Song Sung Blue is a ballad of love and resilience

★★★★☆

Written by Denise Breen

The new film, Song Sung Blue is in cinemas at the moment and I approached it with caution as I wasn’t sure I wanted to see a film about a Neil Diamond cover act. Plus there are two types of people in the world, those who like Neil Diamond and those who don’t and I’m in the latter camp. What ultimately drew me to place my rear-end on a cinema seat was the film’s two stars. Since Kate Hudson was nominated for an Oscar in the film Almost Famous (2000), I’ve been a fan, and this is her best performance ever - more on that later. And then we have Hugh Jackman who can sing, dance and act, as we all know. In our house we call him “Huge Action” and in the film, his response to anyone asking him how he’s doing is “I’m huge!” I nearly choked on my popcorn!

The film is adapted from the critically acclaimed 2008 documentary of the same name by Greg Kohs. I had not seen the documentary, so was unaware of the story. Director Craig Brewer manages to elevate the true story of Mike and Claire Sardina which I could see being a perfectly fine documentary into a sweeping, yet intimate, cinematic event.

The core of the film is the real-life love story of Mike "Lightning" Sardina and Claire "Thunder" Stengl (a Neil Diamond tribute duo, although Claire started out and still does some Patsy Cline tributes). This is not a story that shies away from the dark places life can take you, detailing the pair's initial meeting as small-time celebrity impersonators and their journey through the romantic highs of finding a creative and personal partner. The film navigates their tragic lows, including a horrific accident that threatens to derail their dreams and push their marriage to its absolute breaking point. Mike’s alcoholism is dealt with in a matter-of-fact way, clearly showing the benefits of AA meetings. Yet, the narrative remains consistently uplifting, celebrating the notion that expression and community—found through a shared love of music—is the ultimate point. The sheer joy of watching strangers join in on a chorus of “Sweet Caroline” speaks volumes about the film's spirit, proving that good times never felt so good.

The outstanding performances are what truly sell this. Kate Hudson delivers what many are calling her best work since Almost Famous, assuming a more mature, grounded, and radiant role as the middle-aged Patsy Cline cover artist turned "Thunder." She lights up the screen in every shot in a way that only true movie-stars can. Her performance in Glass Onion (2022) was annoying for me but in this film, her heartfelt performance, (for which she has earned a Golden Globe nomination), brings immense dignity to Claire's struggles with pain and self-doubt. Did I mention she can sing?

Hugh Jackman, as the dreamer Mike "Lightning" Sardina, complements her perfectly, singing and acting his heart out to make the tribute act feel authentic and deeply personal. The supporting cast is equally stellar, with King Princess and Ella Anderson bringing a touching complexity to the pair's children, roles which could have been side-lined.

The film avoids being a mere cover of its source material and instead builds a moving drama that is highly accessible and genuinely affecting. It is a film for all ages, and I can attest to its family-friendly nature—the screening I attended even had a three-month-old baby in the audience! 

It is said that cinema is a machine for generating empathy and with Song Sung Blue, you will laugh, you will cheer, and you will absolutely weep. 

You’ve been warned: bring tissues.