Ethan Hawke Shines in a Bewitching "Blue Moon"
Is there a cost to creative partnership? If “Blue Moon,” the latest film from long-time collaborators Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke, is any evidence, that cost yields outstanding results. The film is elegantly simple, yet animated by a sharp script and superb performances, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Story and Setting
Inspired by true events, the narrative unfolds almost entirely on March 31, 1943, inside Manhattan’s famed Sardi’s restaurant. On the night that Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical “Oklahoma!” celebrates its triumphant debut, the atmosphere contrasts sharply for Lorenz Hart, portrayed by Hawke, who was once Rodgers’s songwriting partner, played by Andrew Scott.
“Oklahoma!” had its triumphant opening night performance, but the mood is dour for Lorenz Hart (Hawke), the former songwriting partner of Rodgers (Andrew Scott).
While others celebrate a landmark night for American theater, Hart grapples with his inner turmoil and fading relevance. The film explores themes of artistic ambition, loneliness, and creative legacy through intimate dialogue and restrained direction.
Direction and Style
Linklater, who previously directed Hawke in “Boyhood” and the “Before” trilogy, takes a more contained approach this time. Though less sprawling, “Blue Moon” is equally rewarding, displaying the duo’s intellectual chemistry in full force. The film’s single-setting structure gives it a distinctive theatrical character, enhanced by stylish lighting and meticulous period costumes.
The film is visually dazzling, full of snazzy lighting and fashionable period outfits.
Collaboration and Craft
Hawke and Linklater’s artistic partnership once again proves dynamic and thoughtful. Their precise execution allows the film’s simplicity to shine, transforming limited space into emotional richness and cinematic depth.
Author’s summary: A visually stunning, emotionally rich portrait of artistic struggle, “Blue Moon” showcases the enduring creative synergy of Linklater and Hawke at its finest.