Travolta), a former literature professor, and his young protégé, Lawson Pines (Gabriel Macht). These broken men, whose lives took a wrong turn years before, have been firmly rooted in the dilapidated house for years, encouraged only by Lawson's faltering ambitions to write a novel about Bobby Long's life. Having no intention of leaving, Pursy, Bobby Long and Lawson are all forced to live together. Yet as time passes, their tenuous, makeshift arrangement unearths a series of buried personal secrets that challenges their bonds, and reveals just how inextricably their lives are intertwined... A story about love and human frailty, A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG is at once a lyrical ode to the rich, decaying romanticism of New Orleans and a powerful drama about lives haunted by the past. -- © Lions Gate Films [More]

Starring: John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht, Deborah Kara Unger

Starring: John Travolta, Scarlett Johansson, Gabriel Macht, Deborah Kara Unger

Director: Shainee Gabel, Bob Yari

Director: Shainee Gabel
Screenwriter: Shainee Gabel
Producer: Brad Krevoy, Randall Emmett, George Furla
Director: Bob Yari
Producer: R. Paul Miller, David Lancaster
Studio: Lions Gate Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • A Love Song for Bobby Long Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Apr 19, 2005

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for A Love Song for Bobby Long

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

It's easy to fall for Bobby Long.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/29/04
E! Online

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

A wonderfully literary film.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
01/15/05
Annlee Ellingson
Annlee Ellingson
Boxoffice Magazine

I appreciate the way this movie's fine cinematography and music gave me such a strong sense of place.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/05
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

One of those stylized Southern writing deals that doesn't come off the least bit realistic, but can be mighty fine fun to just kick back and listen to.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
12/29/04
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

It must be said that the Hollywood Foreign Press, in this case anyway, was dead-on: the movie belongs to Scarlett Johansson.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
12/29/04
Brett Buckalew
Brett Buckalew
FilmStew.com

If there's something a little bit moldy about the setup, the movie is no less charming or involving for it, and it's no less pleasant to succumb to its wayward allure and wastrel lyricism.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/29/04
Carina Chocano
Carina Chocano
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Engaging and transparent at once.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/28/05
Carla Meyer
Carla Meyer
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Saturated with fertile colors and great regional rock and blues, the unhurried atmosphere seems as intoxicated as its characters.

Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | comment Comment
11/30/04
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

An accomplished feature debut with stunning cinematography (by Elliot Davis), a jambalaya story line and yet another heart-stopping performance by Scarlett Johansson.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
01/27/05
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It isn't until the movie's almost over that it becomes clear the many directions it takes are all important, because Bad Education is about making decisions that can't be reversed.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
01/27/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Journal News (Westchester, NY) | comment Comment
01/15/05
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Journal News (Westchester, NY)

John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson make this tale of misfits thrown together an agreeable enough time-passer despite newcomer Shainee Gabel's flowery dialogue and pedestrian direction.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/23/04
David Rooney
David Rooney
Variety

The film’s bucolic South is a kooky backdrop for a reasonably intelligent look at people living their lives through a filter of literary pretense.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
11/26/04
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

A Love Song For Bobby Long is a heart-affecting drama about an improvised family fashioned with love, care, and creativity by writer and director Shainee Gabel.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
12/12/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

An above-average independent movie that gives us an interesting version of a popular indie theme: difficult parents and the fallout for their neglected children.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Daily News | comment Comment
01/28/05
Gary Thompson
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News

[Has] a cast magnetic enough to make you overlook the movie's hothouse-flower flimsiness as melodrama.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
12/29/04
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No great surprises in this story, including the fact that Scarlett Johansson is excellent as usual.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
12/13/04
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

A southern drama, a passionate example of human frailty…this film knows what it is.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
01/15/05
Heidi Martinuzzi
Heidi Martinuzzi
Film Threat

[Johansson] gives Pursy the combination of hope and determination that makes her journey worthwhile.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
12/29/04
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for A Love Song for Bobby Long

January 06, 2005: John Travolta and James Gandolfini Join Lonely Hearts
More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington

A video interview with the Avatar star!

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Throwing fireballs with Nicolas Cage!

Golden Globes

Golden Globes

Up in the Air leads with 6 noms!

Nominee Gallery

Nominee Gallery

See who got nominated for Golden Globes!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
6
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
4
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
0
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
51
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
24
  • Gibson and DiCaprio are Going Norse Source: HitFix
66
  • Lord of the Rings Coming to Blu-ray April 6 Source: Hollywood Reporter
8
  • Tobey Maguire Rumored for The Hobbit Source: Latino Review
42
  • Mila Kunis Talks Aronofsky's Black Swan Source: Collider.com
13
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
236
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
106
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
42
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
37
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
33
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
30
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • A Love Song for Bobby Long at Rotten Tomatoes
  • A Love Song for Bobby Long at IGN
  • A Love Song for Bobby Long at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade
Best Sci-Fi This Decade External Link

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

40 Worst Films of the 2000s
40 Worst Films of the 2000s External Link

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

10 Questions For Zac Efron
10 Questions For Zac Efron External Link

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Best Decade Ever!
Best Decade Ever! External Link

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure External Link

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.