We wanted the critics to be wrong, trashing this bio-pic of country star Hank Williams. But its timing is all off and its focus on his marriage to a narcissist just brought us down. Tom Hiddleston (last blogged in Only Lovers Left Alive) is a talented actor and here does all his own singing, either live or in a studio beforehand (here's a track). And, despite her skill, there is little chemistry with Elizabeth Olsen (most recently in Kill Your Darlings), even in the early parts when they're supposed to be in love. Bradley Whitford (last in Saving Mr. Banks and seven episodes of Transparent) and Cherry Jones (six episodes of Transparent as well as small parts in The Beaver and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) do their best to redeem this.
It's the sophomore directing effort of Marc Abraham, whose first movie was the excellent Flash of Genius, and his first screenplay, having adapted the book by Colin Escott, George Merritt, and William McEwen.
April Fools on us when we saw this on its opening day three weeks ago. The critics' average has soared to 20% (from 19% at the time) and audiences are at 50 on Rotten Tomatoes. Buyer beware.
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