Post by StevePulaski on Nov 23, 2011 23:23:01 GMT -5
Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong.
Rating: ★★
In one of Country Strong's earliest scenes I heard a familiar tune echo very softly in the air. It was Hank Williams' "Honky Tonk Blues." Clearly writer/director Shana Feste was aware of the legend and had enough knowledge and heart to incorporate him in the movie in some way, but why not try and do something a lot better like make an attempt at a biopic at one of the legends. Like Merle Haggard or Ernest Tubb. Johnny Cash was good enough to get his own film, so why not those other legends?
But I digress, Country Strong is a mediocre effort in the field of storytelling but rises past the level of decent in almost every other field. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Kelly Canter, a country singer who has had one too many alcohol related episodes and is taken out of rehab just a little bit too early by her manipulative and controlling husband James. James is played by the real-life country singer Tim McGraw, and it isn't until the final scene are we incredibly disappointed that Country Strong has such a fine and powerful singer but chooses to make him not sing a note.
I digress once more; Kelly is persuaded by James to do a series of comeback shows with the opening talents of Beau (Hedlund), who is a closer friend of Kelly's than James sees, and Chiles (Meester). The problem is signs of Kelly's alcohol dependence continue to escalate and personal demons like her accidental miscarriage after falling off the concert stage in Dallas, equipped with a 0.19 blood/alcohol level.
Everyone in the film seems so concerned with Kelly's behavior, but no one takes the step to put her back into treatment. As bad and as gloomy as she can be, neither James nor Beau even seem to mention the fact that maybe this tour was a rushed idea at the expense of Kelly. Believability also hides away when Kelly looks toned, tan, and gorgeous when she is supposed to be "a wreck."
Coming from a big fan of country music, I find the score motivational but uninspired and sort of traditonal. Paltrow has an amazing vocal talent, and creates an effervescent presence whenever a mic is in her hand. Keep in mind that when I say I'm a big fan of country music, I mean just that. Not Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, JaneDear Girls type country I'm talking Hank Williams, Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson type country. Paltrow's Kelly actually attempts to bring her music into the light where it's not entirely country but not a lot of pop.
Country Strong desperately wants to work its way into Oscar territory, and it surely had potential. But what really cements this into mediocrity is the script. It hits every cliche loud and proud. The ending is a work of the expected unexpected. You thought about that kind of an ending, believed it would be a little stretched, and it nonetheless happened but your emotions aren't very effected.
I think the main problem is the hokey character development as well - another problem that stems from the script. It depicts every cliche, and seems more concerned with plot points than characters. The Kelly character is charming, but I find it hard to side with a character and feel sympathy for one who can barely control herself and because of her own selfish and immature actions killed her unborn child. It's just a rather sketchy setup that makes it hard to like the main character. The supporting cast of McGraw, Hedlund, and Meester is great, but the contrived relationship that soon forms between the two young ones is a bit too farfetched.
What it boils down to is that Country Strong is a mixed bag filled with cliches, yet strong performances. It doesn't work its way up to the emotional side of the audience. A goal of that should be on the top of this genre's list. And it doesn't do a strong job at keeping an original, believable setup. If anything, the soundtrack is worth a look more than the film. It's significantly shorter, and cuts out all the clutter between them.
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester. Directed by: Shana Feste.