Film Review - Song Sung Blue

Promotional Image Image Credit: Trinity Arts

“It’s never too late to follow your dreams” is the rallying cry behind the feel-good movie of the year. Full of heart and heartache alike, Song Sung Blue brings audiences together with the power of seminal Americana.

The film follows married Wisconsin couple Mike and Claire Sardina, who decide to form a Neil Diamond tribute band under the stage name "Lightning & Thunder". Bonded together by their adoration of the folk rock music legend, their echoing desire to perform, and the many friends helping them along the way, this pair goes on to imprint an indelible mark on Midwestern music culture.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as Mike and Kate Hudson as Claire. Throughout the film, their electrifying chemistry shines through trial and tribulation as the pair navigate the local music scene. Struggling with audiences that aren't made for their sound and financial obstacles abound, they persist in making the lives they want to live.

Both leads blow the audience away with their sincere portrayals of everyday Americans. The word 'soulmates' comes to mind when you see these two interact onscreen. Hudson’s performance, in particular, is bold and vulnerable, as a woman who, after a tragic accident, loses and rediscovers her passion for music. The tragedies in this movie ripple in waves, being sure to never let the audience feel too relaxed or bored with the couple's success so soon. The film's status as an adaptation of a true story is what adds another layer of humanity to a story that, if completely fictional, could be brushed off as narratively improbable and riddled with sap.

The real Claire Sardina is alive today, and helped behind the scenes to bring the film to life. Her involvement means that the film stays mostly accurate to her experience. Moments that seem to wild to be true, whether it be two cars striking the house or the electrifying concerts, were all part of the wonderous ballad of Lightning & Thunder.

This critic saw the film in a historic Milwaukee cinema. The theatre was packed full with dozens of couples over 65 years-old wanting to share a peaceful Saturday afternoon together watching a tale of love and music. While younger crowds today may not be as familiar with Lightning & Thunder, the city clearly has not lost their love of its locals who became legends.

The film could be called overly-sentimental and cheaply nostalgic, but it's the everyman charm and the glee of Neil Diamond that manage to make a movie with a little something for everyone. While the film contains a large share of despair and tragedy, the film ultimately leaves viewers with a warm hug around their hearts, truly deserving the title, "The feel-good movie of the year."