Watch Sordid Lives

Sordid Lives is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Del Shores and based on his play of the same name. The film follows the story of a dysfunctional family in a small town in Texas who are trying to come to terms with the death of their matriarch, Peggy. The main character is Peggy's niece, Latrelle Williamson (played by Bonnie Bedelia), a conservative and uptight woman who is horrified to learn that her gay son, Ty (Kirk Geiger), is planning to come home for the funeral. Ty's struggles with his sexuality are a major theme throughout the movie, and his relationship with his mother is a key source of tension.

Another member of the family is Peggy's sister, Sissy (Delta Burke), who is a chain-smoking, hard-drinking barfly. She is having an affair with her married neighbor, G.W. (Beau Bridges), who is constantly trying to keep her under his thumb. Sissy's chain-smoking, hard-drinking lifestyle is both amusing and heartbreaking at the same time, as we see how her addictions have taken a toll on her life.

Olivia Newton-John appears in a supporting role as Bitsy Mae Harling, a singer who is released from prison and returns to her hometown to reconnect with her ex-con lover, Earl (Leslie Jordan). Bitsy Mae and Earl's relationship is an unexpected and delightful element of the movie, as we see how their love has endured despite the odds.

There are other colorful characters throughout the movie, all of whom are dealing with their own personal struggles. Latrelle's sister, LaVonda (Ann Walker), is a foul-mouthed woman who is having an affair with her son's best friend. Noleta, a waitress at the local bar (Caroline Rhea), is dealing with the aftermath of her husband's affair with Sissy, and her anger towards her husband is palpable throughout the movie.

The movie is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, but it also has a poignant and touching tone as we see these characters come to terms with their past mistakes and try to move forward. The themes of acceptance and forgiveness are woven throughout the movie, as the characters try to find a way to heal and come together as a family.

The movie's setting in a small town in Texas is an important aspect of the story, as we see how the conservative values of the town clash with the characters' more liberal attitudes. The movie is also notable for its inclusion of LGBTQ characters, as we see how their struggles are perceived and dealt with in a small town environment.

Overall, Sordid Lives is a charming and quirky comedy that will leave audiences laughing, crying, and feeling uplifted. While it deals with serious themes, the movie never takes itself too seriously, and the performances from the talented cast are a joy to watch. It's a movie that perfectly captures the spirit of small-town life, and the triumph of love and acceptance over judgment and intolerance.

Sordid Lives is a 2000 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 47.