Songwriter (1984) review

Country music icon Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is in debt from too many bad business decisions and Rodeo Rocky (filmmaker Richard C. Sarafian) "owns" him (and takes most of his profits), so he formulates a plan to turn singer Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren) into a superstar ... but needs the assistance of old pal and fellow singer-songwriter Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson).  Casting two actual legends in Nelson and Kristofferson (both of them middle-aged and well established at the time) and having them provide the soundtrack lends it a great deal of authenticity, but it's told in an irritatingly choppy manner and often feels the different relationships should have been explored in greater detail instead of skipping around or cutting scenes short - Rudolph, once again, was "influenced" in the worst way by his mentor Robert Altman.  It does bring to light some very real-world problems Mr. Nelson has had with money - just six years after this was released, the Internal Revenue Service seized the majority of his assets.  If they got Capone....