A 2003 Comedy-drama directed by David Caffrey that follows the aftermath of Gram Parsons (Gabriel Macht) and his manager (Johnny Knoxville) trying to live up to their pact of taking his remains to the Joshua Tree National Manument.
The movie also stars Michael Shannon, Christina Applegate, Marley Shelton, Robert Forster, and Wesley Mann.
It was released on November 6, 2003.
Tropes for the film:
- The '70s: Takes place in 1973 after Parsons' death.
- Based on a True Story: Yes, Gram Parsons's manager did steal his corpse from the morgue and burn it at Joshua Tree. The details may be made up, but the event itself happened.
- Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie: The promise to give Parsons a Viking Funeral following his wishes fuels the whole plot.
- Character Title: Grand Theft Parsons.
- Historical Domain Character:
- Gram Parsons, country rock musician who dies of a drug overdose.
- Phil Kaufman, Parsons' friend and manager.
- Viking Funeral: the movie revolves around Phil Kaufman's attempt to keep his word to his friend, the late musician Gram Parsons, by burning his corpse in Joshua Tree National Park. Parsons' father wants a more conventional funeral, hence the need for the felony. Very Loosely Based on a True Story; the movie adds a bitch-on-wheels ex as the main antagonist, presumabely so the real (step)father who claimed the corpse (who probably has real lawyers) didn't have to be the heavy.
