Category: Drama - Feature Film-drama - Movie - Musical Features - Musicals (Theatrical)
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DVD Coal Miner's Daughter - 25th Anniversary Edition
Sissy Spacek won a much-deserved Oscar for her lead in this entertaining biography of country-music legend Loretta Lynn. British director Michael Apted (Gorillas in the Mist) brings fine texture to the Kentucky backwoods section of the film, where the teenage Loretta meets her future husband (Tommy Lee Jones), who ultimately pushes her into show business. Lynn's adult life is well covered, from her spouse's philandering to her own on-stage crackups; but between the chapter-and-verse recollections, the script by Thomas Rickman is layered with life and moments of great humor. No wooden portrait, this is a vibrant film made outstanding by the colorful performances of the two leads, as well as Beverly D'Angelo and the Band's Levon Helm. --Tom Keogh
Review(s): DVD Coal Miner's Daughter - 25th Anniversary Edition
Nearly flawless film!
Sissy Spacek won raves and awards (including the Oscar) for her brilliant performance as country music sensation Loretta Lynn in this 1980 biopic `Coal Miner's Daughter' based on the auto-biography Lynn wrote with George Vecsey. Chronicling her rise to fame, `Coal Miner's Daughter' serves as much more than just a canvas for Spacek's acting for the script itself is deserving of heaps of praise, following her life story with candor and authenticity, never over looking important points or focusing too lengthily on nonessential ones, this film serves as a template for all biopics to come on how to cover a persons life with grace, respect and justice.
At just thirteen years of age Loretta Webb marries hotshot Doolittle Lynn (Tommy Lee Jones in a performance that should have at least nabbed him an Oscar nomination) and quickly is thrown into a life she never imagined would be her own. There's quickly marital problems, some due to her lack of experience `pleasing' her man, most due to Doolittle's temper, but by the sweet age of twenty she is raising four children and she's far from home. Honing in of his wife's love for music, Doolittle decides to buy her a guitar for their anniversary one year and this sparks in her a drive to success, igniting the road they soon travel in order to make her a country music sensation.
`Coal Miner's Daughter' covers her life accurately and fulfilled, leaving no rock unturned sort-a-speak. Littered with flawless acting on the parts of the two leads as well as Beverly D'Angelo who plays the late, great Patsy Cline not to mention the fabulous singing done by the stars themselves (I was floored, I mean they both sound amazing), this film is sure to please any fan of the biopic, anyone interested in the life story of one of country music's leading ladies or any fan of films like `Walk the Line' then this is a movie you are sure to enjoy over and over again!
Excellent Movie Biography
Some movies are so excellent that words are insufficient. Such is the case with "Coal Miner's Daughter," a movie that relies on an effectively told story of Loretta Lynn to carry the film rather than flashy special effects and action. The script is brought to life by the incredible talents of the actors, most especially Sissy Spacek, in one of the best performances of her career.
"Coal Miner's Daughter" spans the era from the late 1940s to the early 70s, focusing principally on Loretta Lynn from age 13 to her rise to fame as the best-selling female country artist. It's easy to look at Loretta's early life as an artifact of some ancient time, but in fact Loretta's life and the life of her family was quite typical in some rural areas in The United States in that era, and many of us are the children or grandchildren of similar families. This movie is thus not only the story Loretta Lynn, but is also the story of many Americans.
Sissy Spacek sang all the songs for the movie, which is available on CD. Sissy received an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Loretta Lynn, the only Oscar awarded to the film of the seven nominations. Sissy sounds so incredibly like Loretta Lynn that sometimes I find it difficult to know whether a Loretta Lynn CD or the movie soundtrack is playing. Sissy's phenomenal acting talent made her Loretta Lynn.
Sissy was well supported in her role by other excellent talents. The multi-talented Tommy Lee Jones played the part of Loretta's philandering husband Mooney Dolittle. Tommy Lee played the role very well within the limits of the screenplay. My only complaint is that I felt that Mooney was portrayed in a much milder way than his actual personality. I believe most viewers will perceive traits in Tommy Lee's character that are hints of the real Mooney.
Beverly D'Angelo is outstanding as brash and outgoing Patsy Cline, for a time Loretta's idol, best friend and mentor in the country music world. Patsy had a lot of influence on how naive Loretta perceived the world and how she reacted to things. Beverly sang Patsy's songs and matched Sissy in the quality of her performance.
Also appearing in this movie were Levon Helm and Phyllis Boyens as Loretta's parents. I read that Loretta was shocked by the appearance of Levon Helm in his makeup and clothes because he looked so much like her father. This couple in role could have easily been the models for the picture "American Gothic." Another appearance worthy of note was that of Earnest Tubb as himself.
Loretta Lynn's story is a grand story because she exemplifies the dream we all have of making our way in the world. Loretta's father was, as the title suggests, a coal miner. Coal mining is a difficult, dirty job with a lot of risk. During the time of Loretta's youth coal miners would typically get their paycheck and then go to the company store to buy food and pay their debt. In many ways working for a mine in those times was nearly like slavery or indentured servitude. Mooney and Loretta escape by first traveling to the west coast, and ultimately by capitalizing on Loretta's abilities as a singer and songwriter. Loretta became a multi-millionaire with a wide range of business interests. This movie presents a rags-to-riches story to inspire us all.
The Original Country Western Superstar
Coal Miner's Daughter is the story of Loretta Lynn from the age of 14 to her rise to Country Western star to her breakdown to her return to performing.
Doolittle Lynn has just gotten out of the Army and is hustling to make a living. When he returns to Butcher Holler, he sees the 14 year old Loretta and decides that she is going to be his wife. After a short courtship they are married but working in the mines is not what Doo wants to do. He leaves a pregnant Loretta to pursue better opportunities out west.
Doo raises enough money to bring Loretta and their daughter out to him. Over the next few years they have three more kids. Loretta is busy raising her family but Doo wants more and sees her talent for singing. He drags her out to a local bar and she finds out that she likes to perform. Next he has her record a single.
They go out on the road to promote the song and this is where Loretta blooms. She finds out that she has a natural charm that everyone likes and the song becomes a hit. Her star rises and Patsy Cline takes notice and has Loretta join her on the road.
Loretta thrives on the road but Doo doesn't like being second fiddle. He and Loretta decide that he should go home, find what will make him fulfilled, and raise the family.
Loretta becomes a superstar but the road eventually has its toll on Loretta and one night she collapses. But this gives Loretta and Doo time to reconnect with each other. After her rest, Loretta comes back even stronger.
This film was an early success for Sissy and Tommy Lee but when awards time around only Sissy was recognized for her stunning performance but Jones' performance slipped through the cracks as did a great supporting turn by another up and comer Beverly D'Angelo as Patsy Cline.
This is a great film biography of a truly amazing perfomer.
DVD EXTRAS:
Commentary by Sissy Spacek and director Michael Apted
Tommy Lee Jones Remembers CMD - This is an interview with Jones and Michael Apted.
Loretta Lynn and Michael Apted Interview - This was made for the DVD and shows Loretta's personality as she explains the process of casting Sissy and making the film.
George Bush sr. Salutes CMD at AFI - This is really a waste of space as he really doesn't talk about the film that much - just rewatch the Loretta Lynn interview!
Related DVD's Coal Miner's Daughter - 25th Anniversary Edition
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