hall895 Country Strong is not what it may seem. The way the movie was marketed may have led some to believe it was a story of a country star triumphing over her personal demons and fending off a younger rival. That sounds like it could be a pretty fun movie. But that's not what this movie really is. Country Strong is much more about those personal demons than it is about any fun. That makes it a much more downbeat, at times outright depressing, movie than you might have expected. That doesn't mean it is a bad movie, just a surprising one. How you react to those surprises will influence how you ultimately feel about the movie.Gwyneth Paltrow plays Kelly Canter, the troubled country star. She's an alcoholic, she's popping pills, she's depressed, she's got anxiety issues and she's consumed by guilt over her role in a recent tragic event. She's certainly in no condition to be out on tour. But her husband James, who doubles as her manager, prematurely checks her out of rehab and puts her out on the road. Suffice to say the tour does not go smoothly. Kelly desperately needs someone to look after her and she insists that young Beau Hutton be on the tour as her opening act. Beau was an orderly at Kelly's rehab facility and he and Kelly became close. Really, really close if you catch my drift. Beau is a guy perfectly happy to play his music in dive bars in front of a few dozen people. But now he's the opening act for a superstar. Well one of the opening acts anyway. Kelly's husband has plucked young Chiles Stanton, a living, breathing country Barbie doll, from obscurity and brought her out on tour. His interest in her is clearly more than professional. So it's a very tangled web and that's even before the seemingly inevitable hooking up of Beau and Chiles. This tour is a mess on stage and off.Country Strong has a pretty simple story but the melodrama is laid on pretty thick. It is a bit much at times. But whatever failings the story may have are mostly redeemed by a very good cast. Paltrow does an excellent job portraying a woman who is spiraling out of control. Your heart aches for Kelly as she is pushed into a spotlight she is not equipped to handle. Since it is James doing the pushing he is not going to come across as a very sympathetic character. But while you might not like the guy he is playing Tim McGraw does a very credible job in the part. Leighton Meester is very good as the ambitious, but rather naive, Chiles. As Chiles grows in confidence as the tour goes on we see a star blossoming before our eyes. But while the movie sets her up as Kelly's potential rival there is still a sweetness to Chiles even as she finds more success. Credit to Meester for creating such an embraceable character. The biggest standout in the cast is Garrett Hedlund playing Beau. The relationships Beau has with Kelly, with James, with Chiles are complicated to say the least. And in playing the role Hedlund weaves his way through those entanglements expertly. Beau is a guy who is so good at heart and as the movie goes on you realize it is really his story being told more than Kelly's. That makes Hedlund's performance critical and he meets the challenge.The story is rather bleak but Country Strong does have its fun moments. The songs aren't irresistibly catchy but most of them are good enough, and lively enough, to bring a smile to your face. With Paltrow's character in such dire straits, and with country superstar McGraw playing a guy who doesn't actually sing, it is left mostly to Hedlund and Meester to carry the musical side of the movie. And they hold up very well. They never look or sound out of place up on stage. And Paltrow does get a moment or two. She maintains a prim, proper image, you don't really expect Gwyneth Paltrow to have a lot of honky-tonk in her. Can she cut loose and have some fun? Yes she can. Her most energetic number is entitled Shake That Thing and Paltrow indeed shakes that thing. So there is some fun to be had. But overall County Strong has a much more serious edge to it than you might expect. If you're looking for lighthearted fun you have definitely come to the wrong place. But ultimately the film succeeds, just maybe not in the way you expected it to. Its story is more powerful than you would have imagined, country strong indeed.

sttrhm This film is a fairly realistic portrayal of the life country stars face--whether you're the aging star trying to come back after crumbling under pressure, a rising star full of innocence and idealism with only a naive dream telling you what you're about to experience, a cynical streetwise veteran who has seen it all and who abhors the spotlight while still benefiting from it, or auxiliaries known as management who whore after the money and don't really have a clue about music or what their stars are going through. What I really don't like about this film is the way they make Beau out to be some kind of hero. He's a heartthrob for sure, with his white tooth smile and low timbre voice, but he's really a jerk. First of all, good AA sponsors NEVER get romantically involved with those they're sponsoring. That's an absolute capital offense in that circle, and this movie illustrates why. The recoverer is not strong enough to handle the vagaries of a new relationship and becomes weaker still if the sponsor later breaks it off. Second, he's getting involved with a married woman, and her husband seems to sense that he's more than just a sponsor right from the start. Finally, he takes up with her biggest fear--the up-and-comer that she sees replacing her. No wonder she saw her end and the need to exit. And if that wasn't bad enough, she had a so-called husband who hasn't quite forgiven her not only for their lost baby, and now suspects her affair (which is verified in the movie) but mostly for the botched Dallas concert which probably cost them oodles of $$$ that deep down he lusted after and now is trying to recover before she is really ready yet. Oh I know, he wants to get her back out before she's forgotten completely, but he withholds love, affection, and attention--denying her unconditional love and support she desperately needs right now. So she turns to Beau--who unfortunately seems to think that part of meaningful support takes place between the sheets. It's debatable if he withdraws because he truly thinks he shouldn't be doing this or if he's getting the hots for the New Young Girl. Either way he's screwed up and she paid the price, which he doesn't seem to realize his culpability for.

Jordan Lasseter-Morgan First I want to disclose I'm not a good writer AT ALL, and I've never wrote a review before. I have no idea what I'm going to end up writing so if you've never seen the movie... Don't continue reading, just know the movie is... Amazing. I tried watching the movie three or four times and was never able to watch the entire movie. But watching parts of it three or four times, made me finally take time out of my crazy life to watch the entire movie. I have to say it lifted my heart. Gweneth's performance should have won her many awards! The song she sang, "Coming Home" truly made my heart lift, and gave me goose bumps. I'm not one of those people that is star struck... Movie "Stars" are just regular people, who go to work everyday like you and I. I've never really been a fan of anyone... But after watching this movie I must say I am a fan of Gweneth's. She showed that she can act any script that is given to her. Truly a great movie start to finish. I wish I was a better writer to convince you more. Just go watch it... You'll love it!

Ashley Kay If you don't like the South or the country genre, watch this film simply for the versatility of its cast. It shows just how total-package Paltrow, Hedlund, Meester, and McGraw really are. I found Paltrow to be a very believable country personality and her accent was just right, not over-the-top and ridiculous like a lot of other non-southern actors who've acted in southern roles (think "Beans" from Rango). Gwyneth is slow to show her powerful vocals - you'll have to be patient while her character builds up, but it's well worth it. In addition to the actors' abilities, I really loved the "Kelly" (Paltrow) and "Beau" (Hedlund) characters. Kelly is very vulnerable and fragile. She is candid about what she feels and I respect that much more than being prideful and keeping your hurt inside as if you are rock solid (when you know you aren't). Beau is deep and serious, with all the pros and cons that come with being pensive and very caring of others. He feels everyone's fears and pain in addition to his own and it sort of wears him down and makes him moody and severe. Overall I found the film charming, the soundtrack is one you'll actually want to buy. "Give In To Me", "Home", "Me And Tennessee", and "Country Strong" are my favorites. They aren't fads, really I find these tracks timeless.