Country Strong, written and directed by Shana Feste - 8.4 out of 10

Country Strong, written and directed by Shana Feste
8.4 out of 10


Critics disagree over the merits and/or flaws of this motion picture.
Overall, the average score is not favorable, as it stands at 45 out of 100.

The nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe are for the Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song.
Indeed, music is at the center of the feature.

Albeit, if you are not a fan of country music, you must be aware that this is...

Country Strong

And if we ad to this the association that we could make between country music and Trump land, liberal viewers, such as the undersigned, would be skeptical from the start.
Yet, the film has some definite, strong merits.

One of the most important would be the performance of the charming, talented Leighton Meester as the upcoming singer Chiles Stanton.
Gwyneth Paltrow is professional, solid in the leading role of Kelly Canter, but her image is so much associated with Goop, arrogance, ridicule that the perception of the acting is badly affected.

Kelly Canter does have a powerful message 

Love is all that matters! Or words to that effect.

She is giving advice to the young Chiles Stanton, after being jealous and mad with the rising talent, when she is allowed to sing one of the Canter mega hits.

A winner of Grammy and other awards, Kelly Canter is now on a path of self destruction.
An alcoholic out of a rehabilitation clinic, the country singer is indulging again in this terrible addiction.

Married to James McGraw, who is also the manager of the country music concerts and her musical career, records, Kelly is infatuated with Beau Hutton.
Beau is yet another country singer, who tries to rescue the drunk from herself.

An interesting dynamic evolves.
We could see it as a menage a trois, plus the husband.

Only it is more complicated, as the inebriated star has sex with others and she seems beyond redemption.
There may be hope though for Chiles and Beau, if the latt is not terminally affected by his relationship with Kelly.