Apple TVOde to Billy Joe (1976)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Viewer Rating
Rating: 5.8
Overview
Set in sultry 1950s Mississippi, two teenagers grapple with surging hormones and the enticing promise of love, unknowing of the tragedy that looms ahead.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Apple TV
Google PlayBias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Negative
Christianity: Negative
Overview
Set in sultry 1950s Mississippi, two teenagers grapple with surging hormones and the enticing promise of love, unknowing of the tragedy that looms ahead.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Apple TVGoogle PlayDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film is left-leaning due to its sympathetic portrayal of a character struggling with a taboo identity and its implicit critique of the repressive societal norms that lead to his tragic end.
The movie features traditional casting with a predominantly white cast, reflecting its 1950s rural Mississippi setting. However, its narrative centrally explores the tragic consequences of societal pressure on an individual struggling with a non-normative sexual identity, offering a strong critique of rigid traditional expectations.
Secondary
The film portrays Billy Joe's homosexuality as a deeply shameful secret that leads to his despair and suicide. His identity is presented as a tragic flaw, resulting in a problematic depiction where queer identity is a source of unrelieved misery and a punitive outcome.
The film portrays the conservative Christian community as judgmental and repressive, with its rigid morality contributing to the tragic downfall of the protagonists. It critiques the hypocrisy and intolerance found within this specific religious environment.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The film is an adaptation of the song "Ode to Billy Joe." All named characters whose gender was established or implied in the original song maintain the same gender in the film adaptation.
The film is based on the 1967 song by Bobbie Gentry. The main characters, Bobbie Lee and Billy Joe, are portrayed by white actors, consistent with the implied and widely understood racial context of the original song and its setting.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
5.8
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
6.6
6.3
Critic Ratings
4.4
N/A
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