Richard Linklater directed “Blue Moon,” which opened the Berlin Film Festival. It is a moving character study in which Ethan Hawke plays the famous pianist Lorenz Hart. The movie takes place in real time over the course of one night in 1943. Hart is at a crossroads because his personal and professional life are breaking apart while Richard Rodgers, his former business partner, is doing well.
A Night of Reflection and Unraveling
“Blue Moon” is about Lorenz Hart on the night when Rodgers’ magnificent musical “Oklahoma!” opened. Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are getting a lot of attention for their new work, but Hart is in Sardi’s, a bar in New York, dealing with his own writer’s block, personal issues, and unrequited love. Hawke’s nuanced acting brings Hart’s complicated nature to life, showing his intelligence, anguish, struggles with alcohol, and amazing creativity.
Key takeaways
Ethan Hawke does a great job of playing the troubled lyricist Lorenz Hart.
Richard Linklater is in charge of a play that happens in real time over the course of one night and is based on people.
Friendship, art history, unrequited love, and how hard it is to stay relevant are some of the themes in the movie.
Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley, who play Richard Rodgers and Elizabeth Weiland, are both great.
Robert Kaplow’s script is popular because the dialogue is funny and it reveals a lot of information about Hart’s mind.
Linklater’s Signature Style
People know Linklater for crafting movies that feature a lot of talking and real-life events. He makes “Blue Moon” into a chamber piece for the stage. The best thing about the movie is how well it shows Hart’s world through its in-depth character study. Some people might not like the way the people talk to each other, but it really builds tension and shows how deep their inner lives are. The story takes place in a pub in New York during the war, which is an odd place to set it.
Critical Acclaim and Performances
Hawke’s performance has been considered the best of his career by critics. They claim it successfully depicted Hart’s blend of charm, fragility, and self-destruction. Andrew Scott plays a calmer version of Rodgers, and Margaret Qualley plays Hart’s love interest. People also like the other actors. Robert Kaplow’s adaptation of the film’s screenplay is known for its cutting humor and for illustrating how complex Hart’s character is on many levels. “Blue Moon” is a highly touching and thought-provoking look at art and the human condition, even though it can be hard to follow.
Sources
- “BLUE MOON” – Review, Next Best Picture.
- Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater’s Pithy Biopic., The Hollywood Reporter.
- Blue Moon: Hawke Shines in Layered Biopic, Loud And Clear Reviews.
- Berlin film festival 2025 roundup – a new boss, a flawless fairytale and Ethan Hawke’s finest hour | Berlin
film festival, The Guardian. - Richard Linklater’s musical biopic is magnificently miserable, The Telegraph.