Country Strong
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Country Strong |
| Original title | Country Strong |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2010 |
| length | 117 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Shana festivals |
| script | Shana festivals |
| production |
Tobey Maguire Jenno Topping |
| music | Michael Brook |
| camera | John Bailey |
| cut |
Carol Littleton Conor O'Neill |
| occupation | |
| |
Country Strong is a relationship drama set in the country music milieu from 2010. The film started in Germany on June 9, 2011.
action
The somewhat older country singer and multiple Grammy winner Kelly Canter is due to their alcohol problems in a rehab clinic . During a performance in Dallas , she had a serious fall from the stage due to drunkenness that resulted in the loss of her baby in the fifth month of pregnancy . In this clinic, she meets the unknown but talented country singer Beau Hutton, who works as a nurse there, and begins an affair with him.
Her husband James wants to get her out of rehab earlier than planned in order to start a three-city tour of Texas with her. Initially two smaller concerts are planned in Houston and Austin and then another big TV show in Dallas . All concerts are already sold out. Beau, whom Kelly James pretends to be a carer, expresses his concerns, but then has to let them go.
For the tour, James plans to support the beauty queen Miss Dallas , country singer and songwriter Chiles Stanton. Kelly likes it less because she is afraid that she could be replaced by a younger one. She would rather that Beau do her opening act. James admits that if Chiles turns out to be unsuitable, he will consider alternatives.
When James wants to use a gig by Chiles to get an opinion about the skills of the young girl, she has to start over several times because of nervousness and hardly gets a sound out. Beau, who is also performing with the title Hard Out Here that evening and who thinks Chiles is more of a country barbie , rushes to help her in this situation and starts the song Friends in Low Places , which Chiles had hummed in the cloakroom. She first sings along with the chorus and then takes over, the audience is thrilled. After the performance, James asked Beau whether he would be willing to go on tour with us and sing a song with Chiles there. Beau refuses this offer, because his appearances in small bars are enough for him. Eventually, however, James asks him to take care of Kelly with him during the tour. Beau can't refuse him. Meanwhile, Chiles sings her self-written song Summer Girl . This is also well received by the audience.
At a meal with James, Kelly suggests ending her concerts with the song Coming Home and releasing it as the next single. She asks James to clarify this idea with the songwriter.
Prior to the tour's first appearance, Kelly asked Beau to only sleep with her during the tour. She receives letters and packages from her fans. The last package, which she opened shortly before the performance, contained a blood-smeared baby doll and a piece of paper that said Baby Killer . Kelly then has a nervous breakdown and locks herself in her closet with a bottle of vodka. At this point, Beau is on stage with Chances Are , so he cannot prevent this incident. At James' request, Kelly pulls herself together and goes on stage, but instead of singing, she begins to tell stories. The psyche, psychotropic drugs and alcohol take their toll. She has to stop the song A Fighter immediately, James finally leads her off the stage without her singing any more. This incident is portrayed to the press and public as food poisoning and Kelly is ready to play the second appearance of the tour, then create a new positive memory on the third appearance in Dallas.
Beau spends the day with Kelly and decides to end her relationship with her. He knows that he cannot help Kelly and that she still has feelings towards James. Beau now also spends more time with Chiles and she offers him to finish writing his current song. The two drink, goofy, and get closer until James knocks to inform Chiles of their positive reviews. Beau withdraws, hurt.
The next morning, Chiles gives him the finished lyrics. But the offended and slightly jealous beau makes fun of Chiles, but regrets it shortly afterwards when he notices the depth of Chile's lyrics.
When Kelly takes Beau into the recording studio, she has to watch Chiles record the song Coming Home and has another nervous breakdown. James manages to calm her down. In the following conversation between James and Beau, Beau admits what both of them have long known that he was never Kelly's supervisor. James slaps him in the face for this.
Before her second tour concert, Kelly gets drunk in a bar and is found by Beau shortly afterwards. With the help of Chiles, he brings Kelly to the concert, but she is no longer able to play. Her agent JJ declares Kelly done and wants to cancel the tour completely.
In the evening, when only the opening act takes place, Beau Chiles surprisingly brings Chiles up on stage to sing the new song with her. Chiles is very scared at first and doesn't want to. But then they harmonize perfectly, and the love song Give In to Me brings them closer together.
Later that night, drunk Kelly is making out with JJ on the tour bus, and he has his mind changed about her last gig in Dallas . Beau catches the two, drives JJ away and blames Kelly. When she tries to grab the bottle, Beau throws it against the wall and Kelly breaks down crying.
