“Low Down” is a biographical picture of jazz pianist Joe Albany (John Hawkes) through the eyes of his number one fan and daughter, Amy–Jo (Elle Fanning), and deals with their journey through the drug–riddled Hollywood scene of the seventies. Amy is exposed to the harsh realities of addiction through interactions with her neighbors and mother.
The film’s plot is not–so–dynamic and instead relies on the characters and acting. Hawkes delivers a good performance as a heroin–addicted, musically–gifted father who, despite wanting to take care of his daughter, can’t seem to put anything before the thrill of getting high. Fanning channels innocence as Amy, who is forced to live around her father’s irresponsibility and her alcoholic mother’s cold hatred (it is no surprise here that Lena Heady plays the role perfectly, especially if you follow her in "Game of Thrones." Speaking of the show, Peter Dinklage also makes an appearance, but his role does not get as much attention, and is strange and somewhat misplaced.) Glenn Close, who is Amy’s grandmother, also impresses with her portrayal of a mother, forced to watch her “poor, lost boy” struggle with addiction.
Furthermore, the grim, bleak mood is unrelenting: while there are some moments of optimism in which Joe and Amy’s father–daughter relationship seems to be tender and joyful, a new problem always manages to arise. The brownish, grainy visuals don’t help.
In the end, “Low Down” is a movie that reiterates the all too familiar story of a creative genius, who gives in to his addiction. Despite solid performances by several actors, it does nothing but leave you with a sense of hopelessness.
