I Saw the Light

Critics Consensus

I Saw the Light boasts a terrifically talented cast, but their performances aren't enough to enliven an unfocused biopic that never comes close to capturing its subject's timeless appeal.

18%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 154

36%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,628
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Movie Info

I SAW THE LIGHT, the story of the legendary country western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his meteoric rise to fame and its ultimately tragic effect on his health and personal life. Written and directed by Marc Abraham, I SAW THE LIGHT is based on Colin Escott's award-winning biography and stars Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, Bradley Whitford, David Krumholtz and Cherry Jones. RatPac Entertainment's Brett Ratner and Bron Studios' Aaron L. Gilbert produced the film, with G. Marq Roswell and Abraham. James Packer of RatPac Entertainment and Jason Cloth of Creative Wealth Media Finance executive produced. Notable director of photography Dante Spinotti was the cinematographer for the film.
  • Rating:
    R (for some language and brief sexuality/nudity)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Musical & Performing Arts
  • Directed By:
    Marc Abraham
  • Written By:
    Marc Abraham
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $1,646,468
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Sony Pictures Classics

Cast

Tom Hiddleston
as Hank Williams
Elizabeth Olsen
as Audrey Mae Williams
Cherry Jones
as Lillie Williams
Bradley Whitford
as Fred Rose
David Krumholtz
as James Dolan
Maddie Hasson
as Billie Jean
Wrenn Schmidt
as Bobbie Jett
Josh Pais
as Dore Schary
James DuMont
as WB Nowlin
Charlie Talbert
as Cliff Rogers
Diane Mozzone
as Solemn Singer
David Maldonado
as Hank's Lawyer
Cory Hart
as Back Pain Doctor
Rebecca Chulew
as Performer/Hotel Bar Patron
Joe Chrest
as Oscar Davis
Justin Lebrun
as Concert Attendant
Wayne Pére
as Toby Marshall
Candice Harrison
as Roadhouse Patron
Erica Curtis
Caroline Hebert
as Ellie
Jillian Batherson
as Bar Woman
Deborah Alcorn
as Concert Attendee
Jeff Caperton
as Campbell
Casey Bond
as Jerry Rivers
Emily Marie Palmer
Gary Teague
as Pedestrian
Christopher Heskey
as StageHand Supervisor
Mattie Liptak
as Charles Carr
Jayson Warner Smith
as Hank Snow
Allison Claye
as Concert Goer
Rob Boltin
as Frank Walker
Will Beinbrink
as Jim Denny
Donna Chamness
as Cow Coliseum Fresh Face
Douglas M. Griffin
as Howard Pill
Gretchen Koerner
as Bar Waitress
Vanessa Amaya
NM Garcia
as Ryman Auditorium/Cow Coliseum Gal
Jeff Pope
as Red Foley
Bryan Michael Hall
as Musician
Denise Gossett
as Mrs. Jones
Joshua Brady
as Sammy Pruett
Garrett Kruithof
as Sebie Smith
Christopher Gulas
as Concert Goer
John Neisler
as Mr. Jones
Candiss Nicole Gandy
as Rays Party Guest/Concert Attendee
Michael D. Anglin
as Performer
Geraldine Singer
as Dore Schary's Secretary
Carter Burch
as Harold (Audio Guy)
Lindsey McCollough
as Concert Goer
Fred Parker Jr.
as Faron Young
Artie Mozzone
as Hank Williams Song Singer
Lisa Ann Smith
as Performer
Stan Taylor
as Concert Goer
Jaclyn Bethany
as Ryman Performer
Michael Haskins
as Jud Collins
Rodney Crowell
as Elonzo Huble 'Lon' Williams
Devan Gerlach
as MGM Pedestrian
Cody Daniel
as Ronald
Michael P Gardner
as Police Officer
Elliott Grey
as Banker
Ransom Ashley
as Press Photographer
Richard Jackson
as Boyette
Casey Groves
as Promoter Lebeau
Kelvin Payton
as CBS Doorman
Skyler Davenport
as Hospital Nurse/MGM Pedestrian
Paulina Manseau
as MGM Employee
Vincent Stalba
as Sonny Jones
Ellie Foco
as Lycrecia, Age 9
Forest Pruett
as Cow Coliseum Promoter
Vito Viscuso
as Doctor
Bethany Blakey
as Female Passerby
Elise Fyke
as Miss Warwick
Rick Vyper
as Dr. Clayton ER Doctor
Fred Parker Jr.
as Faron Young
Candice Richardson
as Opry Attendee
Rebecca Gamble
as Concert Attendee
Troy Compas
as Concert Attendee
Jennifer DeLatte
as Front Row Concert Girl
Todd Barnett
as Gas Station Attendant
Rod Hermansen
as Roy Acuff
Von Lewis
as Ray Price (as Von Cleve Lewis)
Crystal Cook
as Kitty Wells
Amanda Joy Erickson
as Patron
Cade Weeks
as Hank Williams Jr.
Lauren Helling
as Pensacola Woman
Ashley Gilbert
as Ray's Party Goer
Sarah Eilts
as Ray Price's Wife
Emily Lyman
as Shreveport Nurse
Heather D. Benoit
as Sally
Ellen Crouch
as Drifting Cowboys Family
Javier Andy Zavala Jr.
as Concert Goer
Meredith Brumwell
as Audrey's Friend (as Meredith Charron)
Jan Duncan Weir
as Ryman Auditorium Concert Attendee
Deadra Moore
as Mrs. Ragland
John R. Bennett, II
as Doctor/House Call
Michael Sieve
as WSM DJ
Jason Palombo
as Roadhouse/Festival Patron
Nathan Tremaine
as Band Member
Floyd Knight
as Sickly Patient/Hanks Roommate
Mallorie Lindsey
as Woman with Audrey
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Critic Reviews for I Saw the Light

