Ever since Sling Blade, Billy Bob Thornton has been seen as a legitimate film director capable of brilliance; however, he struck out pretty hard with All the Pretty Horses just four years later bringing his behind-the-camera career to a screeching halt. With not enough titles to call the veteran actor ‘hit or miss,’ we cannot help but look at his latest film Jayne Mansfield’s Car with eyes filled with a mixture of skepticism and hope.
The first trailer for the period drama shows not so much the setup of a plot, but rather a heartfelt theatrical gem that could easily end up being a pleasant surprise. The marketing definitely shows off Jayne Mansfield’s Cars‘ best leg making this initial promotional effort worth the quick view.
Story wise, the film centers on a woman who leaves her husband and moves to England to start a new family. A few decades later, she dies and elects to be buried in Alabama where she grew up. This sets up a rendezvous between her two families who naturally clash due to cultural differences.
Cast members include Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Bacon, John Hurt, Robert Patrick, and Robert Duvall. There is no word just yet on distribution plans here in the states, but the DVD hits store shelves in Australia early next year.