So I’ve never given the actress Kate Hudson much thought: She’s Goldie Hawn’s daughter so I’ve probably unconsciously (and unfairly) dismissed her with the ubiquitous “nepo baby” label (see under: Gwyneth Paltrow). I liked her in the unlikely Larry David comedy from years ago, Clear History (2013), starring opposite Jon Hamm, and remember her as the sexy groupie in Almost Famous (2000). And that movie is a good comparison for this moment: 25 years later she just made her best film yet, and for my money, deserves the Best Actress award this year.
I won’t give much away here: This is a terrific movie and I don’t want to spoil it for others. I’ve seen most of the films up for Best Picture and all but one up for Best Actress and this is my favorite so far. Kate Hudson doesn’t even look like herself. Which makes it more “real.” (As Hollywood movies go, of course.) No doubt the Director (Craig Brewer) deserves some credit. They don’t glamorize her and make her seem too pretty in this “Based on a True Story” (we know how that goes) narrative. She actually looks like a somewhat frowsy “tribute” singer (at first she’s doing Patsy Cline songs) who falls for another tribute singer (Hugh Jackman) and unites to create a Neil Diamond tribute band. It’s funny and touching, and mostly free of indulgent-musician/diva nonsense. Part of the humor is how Do It Yourself their band, publicity, and act is. But there’s plenty of drama and that’s where the touching moments occur. Plus Hugh Jackman gives his signature, over-the-top performance. He must be the greatest ham actor of his era. I think this role as a Neil Diamond impersonator ranks up with his magician role in the knockout Christian-Bale film (2006) The Prestige. Now that is a great movie.
