While waiting for the next season of Running Point, I was curious why Kate Hudson’s movie Song Sung Blue became an award show contender. Why was Kate Hudson nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars and Golden Globes? Why did she need to gain weight for the role and why is that the second most asked question on Google? I can’t speak for our weight-obsessed society, but I will say this true story is worth the hype.
This love story follows Mike and Claire Sardina, the real-life couple behind a Neil Diamond tribute band. The movie reveals what happened to their blended family offstage as the musical duo known as Lightning and Thunder built their career.
The script is most impactful when their personal struggles unfold as a surprise. Cinematically, there’s a smart repetition of Mike and Claire sharing monologues before their audience is slowly, dramatically revealed.
It’s a very layered story because their marriage, music career and mental health are deeply intertwined. They struggle with stubbornly hiding or ignoring health issues because they try to protect their family instead of asking for help. The filmmakers commendably handle that delicately. Song Sung Blue respects the authority of medical doctors and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while celebrating how music offers catharsis.
Song Sung Blue is not a giddy sing-along kind of movie. It’s a mix of unexpected triumphs and tragedies. As Claire recovers from a tragedy, she tells Mike, “I want these boxes filled up again,” referring to their calendar. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple because comebacks aren’t always permanent.
The family’s hardships strike an emotional note as you invest in the supporting cast. For example, Claire’s daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson) definitely has Mae Whitman energy. She’d be a great replacement for Kaitlin Olson’s daughter in ABC’s High Potential series.
The ensemble supporting their rise to fame includes lovable stars like Jim Belushi (According To Jim), Fisher Stevens (Succession) and Michael Imperioli (The White Lotus). I avoid Thai food due to my peanut allergy, but Mike develops a sweet relationship with the owners of a Thai restaurant as they bond over grief and grooves.
Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman certainly earned their flowers for their performances in Song Sung Blue. Coincidentally, I found a Neil Diamond cassette in storage just as my *movie mail* arrived. His music really is nostalgic with enviable staying power.
Disclosure: I received a Blu-ray copy for review. Thanks, Universal Pictures!
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