Song Sung Blue — Review
Source: Focus Features
Every year, it feels as though we’re bombarded with a never-ending onslaught of formulaic musical biopics, ones that hit every beat that Jake Kasdan’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story brilliantly skewered years ago. The formula has grown stale, and audience enjoyment of those films largely hinges on how much they care about the artist they depict, but it’s not as simple as someone being a Bruce Springsteen fan and automatically adoring Scott Cooper’s Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. It works both ways. For example, my love of Queen’s music intensified my hatred for Bohemian Rhapsody, while my appreciation for Bob Dylan’s work made A Complete Unknown feel more gratifying than it probably should have been. With that said, I walked into Craig Brewer’s Song Sung Blue with a completely open mind because I’m indifferent toward Neil Diamond’s music. All I could hope for was that this wouldn’t be another dull, by-the-numbers musical biopic. What I got instead was an oddly charming, riveting, and refreshingly unpredictable film.
Instead of telling the story of Neil Diamond himself, Brewer’s film focuses on a Neil Diamond cover band, a husband-and-wife act known as Lightning & Thunder, based on the 2008 documentary of the same name. The premise alone instantly sets the film apart from the barrage of somber musical biopics. This isn’t another trite story tracing a tortured artist’s traumatic childhood through their rise to superstardom. Rather, it’s a romantic story about two passionate musicians who come together to do what they love, try to bring people joy, and hopefully earn enough to pay their mortgage in the process.
Brewer leans into the eccentricity of Mike and Claire Sardina’s love story, and it’s a welcome change of pace to see a musical biopic that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The film begins with a close-up of Mike (Hugh Jackman) strumming his guitar and discussing his music, only to zoom out and reveal he’s at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and has been sober for twenty years. This opening scene perfectly establishes the film’s tone: playful but unafraid to delve into darker, more serious topics.
Source: Focus Features
Mike meets Claire, played by Kate Hudson, at a local show where acts impersonate musical legends. Claire takes the stage as Patsy Cline, Mark (Michael Imperioli) is Buddy Holly, and Sex Machine (Mustafa Shakir) steals the spotlight as James Brown. At a time when many musical biopics feel like showcases for actors to mimic iconic musicians in hopes of scoring that coveted Oscar, it is almost ironic that a film about professional impersonators feels more authentic than most of them. It also gives the actors the freedom to have fun, making the movie more enjoyable for the audience as well.
The film’s first act is romantic and charming, a total crowdpleaser. Its carefree, lively tone as it depicts this ragtag team of misfits coming together to form a Neil Diamond tribute band is utterly delightful, evoking films like John Carney’s Sing Street or Shinobu Yaguchi’s Swing Girls. But the movie quickly makes a painfully sharp turn and heads in unexpected directions, at least for anyone who isn’t already familiar with Mike and Claire Sardina’s story. Eventually, the film feels more akin to something like Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born in its exploration of romance, music, conflict, and tragedy.
However, chronicling the extreme highs and lows that Mike and Claire experienced results in a film with jarring tonal shifts. While many moviegoers might find the tonal whiplash to be incredibly off-putting, it’s precisely what I loved about Song Sung Blue. After so many predictable musical biopics, it feels like a breath of fresh air to see one that has the ability to astonish audiences. I can’t remember the last time a musical biopic made my jaw drop, and Song Sung Blue did it more than once. The film may be uneven or messy, but at least it’s never dull.
Souce: Focus Features
Kate Hudson lights up the stage—and the screen—in what is arguably her best performance since Almost Famous. The story’s tonal shifts give her the space to demonstrate her acting range, allowing her to be both funny and endearing one minute and frustrating or distressing the next. The same could be said for Hugh Jackman; he’s a charismatic lead who brings humor and wit, as well as moments of heartbreak and palpable sadness. Ella Anderson, who plays Claire’s daughter from her first marriage, Rachel, is the standout. She’s caught in the middle of Mike and Claire’s success as well as their turmoil, and embodies the angst of being a teenage girl while simultaneously conveying the wisdom and understanding of someone who had to grow up a little too fast. King Princess as Mike’s daughter Angelina, and Hudson Hensley as Claire’s son Dana are fantastic as well. The screenplay as well as the performances give the children plenty of depth, making them feel like real people dealing with their own struggles instead of mere plot devices or accessories to highlight their parents’ circumstances. The nuances make this family feel distinct and authentic, despite the unbelievable nature of their experiences.
The cinematography by Amy Vincent and editing by Billy Fox are straightforward and functional, which works in the film’s favor. With all the flashy songs, hair, and costumes, anything showier might have been too much. The score by Scott Bomar, who previously collaborated with Brewer on Dolemite Is My Name, helps soften the tonal shifts, hinting at the emotional direction the film is about to go in just before the surprises arise.
Throughout the film, Mike repeatedly voices his frustration that all anyone wants to hear is “Sweet Caroline” because there’s so much more to Neil Diamond as a musician. This fixation on “Sweet Caroline” is fitting because the way people feel about that song mirrors how they’ll feel about this film. Some people find “Sweet Caroline” to be cheesy and annoying, while others have a blast when it comes on, dancing and singing along. Similarly, Song Sung Blue may be too corny or grating for some viewers, while others will revel in its infectious, exciting, and tumultuous energy.
After years of drab musical biopics that hit all the derivative beats or fall into the trappings of the same formula even when they’re trying desperately to subvert it, it’s invigorating to see one that dares to sing slightly off-key, that’s capable of shocking viewers even if the tonal swings can feel a bit disorienting or chaotic. Song Sung Blue is a sweet, romantic, and surprising film that’s full of heart. It’s a bit of an emotional and tonal rollercoaster, but overall, it’s an exhilarating and entertaining ride.
