Review of Coal Miner's Daughter

It's not overstating or overselling "Coal Miner's Daughter" to say that Sissy Spacek nails the role of real-life country singer Loretta Lynn, and miraculously so; she embodies Lynn's spirit, and transforms herself before our eyes. Watching this in the theater with a big, enthusiastic audience, you could feel the viewers bond with Spacek's Loretta from her very first shot in the movie. Spacek reaches the audience in a magical (and yet natural) way: we empathise with her immediately and inherently know she's a good person. Loretta's rise from poverty in the backwoods of Kentucky (beautifully captured) to Grand Ole Opry sensation is just about perfection, and Tommy Lee Jones as volatile husband Doolittle and all the supporting players match Spacek's charm and intensity. This is a movie with a whole lotta heart, and the music (performed by Spacek and Beverly D'Angelo as Patsy Cline) is wonderfully authentic. The film does stumble in its last act, with Loretta overcome by success. Yes it's a true story, but the concluding events are haphazardly flung around and the screenwriter seems at a loss for a strong finale. Right up to the end however, the acting is very strong, and we come away from the picture knowing a lot about Loretta Lynn--and respecting her. As for the (mis)fortunes that fame brings--we've been down that road before. *** from ****