The dark side to country music is explored yet again as relationships are put to the test (on and off stage) in Country Strong.

Gwyneth Paltrow is country superstar Kelly Canter, a Faith Hill-esque figure (presumably with added hedonistic tendencies) who has fallen on hard times. Finishing a stint in rehab, she’s due to stage a comeback tour, although her mental and physical wellbeing may not be ready for such a demanding activity. Manager/husband James (Tim McGraw – ironically, the only bona fide country star in the film who doesn’t sing) however, is convinced this is just what she needs in order to make it back to the top again. Much to the annoyance of her husband, Kelly insists on bringing with her on tour as a supporting act, a young hospital orderly and aspiring singer-songwriter (Tron: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund, swapping a light cycle for an acoustic guitar) whom she has formed an intimate bond with during her hospitalisation.

Emotions are further tempered when jealously rears its ugly head as a beauty queen-turned-singer (Leighton Meester) joins the tour as James’ protégé. Can Kelly make it through to the all-important dates, or will she be doing bourbon chasers while popping those pills by the time the tour reaches Dallas (the setting and catalyst for her previous downfall).

In the past few years in particular, the world of country music has created a fascinating outlet for both real-life and fictitious cinematic lost souls who are battling their demons and trying to regain the magic touch the once possessed. Some have even reaped the ultimate Hollywood accolade for their portrayals, with Oscar nods for both Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Jeff Bridges finally picking up the statue via Crazy Heart.

Although acquitting herself quite well in the singing department (and her recent guest spot on TV’s Glee is further evidence that she has the chops) unfortunately, Paltrow just doesn’t have the range to play a fragile and week-willed addict, and as her performance is the crux of the film, this is a major issue. When Kelly’s husband keeps lamenting about her success in the past and acknowledging that “she used to be tough as nails”, you don’t buy into that at all. One of the reasons behind her stay in rehab is due to behaviour which contributed to the death of her unborn baby, but as the character is so shallow and one-dimensional, the audience’s sympathy is never there for her, despite this tragic revelation.

A stronger actress in the lead may have elevated the film to a so-so drama, although Shana Feste’s unambitious and pedestrian direction doesn’t help either. The film looks like one of those made-for-TV movies and apart from the odd glimpse of Kelly’s destructive behaviour (which don’t really push the boundaries of decency and taste anyway) the film wouldn’t seem out of place in one of those mid-afternoon screening slots on terrestrial TV. The only touching scene is delivered when Kelly pays a visit to a school during the tour, and plays to a young child suffering from leukaemia. It helps that the kid looks genuinely sick, but we’re also offered a fleeting look at a warm and maternal side to the singer – an interesting and conflicting aspect an to an otherwise cold and detached character, which is never really exploited again in the film.

The two younger co-stars fare much better. Meester (best known for TV’s Gossip Girl) initially comes over as all naïve and innocent, but is able to imbue her character with a strength and level-headedness which is very appealing. Hedlund too is surprisingly good, and handles the singing side admirably, his gravelly voice completely lending itself to a heart-felt country ditties he croons. It wouldn’t be surprising if he isn’t already fielding offers from potential records companies on the quality of his work here.

The fine efforts of the supporting cast can’t save the film though, and the overly-melodramatic and emotionally contrived ending, which seems to come out of nowhere, doesn’t ring true at all. What’s left is an essentially hollow and lifeless piece, enlivened by some impressive musical numbers and a couple of decent performances, but little else.

If country music is your thing, give the film a miss and download the soundtrack instead.

**~~~ (2/5)

The studio behind Tales From the Gangster Squad (a much buzzed-about script based on the tales of real-life police Sgt. John O’ Mara’s attempts to bring down gangster Mickey Cohen in 1940s L.A), is currently on the hunt to find a director to helm their flick.

While Ben Affleck (riding high on the success of his latest directorial effort The Town) was Warner Bros favourite to take this on, he has now passed on it and Darren Aronofsky has been offered the gig. This too may prove problematic, due to the fact that Fox has entered into negotiations with the director to take on the sequel to last year’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Now Latino Review has acquired a list of other potential candidates up for the film. On there is Paul Greengrass, Francis Lawrence, Martin Campbell, Green Lantern scribe Greg Berlanti and Crazy Heart’s Scott Cooper.

Immediately it’s Greengrass who stands out here, and surely I’m not alone in thinking his style of shooting could make for an interesting-looking period piece. Think LA Confidential by way of the Bourne films.

We’ll keep you update when a director is finally announced.

Here’s the new, moving,  international trailer for Crazy Heart which won 2 Golden Globes over the weekend including Best Song in a Motion Picture for The Weary Kind and Best Actor for Jeff Bridges. As well as Bridges, The movie stars Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s and is directed by Scott Cooper. All signs are pointing to Bridges being nominated for an Oscar and we’ll find out pretty soon if those signs are right.

We’ve got both the new international trailer and the music video for The Weary Kind written and performed by Ryan Bingham (and written by both Bingham and T-Bone Burnett) which you can see embedded below. Crazy Heart is released in cinemas 19th February.

Synopsis: Bad Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean, a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. Bad also becomes the mentor to a contemporary country star, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), while simultaneously struggling in the rising young crooner’s shadow.

International Trailer

Music Video

Here’s the new poster and trailer for Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s latest movie, ‘Crazy Heart’. It’s directed by Scott Cooper and also stars Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell. All signs are pointing to Bridges being nominated for an Oscar. Check out the trailer below or click the poster to enlarge and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can view the trailer in HD on Apple.

Synopsis: Bad Blake is a broken-down, hard-living country music singer who’s had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road and one too many drinks way too many times. And yet, Bad can’t help but reach for salvation with the help of Jean, a journalist who discovers the real man behind the musician. Bad also becomes the mentor to a contemporary country star, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell), while simultaneously struggling in the rising young crooner’s shadow.