SONG SUNG BLUE

Director: Craig Brewer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, Jim Belushi, Michael Imperioli, Hudson, Hensley, King Princess, Fisher Stevens

The new movie Song Sung Blue may feature the great Neil Diamond songbook, but you don’t have to be a fan to appreciate the true love story featured at the center of this film. Hugh Jackman’s character, Mike, is celebrating twenty years of sobriety. At his AA meeting, he does his annual tradition of pulling out his guitar and singing a Neil Diamond classic. He loves to sing songs people love to hear and the songs that he needs to keep going. He’s always cherished Diamond’s music as it got him through hard times and rock bottom. He meets Kate Hudson’s character, Claire, at an impersonator’s concert. She’s performing as Patsy Cline, and she sees potential in Mike and suggests he do Neil Diamond music. They strike up a friendship that night as they both share a love of performing. Claire is a hairdresser and admits that she would love to perform fulltime. Mike isn’t interested in being a Neil Diamon impersonator but rather a Neil Diamon interpreter. The two of them gather around the piano, with him on guitar, as she plunks out the melodies on the piano, as they practice a few Diamond hits. This leads to their new venture: a Neil Diamond tribute band called “Lightning and Thunder: A Neil Diamond Experience.” In theaters

Here’s my review