Country Strong

After this movie, I kinda wanna move to Texas. The movie kinda soaks you up in the country atmosphere. Now, I'm suburban guy who's more closer to city life then the country life. So one would normally think there probably be a lot I couldn't relate to in this movie. But whether you like country music or not, the story itself is original and entertaining.

Story:

The movie is about a small time country band singer named Beau (Garrett Hedlund), who helps country superstar Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow), fight her addiction to alcohol via the rehab clinic Beau works at. Kelly is married to her manager James Canter(Tim McGraw) who decides that she's spent enough time in rehab and that it's time to get her singing career back on track. Before she finishes her treatment. Being a really talented singer, Kelly wants to bring Beau on tour with her. James doesn't even think about it and doesn't want him to, probably because of how close he is to his wife. He tells her he's heard of a girl, and that he's going to go see her  tonight. 

That night at the bar, the headlining act is Chiles Stanton(Leighton Meester) an inexperienced, country pop singer who froze on stage at her first performance not too long ago. Beau is told he is to open for her, which is an insult due to his performance and experience versus hers. The show goes on and Beau gets the crowd roarin' and they love him. At the end of his last song Mr. Canter arrives to hear Chiles'. When it's Chiles' turn, she has to stop the song three times due to her missing her cue. As painful as it was to watch, Beau decides to help her out. He grabs his guitar, starts singing and the band plays along. When he gets the crowd warmed up,  he cues Chiles and get's her singing. Then she continues to go on. 

After the show, Mr. Canter approaches Beau, tells him if he thought about doing a duet with Chiles. Beau considers the idea crazy, that he barely knows her. Would like even less singing with her. Mr. Canter offers him to go on tour, and after a little heated discussion, Beau goes along. But with Kelly out of rehab too early, the problems haven't even started yet, and they become colossal. 

Review:

What I like about this movie is it makes you think of how we treat celebrities. It shows how much pressure and stress can be put on them by their managers, the venues, the press, and especially the fans. How cruel people can be to them, because of their popularity. How when we make a mistake, the amount of people to know about it, would be equal to a village. With them, the entire country/world knows. It makes all the alcohol and drugs their consuming make sense. 

There was this one thing I found especially true in this movie. They talk of how one cannot have a normal relationship in the entertainment industry. That love and fame, cannot coexist in the same place. The more I think, the more I see it. To have your every move judged by the public, to never be home, the elements to have a relationship don't fit with the job. 

Cast:

I think Garrett Hedlund did a really good job in this movie. When i saw him in Tron, he was okay, but others kinda took all the attention in that one. Now Garrett, I really like him, because he played that good guy. He has this really deep voice which makes his character more believable and fits with the country singer image. 

I haven't seen a lot of movies with Gwyneth Paltrow, just Iron Man. But I really like her in this movie. She definitely knows how to cry. Hit that one on the nail.  

Tim McGraw, it was hard for me to watch him play a jerk. When i saw him in "The Blind Side", he was this good guy, but that fact he can do so well at it is amazing. But i imagine his music career would've helped strongly for this part. 'Just think of the worst manager you've ever had/met'

I'm excited to finally see Leighton Meester in something that isn't 'Gossip Girl'! Because I think Gossip Girl is really boring! Personal opinions aside, the characters in this movie are all basically the stereotypes of the country music industry, Leighton is the 'up and coming' superstar. I didn't necessarily like the character at the beginning, but I love the way she played the character. Innocent, naive, and talented. Done, done, and done. 

I really liked this one and I would see it again. It doesn't matter who'd you take to this movie. But I don't see how little kids who don't like country music would like it. For the adults, if your not into country music, the drama itself will keep you entertained. 

(One note about the trailer, it shows a scene where Beau was talking to whom I assume is his mother. That scene wasn't in the movie. haha.)