All Critics (154) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (126)

  • [Tom] Hiddleston mesmerizes. . .Elizabeth Olsen astonishes!

    November 5, 2019 | Full Review…

    Debbie Lynn Elias

    Behind The Lens
    Top Critic

  • Tom Hiddleston's excellent performance as Hank Williams deserved a better film but the performance alone is not enough to save I Saw The Light.

    May 7, 2019 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Cate Marquis

    We Are Movie Geeks
    Top Critic

  • I Saw the Light has a fascinating subject...but still ends up rather a plonky misfire.

    April 3, 2019 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Tori Brazier

    One Room With A View
    Top Critic

  • Though there are "steel guitars and weeping fiddles" a-plenty, as a final comment sums up, and despite the good performances throughout, the film still feels like a missed opportunity to get to the heart of its intriguing subject.

    February 22, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Alexa Dalby

    Dog and Wolf
    Top Critic

  • I Saw the Light is unstructured and slogs its way through the troubled rise and fall of arguably one of country music's most legendary figures.

    February 5, 2019 | Full Review…

    Amanda Greever

    The Daily Times (Tennessee)
    Top Critic

  • Hiddleston's performance desperately tries to keep "I Saw the Light" afloat, but it can't overcome some serious problems in the film's screenplay and direction.

    January 15, 2019 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

    Micheal Compton

    Bowling Green Daily News
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (154)

Audience Reviews for I Saw the Light

  • Sep 12, 2015
    Hank Williams doesn't seem to have been that great of a guy. He became addicted to the drink, morphine and other painkillers as well as fathering several children, only one of which he ever married their mother and this all before his untimely death at the age of twenty-nine. While Williams may not have necessarily been the best guy (and possibly one of the worst parents) it is usually these types of people that stand to create the most interesting stories and in Williams case, write the most interesting ones as well. Before becoming popular as a singer Williams was primarily known for being one of Country and Westerns top songwriters. Williams penned and performed countless tunes for a radio show in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama before securing a deal with the music publishing firm Acuff-Rose as a professional songwriter. All of that taken into consideration, you wouldn't really come to learn much of it from the Marc Abraham (Flash of Genius) biopic concerning Williams as it tends to only patch together a few story points in the singers life rather than dig in and find out what really made him tick. It's admirable that Abraham doesn't take the easy route of opening his film backstage before one of Williams last shows and using it as a framing device for a period of reflection in which the movie's told, but he also doesn't come up with an alternative way to tell us anything insightful about the man and a movie needs to offer more than a Wikipedia page does. read the whole review at www.reviewsfromabed.com
    Philip P Super Reviewer
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