Overview
On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”.
I think what really makes this movie unique is the way that the story is told. The traditional approach would have been to tell Hart’s whole story in a two hour epic. Instead, we get to hear his story through the man’s own words and from the events of that evening. All of his successes, failures, insecurities and vices are on full display. Of course, none of it works without Hawke’s amazing turn as Hart. If I didn’t know it was him going into the movie, I would have never guessed – he is that good. While I was watching the film, I couldn’t help but think of the abomination that was Bradley Cooper’s attempt to make a movie about Gerschwin. When Cooper did it, it felt like Bradley Cooper playing dressup. When Hawke did it, it was completely and utterly believable.
IHATEBadMovies.com reviews Blue Moon
Movie title: Blue Moon
Movie description: On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”.
Date published: 2025-11-29
Director(s): Richard Linklater
Actor(s): Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Scott, Jonah Lees, Simon Delaney, Patrick Kennedy, Giles Surridge, John Doran, Caitríona Ennis, Ian Dillon, Brian Briggs, Ray Weafer, Cillian Sullivan, David Rawle, Andrew Bennett
Genre: Drama
My Review
I think what really makes this movie unique is the way that the story is told. The traditional approach would have been to tell Hart’s whole story in a two hour epic. Instead, we get to hear his story through the man’s own words and from the events of that evening. All of his successes, failures, insecurities and vices are on full display. Of course, none of it works without Hawke’s amazing turn as Hart. If I didn’t know it was him going into the movie, I would have never guessed – he is that good. While I was watching the film, I couldn’t help but think of the abomination that was Bradley Cooper’s attempt to make a movie about Gerschwin. When Cooper did it, it felt like Bradley Cooper playing dressup. When Hawke did it, it was completely and utterly believable.
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My Review - 8/10
8/10