Grand Theft Parsons Movie Review:


Based on an astonishing true story, this gently loping film feels like it will erupt into a stoner comedy at any moment, but it remains enjoyably funny and surprisingly moving. When the legendary country musician Gram Parsons dies of an overdose in 1973, his best friend and road manager Phil Kaufman (Knoxville) moves heaven and earth to keep the promise they made to each other ... to burn his body in Joshua Tree National Park. But Kaufman has no legal right to the body, so he finds a guy (Shannon) with a hearse and heads off to L.A. Airport to intercept the coffin, then drive back to the desert while outrunning the cops, Parson's father (Forster) and Parson's tenacious ex-girlfriend (Applegate), who needs the body to get what she claims is her inheritance.

Irish director Caffrey (Divorcing Jack) keeps things very simple, catching a whiff of Easy Rider along the way and drawing laughs from the most unexpected places. This is usually subtle black comedy coming from real life situations that contain an honest sense of grief and desperation. Everyone wants to do the right thing here (except perhaps Applegate's relentlessly selfish character)! The result is a scruffy and organic road movie that becomes sweet without being manipulative. While the structure feels a bit contrived and farcical, the pay-off is the real thing mostly because the cast is so raw and natural. Knoxville is excellent in his first leading role, creating an authentic hangdog character we can root for against the odds. Meanwhile, Applegate plays another memorably personality-intensive woman, while Shannon has a delightful floppy presence that feels like the result of years of substance abuse. And Forster even manages to inject some depth into his simple role, as do all the one-scene players. While the whole film meanders, each little detail crackles with life. As a result, this extraordinary story takes on an extra level of meaning as a down-to-earth fable about loyalty. A very nice surprise.

Rich Cline

Finding out that his best friend had died, Phil Kaufman (Knoxville) went instantly into action. The pair had promised each other that if one of them died the other would cremate their body in the desert, setting their soul free. Now all Phil had to do was steal his friend’s body, some how transport into the desert and then set fire to it. Now this already sounds hard enough but when your friend happens to be Gram Parsons, one of the most influential musicians of the time, whose drug overdose induced death is in every single newspaper and on every single TV channel in America, his task sounds almost impossible.

The premise of stealing a friend’s body, so that you can fulfil a promise might sound like the makings of a riotous 1980s comedy (Weekend at Bernie’s anyone) but when you find out that the story is true, the movie takes on a whole new meaning.

The story about the theft of country rock legend Gram Parsons body by his friend and road manager Phil Kaufman is one of loyalty and devotion, with a few laughs along the way. After dying of a drug overdose in a motel, Gram’s body, surrounded by a media frenzy, was transported to LAX airport in Los Angeles to be sent home to his family for burial in New Orleans. It was then that Kaufman went into action, stealing the body and heading to the place where Gram had asked him to set his soul free, the Joshua Tree Desert in California. Throw in the fact that Kaufman had the police, Gram’s ex-girlfriend and Gram’s father on his tail and you get quite an entertaining road movie.

Jackass’s Johnny Knoxville wouldn’t have been many people’s first choice for playing Phil Kaufman. In his first leading role, Knoxville shows a lot of restraint and respect for the man and lets the events that are taking place around him get the laughs and not the man himself. Those of you expecting a wacky, riotous performance from the extreme personality might be disappointed but this movie shows that there is more to Knoxville than just puerile pranks and excessive violence, he might actually be a good actor.

He supported by a good ensemble. Michael Shannon is one of those character actors who you recognise but can never quite put a name to. He has had many a supporting role in quite a few high profile projects but this is his chance to shine. As Larry, the hippy hearse owner he provides much of the picture’s comic relief, as he is conned by Kaufman into joining his crusade. Marley Shelton is another up and coming actress who gets another chance to grab the limelight. As Phil’s girlfriend and voice of reason, she does her best to give more to a small but important part. Christina Applegate plays the bitchy, ex-girlfriend extremely well and Robert Foster brings abit of class to the proceeding.

‘Grand Theft Parsons’ is a quirky, fun road trip movie with a really big heart. With good performances and a touching and funny script, this is an interesting and entertaining look at a piece of music history that leaves you hoping that someone would go through as much trouble for you when your time comes.

Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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