Retro Film Review: Grand Theft Parsons (2003)

The history of rock music is rich, yet regrettably, some of its lustre stems from the tragic tales of gifted artists who left this world too soon. Among these sad stories, few are as peculiar as the one that inspired the 2003 film, Grand Theft Parsons, directed by David Caffrey.

The film opens with Gram Parsons (portrayed by Gabriel Macht), a brilliant country and rock musician, fatally overdosing in September 1973. This news prompts Parsons' road manager and closest friend, Phil Kaufman (played by Johnny Knoxville), to act on a pact he had made with the deceased rock star, intending to cremate his body in Joshua Tree National Park. Meanwhile, Parsons' father, Stanley (played by Robert Forster), insists on burying his son in Louisiana. Before this can occur, Phil enlists the help of a hippie hearse driver named Larry Oster-Berg (played by Michael Shannon) and steals the coffin from LAX. As they journey towards Parsons' resting place in the desert, they are pursued by the police, Parsons' father, and his gold-digging ex-girlfriend, Barbara (played by Christina Applegate), who desperately needs proof of Parsons' death to claim his fortune.

Grand Theft Parsons was shot on a low budget, which is evident through its rather unremarkable and overused sets and locations. Despite this, the filmmakers have done a commendable job of recreating the era. The plot, though not particularly robust or consistently humorous, despite some truly odd situations, flows smoothly. More crucially, the characters appear human and relatable, allowing the audience to empathise with them. Johnny Knoxville delivers an impressive performance in one of his earlier "serious" roles, while Michael Shannon and Robert Forster also excel in their respective parts, ensuring the film doesn't veer too far into comedy or tragedy. Christina Applegate's portrayal of the irritating character, Barbara, however, feels unnecessary and detracts from the overall experience.

Perhaps the most significant shortcoming of the film is its inability to introduce Gram Parsons' music to younger audiences. However, those who watch Grand Theft Parsons might agree that there are worse ways to honour musical legends.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)

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