Released in 1980, "Coal Miner's Daughter" tells the true story of Loretta Lynn and her amazing journey from a poor Kentucky Coal Miner's daughter to the "First Lady" of Country music.
Let me stress that you don't have to like Country music to enjoy this movie. Heck, I'm into the heavier side of metal and the film had no problem pulling me in. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even in the mood for this type of film last night, yet after a mere 35 minutes or so I was spellbound until the end; not to mention I found myself today watching music videos of Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline on youtube (!!).
Sissy Spacek and a young Tommy Lee Jones play Loretta and her husband, while Beverly D'Angelo has a small-but-significant role as Patsy Cline. The acting is so stellar that it seems like you're watching real people.
It's useless to cite best scenes because this is the type of of high-quality film where you just press 'play' and enjoy from beginning to end.
One segment I'd like to comment on, though, is where Loretta and her husband (Oliver "Mooney") come back to Kentucky from Custer, Washington, for the funeral of Loretta's dad. After the funeral Oliver points out that, if they're ever going to make it in the music biz, they have to act now and travel to all the radio stations and push her first single. They put in the time and sweat and the song -- "Honky Tonk Girl" -- became a breakthrough hit. What's the point? We must be sensitive to the critical times in our lives when we must step out in faith and ACT if we want to be successful in our chosen call. If Loretta and Mooney hadn't put the meddle to the peddle at that critical moment you probably wouldn't be reading this.
There are numerous other great segments, including Loretta's relationship with Patsy Cline and her moving breakdown on stage near the end.
The film runs 2 hours and 5 minutes and was filmed in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
PERSONAL GRADE: A
Let me stress that you don't have to like Country music to enjoy this movie. Heck, I'm into the heavier side of metal and the film had no problem pulling me in. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even in the mood for this type of film last night, yet after a mere 35 minutes or so I was spellbound until the end; not to mention I found myself today watching music videos of Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline on youtube (!!).
Sissy Spacek and a young Tommy Lee Jones play Loretta and her husband, while Beverly D'Angelo has a small-but-significant role as Patsy Cline. The acting is so stellar that it seems like you're watching real people.
It's useless to cite best scenes because this is the type of of high-quality film where you just press 'play' and enjoy from beginning to end.
One segment I'd like to comment on, though, is where Loretta and her husband (Oliver "Mooney") come back to Kentucky from Custer, Washington, for the funeral of Loretta's dad. After the funeral Oliver points out that, if they're ever going to make it in the music biz, they have to act now and travel to all the radio stations and push her first single. They put in the time and sweat and the song -- "Honky Tonk Girl" -- became a breakthrough hit. What's the point? We must be sensitive to the critical times in our lives when we must step out in faith and ACT if we want to be successful in our chosen call. If Loretta and Mooney hadn't put the meddle to the peddle at that critical moment you probably wouldn't be reading this.
There are numerous other great segments, including Loretta's relationship with Patsy Cline and her moving breakdown on stage near the end.
The film runs 2 hours and 5 minutes and was filmed in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
PERSONAL GRADE: A