Review of Great Balls of Fire! (1989) by Josh H — 07 Jun 2010
The life of one of the wildest Rock and Roll stars of the 1950's, Jerry Lee Lewis. Based on the book by his ex-wife Myra Gale Brown, whose marriage to Lewis would be his ultimate downfall as his star was on the rise.
It's a by the numbers biopic, with all the same chiches. But, it's lead performance is engaging. It follows Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid) from 1956 to 1958, as his star was on the rise, he'd signed up with Sun Records, owned by Sam Phillips (Trey Wilson).
He records hit records such as Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On, and Great Balls of Fire. But, he falls for his cousin Myra Gale (Winona Ryder) who is only 13, and secretly marries her in Mississippi. His career continues to be successful, but when he goes over to England for a tour, the details of his marriage get out, and the British public condemn him as a child molester, and it follows him back home to America where he becomes more unhinged with alcohol and becomes abusive.
It's a good story to make into a film, but it hardly shows Lewis in a good light, despite all the good intentions. It has a good cast though, look out for Alec Baldwin as Lewis' other cousin, preacher Jimmy Swaggart and Peter Cook as the British Reporter who uncovers the illegal marriage.
This review of Great Balls of Fire! (1989) was written by Josh H on 07 Jun 2010.
Great Balls of Fire! has generally received mixed reviews.
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