Directed by: Richard Linklater
Written by: Robert Kaplow
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Scott
Rating: [3.5/5]
There comes a time for all great actors to receive a showcase opportunity where they can just completely show off their ability. Ethan Hawke has long deserved one and absolutely devours his opportunity in Blue Moon. Through this performance, he not only displays what makes him one of the best of this generation, he helps to elevate an already fantastic screenplay into an entertaining experience.
Following the Broadway premiere of “Oklahoma!” Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), who turned down the opportunity to write it, arrives early to the location of the after-party. There he recounts much of his displeasure of the play while speaking on his opportunity to finally physically connect with aspiring stage producer Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley).
Blue Moon invites its audience into the insider world of musical theater in a way that seeks to entertain through its delectable dialogue and also a showstopping performance by Ethan Hawke. All things that the film delivers on in addition to educating outsiders of this world of the thoughts of those behind the magic in creating the beautiful stories we watch on the stage. We see this all through the perspective of Lorenz Hart, who I had no prior knowledge of prior to this film but quickly grew quite the affection for with his petty, insecure, but very intriguing demeanor. Seeing the roller coaster of emotions he goes through from beginning to end and what level of vulnerability he allows to slip through truly goes to highlight the star of the show, Ethan Hawke.
A frequent collaborator with Richard Linklater, Hawke consistently has delivered exceptional work throughout his career and as Hart, he gets the opportunity to really chew up the scenery as the focal point of this story. With long monologues about his life, the industry, and his relationship with others, the famed actor received a role he could work with representing an actor’s dream with line after line of exceptional dialogue and he certainly delivered. Hart presents this very prickly persona but remains incredibly captivating in the way he weaves through conversations with the different characters all within this bar.
Heading into this film, Blue Moon started with some disadvantages before it with me as an audience member, but still manages to overcome them. The first being the single-location of this story, where it all takes place in a singular bar. Films choosing to take place in one location puts immense pressure on the writing and the directing to captivate through dialogue and efforts to provide some level of dynamism visually. Robert Kaplow does just that with this incredible screenplay, which only does so much of the heavy lifting, but also solves the other concern of this being too inside baseball.
With this film centering on figures in the musical theater world that only major fans would recognize, it ran the risk of alienating individuals such as myself who would not catch onto the quips requiring insider knowledge. Luckily, the screenplay does an excellent job intertwining elements I’m sure theater loves to pick up while also allowing others to understand just enough about the famous players involved outside of Hart, like Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) and Oscar Hammerstein II (Simon Delaney). We get a great feel of the jealousy, superiority, and moments of genuine adulation, which tells us a lot about how all of these famous figures all relate to each other both in this specific moment in time but also in the grand scheme of their place in history.
With Blue Moon, Richard Linklater continues to prove that the man can make just about any type of movie he sets his mind to. The way this feature differs from the other of his films released this year, Nouvelle Vague, and then to Hit Man last year displays this man simply has a range like no other that I greatly appreciate. Through his work here, he ensures to maintain a visual dynamism to these dialogue-filled scenes and just allows Ethan Hawke to go off and make the most of the dialogue he received. Overall, a film that had the makings of something that would not connect with me with all the aforementioned elements, I found so much to enjoy as I learned about Lorenz Hart the way he views his place in the industry.
Films with Josh 
