Song Sung Blue, rated PG-13
***
Song Sung Blue is the true story of Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee based husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act in the 1990’s. It was an enjoyable film, though much heavier than I had expected.
The film was directed by Craig Brewer, and was written by Brewer, based on Greg Kohs’s 2008 documentary Song Sung Blue.
The film begins at the Wisconsin State Fair with a Legends show. Claire Stingl, a divorced mom of two, played by Oscar nominee Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), is portraying Patsy Cline. Mike Sardina, played by Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables), is a Vietnam veteran, mechanic, and alcoholic who has been clean for twenty years and attends AA meetings. He is divorced and the father of a teenage daughter. When Mike, who prefers to portray Elvis, is asked to fill in as Don Ho, he refuses to do so, and quits the show. But he is soon taken by Claire’s performance as Patsy Cline.
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We see Mike and Claire merge their musical talents together as Lightening – Mike on guitar and vocals, and Thunder with Claire on keyboards and vocals, a Neil Diamond Experience, a tribute band. They are joined by horn players from a band Mike was a part of, and by Mark on guitar, played by Emmy winner Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), who had been impersonating Buddy Holly in the Legends show. They are helped by promoter Tom, played by Emmy nominee Jim Belushi (Saturday Night Live), and Mike’s agent and dentist, Oscar winner Dr. Dave, played by Fisher Stevens (The Cove).
VMike and Claire’s relationship soon grows, and they get married and begin life with their new family which includes two teenage daughters; Rachel, played by Ella Anderson, Angelina, played by King Princess, and young son, Dana, played by Hudson Hensley.
Lightening and Thunder’s popularity grows in Milwaukee and they are even asked to open a show for Pearl Jam, with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder singing with them on the opening song.
Throughout the film, we see Mike experiencing chest pains and perhaps heart attacks. Things significantly change in their lives when Claire is badly hurt when a car straightens a curve in front of their home while she is working in the yard.
The song features themes of love, family, music, addiction, and tragedy. There is some adult language and a brief scene of sexuality (no nudity).
Jackman and Hudson are good in their roles, with Hudson earning a Golden Globes nomination for “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy”. The supporting cast is solid. The Neil Diamond songs were performed well, as Lightening and Thunder brought energy and enthusiasm to them.
Here is a link to the documentary site.
