Song Sung Blue (Movie Review)

 

Song Sung Blue (Movie Review)

Directed and Written by Craig Brewer

Mike "Lightning" (Hugh Jackman) and Claire "Thunder" (Kate Hudson) are two middle aged over the hill cover song performers ready for a change, sick and tired of playing low dive clubs and fairs. On their own, they would probably live out the rest of their lives doing the same songs over and over again. But once they meet, sparks happen, both romantically and creatively. She suggests that Mike start singing Neil Diamond songs with her singing harmonies. But they want to go further than just singing the notes and wearing the outfits. They want to make it an "Experience" for the audience. What ensues is a roller coaster of events that take them to the pinnacle of success in their field to the lowest lows of failure. And then it begins again. Like life. 

I have to say I was aware of this film coming out but my depth of knowledge about what it was about was just the movie poster. I'm like oh is this some kind of biopic of Johnny Cash and June Carter or a Star is Born type story. There was zero chance of me seeing it but it happened to be the Cinemark Secret Movie screening last Monday. Jackman and Hudson did like a 25 second intro before the movie started so I knew what I was in for. But I went into it with a open mind and ended up enjoying it. 

First of all do not go see this movie if you hate Neil Diamond. Because you are going to hear a lot of his songs. As for me, Diamond was always more of an artist my parents liked. I just basically know the hits and enjoy them if they play on the radio but I never bought one of his albums. So it was cool to hear music of his that I had never heard before in this film. It made me go out and get the Essentials cd of his work. 

Hugh Jackman I like but he's not one of my favorite actors, but he's great in this movie. I assume he did his own singing as well, and it was spot on. Just like the real singers, he was more concentrated on the spirit of Neil Diamond's singing which actually made the songs more authentic than just straight up mimicking.  

Honestly, I did not even know that was Kate Hudson as Thunder until the movie credits rolled at the end. That's how clueless I was about the movie going in. She also did a great job acting and singing. Both actors had to do the full range of human emotions, almost like a mini Hamlet performance. They had to cry in depression and laugh in the highest exuberance and everything in between. 

It was also nice to see Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi in supporting roles. 

I had never heard of the real Thunder and Lightning documentary that this movie was based on or even the original performers back in the day. The original doc can be viewed for free on Youtube. 

The cool thing about Cinemark Secret Movies is you get to see a movie before its release for like $5 and a lot of times it will be a movie you would have never went to but end up enjoying. The worst I have done was see an "OK" movie. I haven't experienced anything truly awful.  Check your local listings. 

My Grade: B