See it at the Movies

I SAW THE LIGHT

By Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 4/6/16

* * ½

(Hank Williams story badly told)

Hank Williams’ music is beautifully sung by English actor Tom Hiddleston in this badly told film that can’t make up its mind whether to be a …

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See it at the Movies

I SAW THE LIGHT

Posted

* * ½

(Hank Williams story badly told)

Hank Williams’ music is beautifully sung by English actor Tom Hiddleston in this badly told film that can’t make up its mind whether to be a documentary, bio-pic or soap opera. Hank’s fans will marvel at how much Hiddleston sounds like the country singer/songwriter but will be disappointed in the long, dull, disjointed telling of his life story.

We pick up his story in his native Alabama in 1944, where the up-and-coming country artist marries Audrey (Elizabeth Olsen), a would-be country singer with a horrible nasal voice. Poor Audrey just doesn’t get it, as she competes for air time with her husband and for attention with his mother.

We follow the two through their tumultuous relationship as Hank spends his time between gigs smoking, drinking, taking drugs and sleeping with other women. His dream is to perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, an accomplishment realized after a number of number one hits, only to be crushed as his fast living leads to no-shows and cancellations.

The movie is so slow and choppy that it is difficult to understand who he is involved with and when. I couldn’t figure out who Hank Williams Jr.’s mother was.

The saving grace of the movie is hearing Hiddleston perform the Williams classics, like “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Lovesick Blues” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”

Williams died at the early age of 29 from a heart attack. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t come close to telling his story.

Rated R because of profanity and sex.

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