Synopsis
The story of Jerry Lee Lewis, arguably the greatest and certainly one of the wildest musicians of the 1950s. His arrogance, remarkable talent, and unconventional lifestyle often brought him into conflict with others in the industry, and even earned him the scorn and condemnation of the public.
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Cast
- Dennis QuaidJerry Lee Lewis
- Winona RyderMyra Gale Brown
- John DoeJ.W. Brown
- Stephen TobolowskyJud Phillips
- Alec BaldwinJimmy Swaggart
- Lisa BlountLois Brown
- Trey WilsonSam Phillips
- Steve Allenhimself
- Michael St. GerardElvis
- Mojo NixonJames Van Eaton
Recommendations
- 70
The New York Times
Anyone looking for a true sense of his importance in the history of rock-and-roll will be let down by Great Balls of Fire. But though the film may skimp on the truth, it is loaded with terrific music and outrageous fun. - 60
Empire
A loud, careering thunderbolt of a bipoic, that leaves behind an imprint of the myth, if not enough of the man. - 60
Washington Post
The acting is superb. Quaid, who practiced piano 12 hours a day (Lewis dubbed the vocals), has Lewis's megalomaniacal theatricality and perverse ignorance down perfectly, and his white-trash accent as well. Winona Ryder turns in a stunning performance as Myra, not only looking but feeling 13. And X frontman John Doe is quietly pathetic as Myra's father and Lewis's long-suffering sideman (along with guitarist Jimmie Vaughn and drummer Mojo Nixon). - 50
Chicago Sun-Times
Great Balls of Fire gives us a Jerry Lee Lewis who has been sanitized, popularized and lobotomized. Even then, the story ends in 1959 - before most of the events for which "The Killer" became notorious. - 50
Rolling Stone
Lewis’s vintage rock is still cause for cheering. Too bad the movie that contains these Killer sounds never rises above a whimper. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
Most of the cast of accomplished actors are wasted in these roles, although two do manage to stand out: Ryder as the innocent-savvy Myra and John Doe, in an underplayed performance, as her father. The musical sequences are entertaining and energetic. - 50
Time Out
The trouble with this biopic is that it attempts to convey too many aspects of the Jerry Lee Lewis legend. - 40
The Guardian
If you're determined to make a fun, feelgood movie, a marriage between a manipulative bigamist and a terrified minor that spirals off into alcoholism, violence and ruination may not be the ideal subject matter. Even if the music is really, really good.
