Movie Review: Song Sung Blue

By John Corrado

The music biopic has become a way for films to capitalize off the recognizable song catalogues of their respective musical artists. This brings us to Song Sung Blue, which does a similar thing with the music of Neil Diamond (it’s named for one of his catchiest songs, after all).

But, despite following a similar biopic formula, this one is a little different; instead of being about Diamond himself, it’s a biopic of musical impersonators. Tribute artists who perform his songs.

Hugh Jackman stars in the film as Mike Sardina, a recovering alcoholic in Milwaukee who formed a Neil Diamond tribute act with his partner and future wife Claire (Kate Hudson). The musical duo calls themselves Lightning and Thunder, and Mike insists that he doesn’t want to just be another impersonator, but to provide the full “Neil Diamond Experience” to his audience.

Mike bristles at anyone who suggests the artist is just about “Sweet Caroline” (it’s a running joke that most people only want to hear that one song), insisting that their set begin with deep cut “Soolaimon” instead. And they do find success, but life keeps getting in the way. Directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, Dolemite Is My Name), Song Sung Blue is the sort of film that requires multiple tonal shifts to capture the soaring highs and sudden lows of its subjects’ lives.

Once the story’s dramatic beats start being revealed, we understand why it was appealing for Mike and Claire’s story to be told and dramatized (the film is based on a 2008 documentary of the same name). Yes, it’s following a lot of the expected biopic beats, and surely designed as Oscar Bait. But the film moves with the power of a good pop rock song. Brewer also understands his audience and that many will come for the Neil Diamond songs, balancing domestic drama with concert scenes.

Brewer’s film is built around a pair of very good performances from Jackman and Hudson, two actors who not only have strong screen presences but also very appealing chemistry together. Jackman is a natural showman, but also a very skilled dramatic actor. This makes him an obvious fit for the role of Mike, a character with a flair for performing that he has honed as a way to control inner demons like his struggles with alcoholism.

Hudson takes us through a range of emotions as Claire, including impressively handling the physical demands of the role as the film goes on. The role serves as a bit of a dramatic comeback for her, and ranks among her best performances. It’s her cover of one Diamond song in particular that ultimately provides one of the film’s biggest moments of emotional catharsis.

Taken at face value as a completely sincere look at the various ways music can heal us, Song Sung Blue is rousing and moving. The film delivers that classic mix of crowdpleaser and tearjerker that, by the time it finally moves you to tears (and it did for me by the end), you have to admit that the formula works. Like how whenever, you know, “Sweet Caroline” comes on and you just can’t stop yourself from singing along with the chorus, it’s best to just give yourself over to Song Sung Blue and let this film works its magic.