Country Strong (2010)
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Reviews Counted: 129
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 101
The cast gives it their all, and Paltrow handles her songs with aplomb, but Country Strong's cliched, disjointed screenplay hits too many bum notes.
Average Rating: 4.7/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 30
The cast gives it their all, and Paltrow handles her songs with aplomb, but Country Strong's cliched, disjointed screenplay hits too many bum notes.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 31,974
My Rating
Movie Info
Soon after a rising young singer-songwriter (Hedlund) gets involved with a fallen, emotionally unstable country star (Paltrow), the pair embarks on a career resurrection tour helmed by her husband/manager (McGraw) and featuring a beauty-queen-turned-singer (Meester). Between concerts, romantic entanglements and old demons threaten to derail them all. -- (C) Columbia
Jan 7, 2011 Wide
Apr 12, 2011
$20.2M
Screen Gems
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Gwyneth Paltrow
Kelly Canter -
Tim McGraw
James Canter -
Garrett Hedlund
Beau Hutton -
Leighton Meester
Chiles Stanton -
Marshall Chapman
Winnie -
Lari White
Hair Stylist -
-
JD Parker
Joe -
Lisa Stewart Seals
Travis' Mom -
Jackie Welch
Teacher -
Cinda McCain
Misty -
Gabe Sipos
Travis -
Sandra Harris
Orderly -
Megan Henderson
Herself -
Danny Beene
Bob -
Reegus Flenory
Security Guard -
Terri Minton
James's Assistant -
Ed Bruce
Clint -
Darrin Dickerson
Tex -
Alana Grace
Ginny -
Katie Groshong
Richard's Assistant -
Candace Michelle Coffee
Denise -
Katie Cook
Gossip Show Host -
Adam Skaggs
PA #1 -
Travis Nicholson
PA #2 -
Denita Odigie
PR Girl in Classroom -
Jeffrey Buckner Ford
Richard -
Jeri Sager
Stylist -
Kirt Lahew
Biker -
Ranjit Bhullar
Doctor -
Tina White
Interviewee -
Brett Warren
Jesse Clark -
Olivia Haley
Fan -
Jim Melton
Fan -
Holly Watson
Interviewer -
Brad Schmitt
Interviewer -
Cory Younts
Beau's Bandmate -
Skylar Wilson
Beau's Bandmate -
Josh Graham
Beau's Bandmate -
Chris Scruggs
Beau's Bandmate -
Loney Hutchins
Beau's Bandmate -
Ian Fitchuk
Beau's Bandmate -
Bucky Baxter
Kelly's Bandmate -
John Bohlinger
Kelly's Bandmate -
Neal Casal
Kelly's Bandmate -
Chris Clark
Kelly's Bandmate -
Jim Lauderdale
Kelly's Bandmate -
Doug Frasure
Kelly's Bandmate -
Amanda Shires
Kelly's Bandmate -
John Deaderick
Kelly's Bandmate -
Johnny Gates
Chiles' Bandmate -
Jamie Jarbeau
Chiles' Bandmate -
Matt Scanlon
Chiles' Bandmate -
Michael Ollin Lotten
Chiles' Bandmate -
Smith Curry
Chiles' Bandmate -
Kristen Wilkinson
String Quartet Member -
David Angeli
String Quartet Member -
Gregory Martin
String Quartet Member -
Sara Reist
String Quartet Member -
James Hamlet
Honky Tonk Band Member -
Steve Hinson
Honky Tonk Band Member -
Fred Eltringham
Studio Band Member -
Gary Nicholson
Studio Band Member -
Beau Stapleton
Studio Band Member -
Danny Flowers
Studio Band Member -
Nancy Amons
Reporter -
Jim Taylor
Reporter -
Jonathan Martin
Reporter -
Katrina Hagger Smith
Reporter -
Nick Beres
Reporter -
Kelly Sutton
Reporter -
Shane Tallant
Reporter -
Christine Maddela
Reporter -
Stephanie Langston
Reporter
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Country Strong Trailer & Photos
All Critics (130) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (102) | DVD (5)
Paltrow gives it her best but is so conspicuously doing country. We're meant to believe she has spent half her life staring into a vodka bottle, but she glows like she's just stepped out of a yoga retreat.
