Review: Country Strong

The opening scene begins with the solo notes of an acoustic guitar and a husky country voice. The band behind the voice joins in as the camera centers on Beau Hutton, a gentle but tough cowboy. He feels every note as he continues to play; the people he plays for dance to his country song. This tender moment is one of many that stayed with me, long after the credits rolled. Moments like this tell the story of Kelly Canter, a washed-up country singer who leaves rehab after her manager/husband, played by Tim McGraw, brings her back into the world of country music with a brand new tour. Hutton, played by Garrett Hedlund, who has come to deeply care about Canter, feels that it is all moving too fast, and for a long while he is right. Along for the ride is Chiles Stanton, a young beauty queen who's soulfulness is seen only by Hutton and eventually Canter. All four begin the tour, with Canter hoping to redefine her life, Hutton just wanting to play music and Stanton wanting to become the next Kelly Canter.

This powerful story of retribution and love is told with emphasis on the human qualities of each character. By the end of the film each of them is cared about for different reasons by the viewer. Though Canter, courageously played by Gwyneth Paltrow, always seems to be screwing up in life because of her drug addictions, the audience knows that she is trying to be strong. That strength finally shows in her very last concert, where Canter faces her true demons and reveals her strength for all to see. Despite a painful turn of events for Canter, her character is portrayed with respect for what she taught others about fame and love. Beau Hutton knows that love cannot survive alongside fame and it is that wise theory that allows him to embody the entire soul of the film. His soul is never totally available to the audience; the viewer must work and learn from everything Hutton sees before knowing what is in his heart. 

Very few films make me feel any differently or help me realize new things about my own life. Canter’s character helped me understand her motivations the most, but it was Hutton’s character that affected me emotionally. Only Hedlund could have made Hutton's lines so influential and effective. For example, at the end of the film, Hutton goes to see Canter before her last show. He does not know it is the last time he will see Canter but simply tells her that love and fame cannot exist together. It’s as if the entire film and all its angst and cruelties have finally come down to the choice of what matters most. Hedlund makes the decision seem both original and extremely clear; that in the end, when our final days are numbered, love is all that matters.

As I wiped away my tears when the theater lights came back on, the only issue I discovered about this film is that it hasn’t received the recognition it deserves. Paltrow’s original treatment of the character alone should be formally acclaimed; but it is Hedlund, as new as he is to fame himself, who should be recognized the most. Never have I seen a character created with such soul resonating to the very outward edges of his acoustic guitar. Never have I seen an actor so connected to a character that he seems to actually live and breathe. Due to Hedlund’s performance, Beau Hutton is entirely made human, from his outwardly tough attitude to his gentle demeanour and heartfelt decisions. The only potential mistake I can see is that Leighton Meester, who plays Chiles Stanton, does not seem to have as adequate a singing voice as Paltrow and Hedlund, although when she sings duets with Hedlund, Meester seems well matched vocally. This adds to the love relationship that develops between Hutton and Stanton and defines how love is the reason Stanton can sing at all.

Whereas most films end with all the characters achieving their hopes and dreams, Country Strong leaves its audience with a very different thought; one that I will always remember. If following your dreams means hurting the most important love you have in your life, it is not worth it. Love is worth making sacrifices for because when all the dreams are over and the fame is completely forgotten, love is the only thing left. For just a few short moments, love will enlighten us to the true reason for being alive.

Nominated for Best Original Song at this year's Academy Awards this is Coming Home sung by Gwyneth Paltrow. It is one of the most beautiful songs on the soundtrack.

Comments

[Moira Farr]

Nice job, Kaitlyn - and I truly appreciated that you braved a public edit! We will look at others' work this way too - it's all just so we can talk about the mechanics of language use, and editing.

Your review makes me want to see this film!