Country Strong Blu-ray Review

• 14th Jul 2011

Country Strong might convert any non-country fans. In fact the music is perhaps the highlight of this country drama which consists of a slightly aged starlet in the form of Gwyneth Paltrow who has hit rock bottom. Dragged out of rehab by her manager/husband she finds life on the road with a couple of rising stars Beau (Garret Hedlund)and Chiles (a very Winona Ryder looking Leighton Meester) too much to handle.

The drama between the four escalates from bad to worse as personal problems with each comes out on and backstage. The problem with Country Strong is that is leads from one big downer to another bringing out some really big clichés along the way.

The good news is that the young stars bring some much needed cheer to proceedings. Hedlund in particular (whom many will know from Tron Legacy) has some natural charisma that rubs off on the co-stars he is on screen with. His affectionate and likable Beau is what keeps the film watchable.

Paltrow may have written and sung some of the material for this song (in fact all three perform their vocal duties), which may have pointed it as a vanity project, but her part is largely unlikeable and all too often acting like a cameo in her own film; only appearing when we need to see her character at her worst spells.

The Blu-ray comes with an assorted mix of extras from deleted and alternate material, a look at the cast and songwriters to some music videos for the songs (and let’s not forget that one was Oscar nominated).

Steven Hurst