The following night Chiles knocks on Beau's hotel door, but is too shy to show him her feelings. He has also fallen in love with her and takes the first step. They both start kissing and spend the night together. The morning after, Chiles Beau admits that she never won the Miss Dallas title, and wins even more sympathy. The two start a relationship.
As part of a PR campaign, Kelly makes a little boy suffering from leukemia happy by singing a song for him and dancing with him. This experience brings her back into balance so that she finds the strength for the next concert in Dallas .
Before the highlight of the tour, the concert in Dallas , Beau Chiles makes Chiles a treat by giving her earrings. These earrings were her childhood dream, as she mentioned to Kelly. However, Beau then reveals that he will move to California after the last concert to live and work on a farm there. He asks her to come with him. Chiles doesn't know how to decide as she is still at the beginning of her career. Beau suggests that she perform with him in smaller clubs and write challenging songs. Because he doesn't want her to be “burned out” as a country pop star. Chiles agrees out of love, but asks for some time to think about it. Beau gives her the time, but fears that she will choose the career.
At the beginning of the concert, Beau and Chiles appear. Before her big show, Kelly turns to Chiles and gives her good advice for her future as a country singer that love should always come first. Then she thanks Beau for the song he dedicated to her. Beau thinks Kelly is perfectly fine, but that fame and love can't exist in the same place .
Then the sober Kelly finally plays an excellent final concert in top form. Your fans and the media are thrilled. She ends it with an impressive interpretation of the song Coming Home . When the concert is over, Kelly goes to her dressing room and locks herself in. Everyone else is at the after-show party. James and JJ talk about further appearances, only Beau worries about Kelly. He goes to her locked cloakroom. When Kelly does not open after several requests, Beau kicks in the door and finds Kelly motionless. She has taken an overdose of medication and is admitted to hospital, where she dies. She leaves a letter for Beau in which she reminds him of his words that love and success cannot live in the same place and advises him to choose love. After Kelly's funeral, Beau moves to California.
Beau later sits in a California bar and plays his songs for the guests. Chiles enters the door unexpectedly. Without make-up, in a summer dress, and compared to before like a completely natural young woman. She is wearing the earrings he gave her. Beau is very touched. Again he brings her onto the stage and they both sing Give In to Me .
Reviews
“Despite obvious script weaknesses, the actors manage to embody their characters in a believable way. Together with first-class country music and the rousing, heartfelt acting and musical performance, it is this vulnerability of the protagonists that makes "Country Strong" well worth seeing. "
“The relationship square of Kelly, her husband, her lover and her rival (both professionally and privately) may be too many twists and turns, but the excellent acting of the ensemble easily makes up for it. Always a strong piece of country entertainment. "
“Country Strong has turned out to be a cumbersome drama at times, but thanks to a fantastic leading actress and a brave ending it doesn't go under completely. Nevertheless, the film, co-produced by Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man), cannot convince in terms of story and staging away from the big stage and only ends up in the midfield. For country fans, Country Strong is perhaps worth a look thanks to its many pieces of music. "
With Metacritic, the film achieved a Metascore of 45%. Of the film reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 22% are positive (as of December 2011).
background
The film grossed $ 20.2 million at the American box office. In the rest of the world, the film grossed just another $ 0.3 million. Production costs were approximately $ 15 million.
Leading actors Gwyneth Paltrow , Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester each sang several songs in the film themselves. The American country singer Tim McGraw, however, has no vocal appearance in the film, but was involved as a singer in individual songs.
Soundtrack
Some songs that the main characters recorded for the film are also featured on the soundtrack. The soundtrack for the film was released on June 3, 2013 by Sony Music.
- Country Strong - ( Gwyneth Paltrow )
- Love Don't Let Me Down - ( Chris Young )
- A Little Bit Stronger - ( Sara Evans )
- Chances Are - ( Garrett Hedlund )
- Liars Lie - ( Lee Ann Womack )
- She's Actin 'Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles) - (Ronnie Dunn)
- Shake That Thing - ( Gwyneth Paltrow )
- Thirsty - ( Hank Williams Jr. )
- Give In to Me - ( Faith Hill )
- Timing Is Everything - ( Trace Adkins )
- Words I Couldn't Say - ( Leighton Meester )
- Coming Home - ( Gwyneth Paltrow )
- Me and Tennessee - ( Tim McGraw )
Awards
At the 2011 Academy Awards , Tom Douglas , Hillary Lindsey and Troy Verges were nominated for the song Coming Home in the Best Song category.
Individual evidence
- ^ Review of Country Strong at CountryMusicNews.de
- ↑ Review of Country Strong at kino.de.
- ↑ Review of Country Strong at moviejones.de
- ↑ Country Strong at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
- ↑ http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=countrystrong.htm