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)

Yahoo have released the music video for a song called Me and Tennessee which features in new movie, Country Strong. The movie has a cast which includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester, Marshall Chapman and Lari White. It’s directed by Shana Feste and is set for release in the UK 4th March.

The video has clips from the movie throughout so if you want to spoil half the movie, then this music video is definitely one for you to watch!

Synopsis: Country music superstar Kelly Canter has taken a hard fall from the top, thanks to her alcoholism, but her husband and manager Ed feels it’s time for her to make her comeback. She embarks on a tour with hot young songwriter Beau Hutton and former beauty queen Chiles Stanton, but the road to her redemption is paved with romantic complications, relapses, and bitter rivalry.

Check out the music video below.

IMP have unveiled the official poster for Screen Gems’ Country Strong.

Written and directed by Shana Feste, Country Strong features performances from Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw and Kayla Perkins.

Country Strong is a drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter (Hedlund) who sparks with a fallen star (Paltrow). Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager (McGraw) and a beauty queen-turned-singer (Meester).

Check out the debut poster below:

Country Strong will be released in the US on January 7. A UK release has yet to be scheduled.

Screen Gems have released the first official trailer for Country Strong, via Moviefone.

Written and directed by Shana Feste, Country Strong stars Tim McGraw, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, Garrett Hedlund and Cris Cunningham.

A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter (Hedlund) who sparks with a fallen star (Paltrow). Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager (McGraw) and a beauty queen-turned-singer (Meester).

Check out the trailer below:

Country Strong will be released in the US on January 7. A UK release has yet to be scheduled.

Sandra Bullock is making huge, Golden Globe shaped waves in the US with this film.

The Blind Side elevated Bullock to uncharted heights when it became the highest earning film with a female lead and while the proud boast on the poster that the film is Based on an Extraoridnary True Story usually turn me off this looks like one to warm the hearts.

The excellent people at LoveFilm have the poster and the synopsis:

Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael – wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter – come out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay for the night.

What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more and Michael gradually becomes part of the Tuohy family. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges, both on and off the football field

Here’s the not at all photoshopped poster, looks sunny and inspirational. The film is out on the 21th of March.

It’s always a bit odd watching these award ceremonies when movies that get nominated haven’t even been released yet. This is the case in The Blind Side, Sandra’s Bullock’s new movie. I say new but she’s already a Golden Globe Award winner for this role in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, category. The trailer nearly makes me cry every time I watch it which probably means I’ll be a blubbering wreck but the end of the motion picture! What can I say, I’m a crier!

Here’s the international trailer for The Blind Side, which, as well as Bullock stars Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron and Kathy Bates and it’s released March 12th.

Synopsis: Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own, virtually homeless, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael—wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter—come out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night. What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds.

Here’s the second trailer for Sandra Bullock’s new movie ‘The Blind Side’ (first here). I’m such a wimp but I can’t help but well up every time I watch this sort of movie where it’s the poor, under-privileged kid being taken in by the well-off mum – especially when it’s a true story. Man, it gets me every time!

It’s directed by John Lee Hancock and also stars Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, Lily Collins, Tim McGraw and is based on the book by Michael Lewis.

Synopsis: Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, is taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.