Top CriticShana Feste's screenplay seldom rises above the level of daytime TV; the only actor who triumphs over her trite dialogue is Tim McGraw in a nonsinging role as Paltrow's husband and manager.
If Feste actually believes that this show is country nirvana, she has no business making a country movie.
The movie isn't worth the scuffed cowgirl boots it's scooting around in.
Unfortunately weak.
Catchy tunes, robust performances--but you can see every backstage-melodrama-cliche coming two scenes away.
A little like modern country music - odd moments of sincerity, heart and authenticity peek through the plastic, the hype and the manufactured hokum.
This canned corn falls far short of the inspiring story of triumph and tragedy it wants viewers to buy.
Though the plot is almost formulaic, "Country Strong" has two things going for it: talented actors and great music
Not exactly brimming with the essence of country music
Some may cynically scoff at Country Strong's rollercoaster of feelings, yet it's almost completely appropriate considering the high drama present in the lyrics of country music.
The finest country tunes evoke a sense of melancholy and resignation with a certain irresistible steel guitar pulse. Country Strong leaves behind an absolute distaste for life. Not even the worst country songs go that far.
...Country Strong's downfall stems from its almost egregiously deliberate pace...
It's got enough melodrama and full-volume diva-meltdown histrionics to blow a movie like Burlesque out of the water.
If McGraw had been armed with a microphone, perhaps the movie could have gained something in symmetry; if Kelly had a grounding in social history, perhaps she could better be believed.
The movie has its moments, but the characters are fuzzy around the edges...
Paltrow is a poster girl for the virtues of yoga and a macrobiotic diet - which makes her far too healthy-looking to play the troubled, booze-sodden singer at the heart of [this] sudsy romantic melodrama.
No saving grace here.
Some killer tunes plus a genuinely believable turn from Glee star Paltrow make Country Strong a show worth catching.
The good news is that Paltrow can sing; the bad news is the mawkish and one-paced drama she's playing in.
The backstage shenanigans and tear-stained soap opera are all too predictable in Country Strong but the performances lend it conviction and the soundtrack has enough heart and soul to endear it to true country music fans.
This is a cheesy soap opera that dearly wants to be a country and western All About Eve. The songs aren't too bad; the dialogue is.
For me it's a no.
I hated, loved, hated the movie. In that order.
Audience Reviews for Country Strong
Director: Shana Feste
Summary: While out on tour to revive her stalled career, once-popular country singer Kelly (Gwyneth Paltrow) falls for emerging newcomer Beau (Garrett Hedlund) and tries desperately to hide their burgeoning romance from her ever-present husband and manager, Ed (Tim McGraw). Written and directed by Shana Feste, this musical drama co-stars Leighton Meester as a former beauty queen trying to break out as a songstress.
My Thoughts: "In all I liked the movie, but the script just felt unfinished. Just not developed very well at all. There were some great moments in the film but it can't make up for the mess the script was. The acting was good by most. Tim McGraw is really surprising me with his acting skills, thought he was good. I still can't bring myself to care much for Gwyneth Paltrow's acting. I did on the other hand enjoy Leighton Meester's acting along with Garrett Hedlund. I thought they were good on screen together and had great chemistry. They both have good singing voices as well. Gwyneth just wasn't convincing for me as a country singer nor as an addict. The film does try to shed light on how troubled your soul can get from having such a demanding career. There were things I liked and things I didn't, but in the end the film wasn't as put together as the trailers made you believe it was. The best thing about the film was the music. So watch it just for that if not anything else."
Super Reviewer
-
- Kelly Canter: Now that's how its done, sweetheart.
-
- Beau Hutton: Fame and love can't live together.
-
- Chiles Stanton: How do I look?
- Beau Hutton: Like a Country Barbie.
- Chiles Stanton: [happy] Thank you!
-
- Kelly Canter: If you see me getting smaller, I'm leaving, dont be grieving, just got to get away from here. If you see me getting smaller, dont worry, and dont hurry, I've got the right to disappear.
-
- Kelly Canter: I'm tired......oh......(wobble)........
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Country Weak. | 4 months ago | 0 |
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There's not a huge story here, and I can't see it appealing to everyone, but I liked it.