Quietly lavish and genuinely heartfelt, Blue Moon becomes a realistic portrayal of the creative process through stunning performances from the whole cast. It’s a heartbreaking account of the last days of Larry Hart, brought to life by a dizzying and thoughtful performance from Ethan Hawke.
Films like Blue Moon have a specific, achingly nostalgic flavor for anyone who loves the artistry of Hollywood and every creative decision that goes into theater or film. More than that, how this one works for theater fans is quite literally everything because we have plenty for film, but seldom for the stage. The final few moments between Andrew Scott’s Richard Rodgers, Margaret Qualley’s Elizabeth Weiland, and Hawke’s Larry are such a haunting showcase of everything that goes on behind the scenes. The good, the bad, the ugly—the darkness that’s veiled in glitz and glamour that we don’t often talk about.
The single setting decision also makes every beat feel that much more intimate and sincere, allowing it to shine in a way that Richard Linklater is especially great at evoking. Really, in a lot of ways, the conversations at times are anxiety-inducing. It’s the same feeling when you watch a live production and wonder if the actors are properly hydrated. It’s how ordinary people can’t possibly perceive how much work goes into protecting vocal cords. In a lot of ways, Blue Moon makes you think of all of this. Yet, it’s also a heartbreaking detail that all anyone really wants is to be loved.
And what happens when the art you love no longer loves you back? What happens when all you want is to share that joy of creativity with anyone who’ll listen? I’m about to make the wildest comparison, but stick with me. As a kid, Mickey Rooney’s Movie Mason in Phantom of the Megaplex has always stuck with me. How he’d take any and all opportunities to talk about film to anyone who’d listen. How he’s a reflection of what it means to love something so much you want to tell everyone all about it, even when it’s breaking you from the inside, and you can’t quite put any of that into words.
Hawke’s performance is what shines so brilliantly here because the vulnerability in his eyes through every scene shows us just how much Hart is feeling at any given moment. He’s saying plenty, but he’s also showing us a good chunk, too, and Linklater’s directing paired with the performance makes Blue Moon something special.
It might not be the year’s best film, and it can very likely fall under the radar for people who aren’t actively seeking it out because of the theatre aspect, but it’s among the strongest to showcase the pangs of creativity and the snares of the industry. It’s a heartbreaking exhibition of loneliness, but it’s not overt about it either, which makes it that much sadder. Still, it’s a worthy film to watch for its gripping exploration of how things and people can fade, even as we visibly look at them.
Blue Moon is now available for digital purchase.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Sony Pictures Classics