The lives of popular singers are often wrought with a great deal of pain and misfortune; which often leads to their ability to write excellent, and heartfelt, songs, and more often than not leads to excesses in alcohol and drugs; inevitably affecting the quality of their work and personal lives, but making for some great movies; with the latest film hoping to capitalize on telling the tale of a down-and-out singer, being Country Strong.
Country Strong tells the tale of a once loved country star named Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man), who has fallen from grace, gotten arrested, and landed herself in rehab (thanks to an out of control addiction to booze); from which she emerges, and quickly embarks on a comeback tour to resurrect her career.
Kelly’s manager/husband Ed (played by country legend Tim McGaw) joins her on the tour, as well as a rising singer/songwriter named Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund, Tron: Legacy), and a beauty-queen-turned-singer named Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester, Date Night); who Kelly instantly feels threatened by (due to her looks, youth, and talent).
Further problems arise when songs get moved from one performer to another, Kelly’s addictions begin to rear their head once again; threatening not only her health, but the tour; and romantic inclinations begin to complicate things in ways none of them imagined at the beginning of the tour.
Just like in Crazy Heart (a film with which Country Strong draws a number of obvious parallels), Country Strong features performances from not only professional singers (such as Meester), but also the films stars; Gwyneth Paltrow, and Garrett Hedlund (who are actors by trade).
The Shana Feste (The Greatest) directed movie (which was shot in Nashville Tennessee; a well known beacon fro country music) is set to receive a limited release in the U.S. on December 22nd, before gaining a nationwide release on January 7th (2011), and crossing the pond for a U.K. release on March 4th, 2011.
