Desertman84 A Love Song for Bobby Long is a drama film that stars John Travolta,Scarlett Johansson and Gabriel Macht.It was written and directed by Shainee Gabel. The screenplay is based on the novel Off Magazine Street by Ronald Everett Capps.The story focuses on eighteen- year-old Purslane Hominy Will, who leaves the Florida trailer park where she lives with her abusive boyfriend to return to her hometown of New Orleans following the drug overdose death of her jazz singer mother Lorraine, a free spirit she had not seen for several years.Bobby Long (Travolta) is a washed up former literature professor with a voracious drinking habit. He lives in a rundown house in New Orleans with Lawson Pines (Macht), his former star pupil, also an alcoholic. Lawson is allegedly writing a novel about Bobby. Their depressive little corner of the world is disrupted when Lorraine, the beloved eccentric singer who owns their house, dies. Her teenage daughter, Pursy (Johansson), who hasn't seen her mother in years, arrives in town too late for the funeral, and crashes at the house. Afraid of being thrown out on the street, Bobby convinces Lawson to tell Pursy that the house has been left to all three of them. Pursy, having little else to do, decides to move in, and starts cleaning up the place, making it her own. Lawson is involved with Georgianna, who works at the local bar, but he quickly develops a crush on the comely Pursy. The cantankerous Bobby seems determined to drive the girl away. As Pursy settles into the diverse little community, all of Lorraine's old friends tell her how much she looks like her mother, and she begins to uncover some startling truths about her family history.This is an above-average independent movie that gives us an interesting version of a popular independent film theme: difficult parents and the fallout for their neglected children.Also,the trio of lead performances of Travelota,Johansson and Macht are surprisingly believable.And most of all,the story seems a lot more like a true story than a work of fiction in many ways.

patricia92243 Just saw it on TV. Great, great movie.It makes me want to read the book.It is an absolute shame that it did not receive the publicity it needed and not be shown in all the big theaters.Also, in my opinion, it has a silly, unappealing title. Should have stuck to the title of the book.I hope it will get renewed interest now that it is showing on television.If it does get a second life, maybe the actors will not feel the disappointment they must have when it did not do so well in the past.

Pit57 I liked this film, but one thing I can't figure out is why the characters of Travolta and Macht gave no signs of being a couple. The explanation given for the fact that the teacher and student spent nine years living together is that the student, Macht, felt guilty about the death of the teacher's son. That and the fact that he had promised to write Bobby Long's (Travolta) biography. That's just not credible enough a motive for spending so much time together in poverty and booze.By any standards of plausibility, there should at least have been the insinuation of an amorous past between the two. Otherwise it just looks odd.

apetersenok This was made for Travolta and Johansson. Even the shots inside the house were beautiful. The critics didn't like this movie. I guess they don't know about real life anymore. Bobby made a statement as to that " I know God and God knows me " this has interested me to no end. I put it in Google as he said it and surprisingly enough, it comes from the Good Sheppard parable John 10-15. Does this mean bobby fancies himself as the God Shepard or what? He is quite sanctimonious you know. Mr Macht is great also. The bar scenes are too. Bobby's story about his 10 year old experiences were true enough to be scary. It was real enough to be known by me and my ilk.