Review of film "COUNTRY STRONG" about country singers & their problems

Review of film:  “COUNTRY STRONG”

A lot of country music is rooted on the trials & tribulations people go thru in life, which provides a goldmine of subjects for the songs sung by the stars in that realm…

…  In this movie, Kelly Canter (GWYNETH PALTROW) is one of the leading lights of country music --  whose glow has “dimmed” due to personal problems which have put her in REHAB for alcohol treatment…

…  Visiting her in rehab is a fan in his mid-twenties named Beau Hutton (GARRETT HEDLUND). He is a scruffy songwriter – musician who seems to sincerely respect her work, & also CARES about her as a person.  They share some music together in her room, which is soon visited by her husband James (TIM McGRAW)…

…  Tim is also Gwyneth’s manager, & he is somewhat leery at having Garrett in her room, concerned there may be something “romantic” going on between them-- although he’s told that Garrett is a “sponsor” in rehab…

…  Tim wants her REMOVED from rehab so she can go back on the road & earn them some more money.  Garrett makes clear he feels she’s NOT READY for release from rehab, but Tim doesn’t care…

…  On a personal level, Tim acts very “distant” from Gwyneth emotionally, clearly hung-up on some things that happened in the past (when she was pregnant, etc.)…  She wants Garrett to perform in her new shows, but Tim prefers using a pretty young Loretta Lynn-looking singer named Chiles Stanton (LEIGHTON MEESTER --  who plays Blake Waldorf in “Gossip Girl” on TV)…     

…  Garrett knows Leighton superficially, & correctly predicts she’s likely to “freeze-up” at a local show that Tim attends.  But, tho Garrett is not very impressed with Leighton’s talent, he joins her on stage to HELP her when she has problems in performing…  That helps convince Tim it’d be safest to take them BOTH on a Texas tour with Gwyneth…

…  As time goes on, it’s clear that Gwyneth & Garrett have a “romantic” thing going on.  In many ways, it seems Tim doesn’t care--  as long as the money-earning tour is successful…  Gwyneth comments to someone that Garrett seems one of those rare men who’s a really GOOD & tender person… 

…  Garrett claims that he’s more interested in performing MUSIC for appreciative audiences (no matter how large) than striving for fame & fortune.  Since he keeps becoming more POPULAR on Gwyneth’s comeback Tour, is that stance likely to stay true?... 

…  Are we “crazy” after all these years-- or does Garrett actually seem to be growing increasingly enamored with Leighton & her abilities?  (And, if that’s accurate, what will “HAPPEN” from that?...  Will he CONTINUE to be an apparently “decent” & sincere person?...)…

…  But, the “main” question is, is Gwyneth really “DONE” with rehab, or is she likely to RELAPSE once she returns to being onstage?...  And, if she has problems, who’s likely to be really SUPPORTIVE of her?... 

…  Yes, there’s a good deal of MUSIC in this film— actually sung (& WELL-done) by Gwyneth, Garrett [who had a guitar coach for his role] & Leighton... 

…  But, mostly, the film is a DRAMA--  &, while some might think of it as a “potboiler” with clichés, it actually comes across as BELIEVABLE in the Country – Western genre, thanks to impressively sensitive performances by the main stars…

…  Because of the unusually good work (particularly by Gwyneth, who has many “downs & ups” during her role) & the unexpected elements of kindliness in a number of incidents, I’m rating this at 8.0 out of 10 stars…

[…  Some “asides”:  Garrett can also currently be seen as Jeff Bridges’ son in “TRON: LEGACY”.  There is such a contrast between his role in that & this movie, I wondered if his very “messy” look here was somehow “related” to a past quote from him wherein he said, “I've been told I'm too good looking for certain roles, but that's okay, it just motivates me to go deeper.”…

[…  ACTING-wise, he goes considerably “deeper” here…  And, I’ve since read that his appearance in “COUNTRY STRONG” was purposely based on that of an actual singer-songwriter from Texas named Hayes Carll… 

[…  Another possibly interesting “tidbit” is the fact that Garrett has stated he’d long been a fan of Tim McGraw, & was thus thrilled to have him play his father Charles Billingsley in the 2004 film “FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS”… 

[ …  Will Gwyneth remain a country SINGER?...  She can & may DO it--  but I think she’ll mainly concentrate on her ACTING as an entertainer…  ]