Blue Moon

 

Blue Moon (Amazon Prime)

Blue Moon is basically a one-man play with a wonderful supporting cast. Ethan Hawke is Lorenz (Larry) Hart, the American lyricist and half of the famous Broadway songwriting team Rogers and Hart. This is a short film, about 1.5 hours, focusing on the opening night of Oklahoma and the adulation for the play, contrasting with Hart’s disparagement of it and his regret for declining to write it.

Hawke delivers a bravo performance. Hawke’s portrayal captures Hart’s disappointments and the facades he presents. Aside from costuming and makeup, dialogue is the film's main feature. Hawke captures the character's tone at the nadir of his career. His famous songs are behind him, and new ones depend on collaborations he can sustain with his former partner. Hawke captures Hart’s mercurial nature. Hart is a great songwriter, but he needs new opportunities. Compounding his artistic struggles with his alcoholism.

His biggest façade is that he is gay. To maintain this act, he pursues a relationship with a young art student half his age, played by Margaret Qualley.  He gives her flowers and promises to introduce her to his famous associates to advance her career. Despite his adulation, the relationship is not consummated. She knows he is gay. Back in the 1940’s, being outed as gay was a career killer, so their relationship was more symbiotic than romantic.

The emotion that defines Hart is a profound sadness, which Hawke captures. Hart is in search for his next big break and his inability to be his true self.

Bobby Canavale is his talkative bartender friend who, without success, tries to limit Hart's drinking. Margaret Qualley is the tall glass of water that Hart uses as a shield to hide his forbidden desires. Andrew Scott is Richard Rogers, who seems to distance himself from Hart, implying that Hart was difficult to work with.

Ethan Hawke is almost unrecognizable because of the makeup. They use cinematic magic. Hawke is 5’10”, while the real Hart was 5’. In the film, Hawke appears smaller, matching Hart’s size.

The movie is an engaging biopic, and Ethan Hawke earns a well-deserved best actor nomination.