Country Strong (2010)

Kelly Canter (Gwyneth Paltrow) is a country music star with addiction problems. Her domineering husband manager James Canter (Tim McGraw) pulls her out of treatment early. They don't connect as a couple anymore. Beau Hutton (Garrett Hedlund) works at the rehab center. He befriends Kelly Canter as her sponsor and singing partner. Chiles Stanton (Leighton Meester) is a pretty young thing desperate to be a star.I just can't buy Gwyneth Paltrow as a country music star. To me, that's not her persona she's built over the years. She's a hardcore NYer and the southern accent just sound false. That taints the movie for me. The whole role just felt wrong to me and her singing isn't good enough. Tim McGraw needs more acting power. He probably needs more menace or something. Garrett Hedlund is unknown to me but he does a good job. And the story is a functional melodrama about these four damaged souls. It's just watchable enough to barely recommend.

If you love country music, this might very well be the movie you've been waiting for. Actually, this is a good movie even if you don't like country music.The storyline is really interesting and it is one of those cliché movies where you already know how it's going to end when you've barely started watching. There's just enough singing, just enough romance. It's not an empty movie. There is a lot of character and plot development and it is not hard to get attached easily to the characters. The cast does a terrific job as they're all very believable and talented. I don't really see anything negative about this movie, other than the fact that the ending may come off a little forced but it is not enough to ruin the movie. If you think about it for a while, it even ends up making sense. This is a movie I would definitely recommend.

Country Strong is a movie that stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester. The story is about an emotionally unstable country music star who attempts to resurrect her career.It was written and directed by Shana Feste.While in rehab,Kelly Canter has a fling with an admiring orderly,Beau. An aspiring singer/songwriter,Beau tells Kelly's manager and husband, James, that he's her "sponsor". Anxious to revitalize her career, James checks Kelly out early to send her back on tour. He may love his wife, but he doesn't know when to stop pushing. When he hears Beau's duet with former beauty queen Chiles, he adds them to the bill. When they travel from Tennessee to Texas, Beau discovers that Chiles is more talented and intelligent than he thought, but he remains devoted to his mentor, even though he knows they have no future. When Kelly starts drinking again, Beau gravitates towards his more stable tour mate.The cast gives a great performance particularly Gwyneth Paltrow with the way she handles her songs.Also,it features great country music.Unfortunately,its clichéd and formulaic screenplay makes it less of an excellent movie.Also,the story is disjointed in the sense that some elements in the plot are far from clear.

First I want to disclose I'm not a good writer AT ALL, and I've never wrote a review before. I have no idea what I'm going to end up writing so if you've never seen the movie... Don't continue reading, just know the movie is... Amazing. I tried watching the movie three or four times and was never able to watch the entire movie. But watching parts of it three or four times, made me finally take time out of my crazy life to watch the entire movie. I have to say it lifted my heart. Gweneth's performance should have won her many awards! The song she sang, "Coming Home" truly made my heart lift, and gave me goose bumps. I'm not one of those people that is star struck... Movie "Stars" are just regular people, who go to work everyday like you and I. I've never really been a fan of anyone... But after watching this movie I must say I am a fan of Gweneth's. She showed that she can act any script that is given to her. Truly a great movie start to finish. I wish I was a better writer to convince you more. Just go watch it... You'll love it!