Blue Moon (2025)
In Blue Moon, Ethan
Hawke plays lyricist Lorenz Hart, who's work includes "The Lady Is a Tramp,"
"My Funny Valentine," and, of course, "Blue Moon". The movie takes place mainly
in Sardi's Restaurant and Bar on the night of the Oklahoma! Broadway
premiere on March 31, 1943. The new musical is co-authored by Richard Rogers
(Andrew Scott), former creative partner of Hart. Struggling with his
alcoholism, homosexuality, and depression, Hart hits Sardi's ahead of the after
party to get stinking drunk and to bitch about his former partners new work of
art.
The movie's intimate
feel and limited locations might make one think that it is based on a stage
play, but it's actually an original screenplay by Robert Kaplow. Director
Richard Linklater is a master of making films about deep conversations but
making them cinematic, such as The Before Trilogy and Tape, and
we get the same results here.
Hart, as portrayed here, is often insufferable, and most of
the other characters he interacts with want nothing more than to get away from
him. So, Hart is not very likable, but Hawke's brilliant performance makes you
feel for the guy and understand his loneliness. It is somewhat jarring, at
first, to see Ethan Hawke with a comb over and wearing brown contact lenses,
but after a few minutes, you settle into the character and performance because
Hawke sells it so effortlessly. The exceptional cast also includes Margaret
Qualley and Bobby Cannavale.
Blue Moon opens on
October 24 at the Prytania Theatres at Canal Place.
