Ethan Hawke plays lyricist Lorenz Hart on the opening night of his songwriting partner’s new Broadway musical Oklahoma!
Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater have worked together many times over the past 30 years, and they venture into completely new territory with their latest, Blue Moon.
In this biographical drama, Hawke plays famed Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, who was best known for his 24-year partnership with composer Richard Rodgers and songs like Blue Moon, My Funny Valentine and The Lady Is a Tramp.
The action takes place across one particularly meaningful night in Hart’s life, seven months before his untimely death. It is 31 March 1943, and Hart is in the famed Sardi’s restaurant in New York City after attending the opening night of Oklahoma!
He’s in a bitter mood as he turned down Rodgers’s offer to write the lyrics, and Rodgers went on and wrote the hugely successful show with Oscar Hammerstein, who would go on to become his new songwriting partner.
When the musical party turns up, Hart has to put on a brave face and pretend he liked the show and that he’s happy for Rodgers and Hammerstein (played by Andrew Scott and Simon Delaney).
If you dislike movies that feel like plays, Blue Moon is not for you. It is all set in one location and is very dense dialogue-wise, with Hart holding court at the bar and regaling bartender Eddie (Bobby Cannavale) and other customers with stories. He has the gift of the gab, hilarious opinions and is a captivating raconteur.
A play-like film relies on the strength of the writing and the performances – and neither can be faulted. Hawke is surely heading for another Oscar nomination for his transformative performance, which sees him with a bald head and a huge combover.
Robert Kaplow’s clever script is both funny and heartbreaking, and Hawke flips between these modes effortlessly. Hart tries to make jokes and swallow his pride, but you can tell he’s a sad, desperate and lonely man deep down.
This is most apparent with the 47-year-old’s obsession with 20-year-old Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley), an aspiring production designer. Qualley’s Elizabeth is luminous and always kind to Hart, but you can tell his love is not reciprocated.
Scott is also excellent as Rodgers, who only has brief moments to speak to Hart and clear the air about a great deal of things. He is conflicted, because he wants to continue his partnership with Hart, but only if the wordsmith can clean up his erratic ways.
Blue Moon is very wordy and feels much longer than it is, so it is a real test of concentration. It is a masterclass of writing and acting that would have possibly made more sense on the stage.
In cinemas from Friday 28th November.
By Hannah Wales.
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