Song Sung Blue

Kate Hudson thoroughly deserves her Oscar nomination for Best Actress in Craig Brewer’s affecting love story about a Neil Diamond tribute act: Lightning and Thunder. “Lightning” is the stage name for Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman), ex-Marine, alcoholic, and Diamond connoisseur. When he meets Hudson’s Claire, she’s doing a creditable Patsy Klein bit at the Wisconsin State Fair. They team up and are beginning to live out their dreams when tragedy strikes… If it wasn’t based on a true story (we played the excellent documentary that inspired the movie at VIFF Centre 15 years ago) you probably wouldn’t believe the twists and turns of fate that buffets our middle aged blue collar love birds, but director Craig Brewer (Dolemite Is My Name; Hustle and Flow) has a feel for working class American life and you can tell he cares about these people. He also understands Neil Diamond. As for Hudson, it’s a performance without vanity; vulnerable and authentic, funny and heartbreaking.

Bizarrely charming.

Amy Nicholson, LA Times

A lovable crowdpleaser whose feelgood flavour won’t prepare you for the way the plot repeatedly and savagely twists like an unsafe fairground ride.

4/5 Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian