Grand Theft Parsons (2003)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

David Caffrey

Writers:

Jeremy Drysdale (story) &
David Caffrey (story) ...

Release Date:

18 June 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

It's better to burn out than to fade away.

Plot:

There are times when it's right and proper to simply bury the dead. This is not one of those times.....

Plot Keywords:

Musician | Hearse | Guitar | Casket | Black Comedy

Cast

Jamie McShane	...	Radio Announcer
Johnny Knoxville	...	Phil Kaufman
Danielle Sapia	...	Girl at Joshua Tree Inn
Gabriel Macht	...	Gram Parsons
Robert Alan Beuth	...	Reporter
Sara Arrington	...	Crying Girl
Scott Adsit	...	Music Expert
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Nurse
David Caffrey	...	TV Interviewer
Alexa Sheehan	...	Nurse 2 (as Alexa Motley)
Wesley Mann	...	Doctor
Marley Shelton	...	Susie
Christina Applegate	...	Barbara
Jim Cody Williams	...	Truck Driver
Kay E. Kuter	...	Undertaker

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug references and some language.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Cabazon, California, USA

Company:

Swipe Films

Trivia:

Cameo: [Phil Kaufman]at the end of the movie where he is led down the steps of the local police station protesting his innocence.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are taking off after hitting the cop's motorcycle, you can see the motorcycle cop throw his arms up in frustration through the back window of the car from a distance. Magically the cop's motorcycle is no longer there.

Quotes:

Uniform Cop: Wherever there's a hippie, there's a crime, even if that crime hasn't happened yet. That's what I always say.

Soundtrack:

Sister Surround

Not for Jackass fans

I had the pleasure to see this film at the Dublin International Film Festival and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This film is NOT a story about Gram Parsons life. It begins as Gram Parsons is found dead and follows his friend Phil Kaufman's attempts to steal the body with the intention of burning it in the desert as per Gram's wishes. Sure this film takes liberties with certain facts and characters but the film makers are trying to tell a story and it certainly is a witty, whimsical and entertaining film that deserves to be seen by a wide audience.

The performances are almost all excellent with Johnny Knoxville giving an understated, almost subdued performance (not at all like his Jackass persona) as a man carrying out his friends final wishes.

At a Q & A after the film the director and producer revealed that Gram Parsons family were shown the film and loved it and so allowed his music to be used on the soundtrack. I can think of no greater compliment of the film to be said than that.