Country Strong: Movie Review

Though many reviews of this film were not favorable, I actually found the film both touching and enjoyable.

From the previews, you can tell that this film centers on country singer Kelly Canter, a former star who spiraled out of control with an alcohol problem and had to enter rehab. Now, Kelly is taking her last shot at stardom as she comes out of rehab for three concerts to redeem herself to fans and critics.

However, the story that you get in the preview actually leaves out a lot of what is really going on in the film. For example, a major focus is on the relationships in the film, mainly the love “square” between Kelly, her husband and manager James Canter, Beau Hutton (Kelly’s “sponsor” in rehab and opening act), and Chiles Stanton (the new country singer that Kelly’s husband has hired as her opening act). Though Kelly is out of rehab, her relationship with her husband is clearly on the rocks. Instead of thinking about what’s best for her, he thinks more as a manager and what’s best for her career and the shows, which is constantly hurting Kelly as she reverts back to alcohol to try to wash away her problems. Beau, on the other hand, is more concerned with Kelly and only agrees to come on tour in the first place to look after her. While Beau and Kelly are having a not very secret romantic relationship, he is also falling for Chiles who is a better match for him as they are both at about the same point in life. Chiles is seemingly drawn to Kelly’s husband, James, though nothing ever happens between them except some very obvious flirting. While Chiles returns Beau’s affections, she is also infatuated with her recent fame. This complex web of feelings really ends up hurting everyone involved in some way by the end of the film. However, it is interesting to watch because I think that most people watching the film can identify with at least one emotion that one or more of these characters is feeling.

The main theme to take away from this film is the desperation that Kelly feels after getting out of rehab. Out of the three concerts that she is supposed to perform, she only ends up doing one because she ends up drunk and unable to go on the stage at the other two. Kelly is struggling with having to face the reality that at her last big concert in Dallas, she got drunk, fell off the stage, and had a miscarriage. This is extremely powerful because it asserts the idea of not being able to stay in one moment forever, no matter how hard you want to.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the film is the singing and music involved. Gwyneth Paltrow, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester all show incredible talent in the songs that they sing, and it seems as though they could really be country music stars. The music is both catchy and heartwarming and speaks to issues that each of the characters are facing. Paltrow embodies a true star at her final concert which turns out to be her last.

(SPOILER ALERT)
If you don’t want a spoiler, then stop reading at this point, but one of the major reasons that I found this film intriguing was its ability to completely shock me at the end. After Kelly’s final performance, it seems as though she may very well have gotten her former life back, but that was not to be. The ending of the film has Kelly mixing pills and alcohol as she overdoses in her dressing room. Beau kicks down the door and rushes in, but as we see her husband and Beau waiting at the hospital, the audience finds out at the same time as James and Beau that he was too late without anyone having to speak a word. After her death, Beau heads off on his own with a suicide letter from Kelly telling him that he truly touched her life and that he should leave the famous life behind because ultimately that’s what destroyed her.

The ending of the film offers a glimmer of hope after the horrible death of the once famous country singer, with Chiles showing up at the bar in which Beau is performing, making us think that maybe they will live happily ever after.

Though this film definitely will not be the best film of the year, I believe it was still well worth seeing.