Lovesong for Bobby Long (2004)

final verdict for: "Lovesong for Bobby Long" (2004): Another one of those lucky picks. 

After seeing both Travolta and Johannson in so many mediocre movies lately it is refreshing to have them in a good one. All of the main cast are absolutely believable and most of the other cast too. The music is brilliantly chosen, the cinematography fitting most of the times.  

The only thing I don't really buy is the depiction of New Orleans as a city full of happy unemployed people or bartenders. I guess that is either just wishful thinking or make-believe. And yes, the story itself is a bit of cliché, but name one movie that is not using cliché as a tool of narration! 

Admittedly however, you also never really get the feeling the death of the mother has any importance for the plot other than to get it going. 

Overall, this movie is doing so many things so much better than most of its genre-cousins, that you can easily overlook the few flaws you will find. A solid 8 out of 10!