Sweet Dreams (B or 3/4 stars)
'Sweet Dreams' (directed by Karel Reisz, Isadora, French Lieutenant's Woman) is a biopic which examines the short life & career of Patsy Cline; with a focus on her troubled marriage to 2nd husband, Charlie Dick. Early in the film, we see that Cline (Jessica Lange) is unhappy in her 1st marriage & playing small-time gigs in West Virginia. It is there - in a local club - where she meets Charlie (Ed Harris), a charming, cocky, & self-confident factory worker who is mesmerized by her singing. They fall in love. And by 1958, she goes on tour, walks out on her husband to marry Charlie, & temporarily gives up music to focus on raising their children.
But after Charlie goes into the Army, and after she recovers from a serious car accident in 1961, Patsy starts singing again, & joins forces with a new manager (who tells her, "You've got a voice that was made to sing love songs"). Cline performs at the Grand Ole Opry, commences a grueling tour, & becomes a huge rising star on the country music scene. However, Cline's success fuels her self-confidence. And this annoys Charlie, big time. He becomes an alcoholic, starts cheating on her, gets jealous of her success, & even abuses her (physically & emotionally) as she attempts to assert her independence. Tragically, upon returning from a concert in Kansas City, her demise would come with an ill-fated flight home.
Patsy Cline was one of the 1st great female country music stars, & her best-known hits (Sweet Dreams, Walking after Midnight, etc.) not only expanded the audience for country but also brought a sophistication to the Nashville sound. This is a satisfying movie. I'm not jumping through hoops over it. But I feel like it did a good job dramatizing Cline's somewhat content, somewhat volatile life en route to her untimely death. As Cline, Jessica Lange brings a real exuberance to the role. For as lovely and as beloved as Cline was, she also had a demonstrative side. Lange plays Cline with passion, a friskiness, & great moments of subtle intrigue. Ed Harris is also excellent as Charlie Dick. His Charlie is loving, yet menacing; and is well-matched with the similarly combustible Cline.
It seems like, although Charlie Dick loved Patsy, that he couldn't handle such a strong woman; a woman of great vibrancy & ambition. I also liked the supporting turns; most notably, Ann Wedgeworth's, as Patsy Cline's saintly mother. So yeah, decent movie. I was interested in how the dramatizations unfolded. The film looks good (photography, costumes). Lange lip-synchs to Cline's smooth recordings extremely well. My only major issue is that it's a small film that doesn't seem to fully believe the "true" story it's telling. We know the facts of Cline's life. But we'll never really know what went on behind closed doors, will we?
But after Charlie goes into the Army, and after she recovers from a serious car accident in 1961, Patsy starts singing again, & joins forces with a new manager (who tells her, "You've got a voice that was made to sing love songs"). Cline performs at the Grand Ole Opry, commences a grueling tour, & becomes a huge rising star on the country music scene. However, Cline's success fuels her self-confidence. And this annoys Charlie, big time. He becomes an alcoholic, starts cheating on her, gets jealous of her success, & even abuses her (physically & emotionally) as she attempts to assert her independence. Tragically, upon returning from a concert in Kansas City, her demise would come with an ill-fated flight home.
Patsy Cline was one of the 1st great female country music stars, & her best-known hits (Sweet Dreams, Walking after Midnight, etc.) not only expanded the audience for country but also brought a sophistication to the Nashville sound. This is a satisfying movie. I'm not jumping through hoops over it. But I feel like it did a good job dramatizing Cline's somewhat content, somewhat volatile life en route to her untimely death. As Cline, Jessica Lange brings a real exuberance to the role. For as lovely and as beloved as Cline was, she also had a demonstrative side. Lange plays Cline with passion, a friskiness, & great moments of subtle intrigue. Ed Harris is also excellent as Charlie Dick. His Charlie is loving, yet menacing; and is well-matched with the similarly combustible Cline.
It seems like, although Charlie Dick loved Patsy, that he couldn't handle such a strong woman; a woman of great vibrancy & ambition. I also liked the supporting turns; most notably, Ann Wedgeworth's, as Patsy Cline's saintly mother. So yeah, decent movie. I was interested in how the dramatizations unfolded. The film looks good (photography, costumes). Lange lip-synchs to Cline's smooth recordings extremely well. My only major issue is that it's a small film that doesn't seem to fully believe the "true" story it's telling. We know the facts of Cline's life. But we'll never really know what went on behind closed doors, will we?