Blue Moon, directed by Richard Linklater, is one of the best movies shown at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival.
It tells the story of Lorenz Hart after the opening of the musical “Oklahoma!”. We see his love of the craft of writing, his struggles with alcoholism, and his thwarted drive to reach higher levels of success before dying of pneumonia.
Lorenz Hart, played by Ethan Hawke, wrote the lyrics for many musicals with Richard Rogers. This was before Rogers and Hammerstein went on to create a string of even more successful musicals.
Here’s what I love about the movie.
The acting is exquisite. Ethan Hawke is almost unrecognizable playing the role of Hart. His Lorenz exudes confidence as a writer and an awkward social anxiety when he attempts to connect with the people around him. Margaret Qualley plays the role of Elizabeth, the object of Hart’s desire, with youthful energy and surprising depth. Andrew Scott and Simon Delaney capture the essence of Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
I love how constrained the movie is in time and place. Most of the movie happens inside a hotel bar, lobby, and coat closet during a two-hour gathering after the opening night of the musical “Oklahoma!”.
The setting, New York in the spring of the year 1943, comes alive with the production’s attention to detail.
The music is delightful. Hearing these songs again makes me want to purchase the soundtrack!
Watching Blue Moon makes me feel like I was actually there, with the benefit of seeing more than any one person could on that specific night.
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