I was fully prepared to dislike this film, or even worse, be totally unmoved by it. From Ethan Hawke’s distracting cosplay accessories to his weird affectations in the trailer, it raised some flags for me that put me off checking it out prior to the new Blu-ray release. Also, Lorenz Hart is hardly a compelling subject, especially in the guise of another apparent treacly biopic. Gladly, my initial misgivings proved to be entirely unfounded, as Hawke soars above his accoutrements and Robert Kaplow’s fantastic screenplay upends expectations by focusing solely on one pivotal night in Hart’s storied career.
Buy Blue Moon Blu-rayThe night in question is the Broadway opening of Oklahoma!, the knockout debut pairing of creators Rodgers and Hammerstein, signaling the end of Rodgers and Hart’s longtime partnership. Hart finds himself alone at Broadway’s legendary hangout, Sardi’s, having witnessed the show and now resigned to drowning his sour grapes in unhealthy amounts of booze before the triumphant show creators arrive.
That’s all the setup required, as Hawke’s Hart proceeds to monopolize Sardi’s staff, and later their patrons, with a wry, self-effacing monologue that airs his grievances, shares his hopes, and shines a light on the innermost workings of his complex character. We watch as supporting players drift in and out of Hart’s orbit, most importantly Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) and young Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley), a college sophomore he’s been grooming to no avail.
Hawke is well outside his typical comfort zone here, a masterful stretch that totally warrants his Oscar nomination. His take on Hart’s sexually ambiguous nature isn’t nearly as offputting as teased in the trailer, with the net result simply portraying Hart as a super-talkative bon vivant. He’s further hindered by the Hart look: a ridiculous combover wig, freaky black contacts, and comically short stature that occasionally makes him look like he’s performing on his knees. Here’s the thing about Hart: most people watching today have no idea what he looked like, so there’s really little reason for such slavish attention to Hawke’s modifications, with the end results being far more distracting than immersive. Thankfully, Hawke’s spellbinding take on the masterful script is so transformative that it overcomes all distractions.
Blu-ray specifications are 1080p hi-def in 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. Filmed entirely on the recreated Sardi’s set, the image quality exudes the warm but somewhat dim hues of bar lighting, with an almost film-like grain despite being shot on digital. Surround sound is pointless due to the insular setting and center channel focus on Hawke’s nonstop conversations, but no hiss is evident. No bonus features are included, aside from the somewhat misleading theatrical trailer.
Blue Moon is the type of quiet, unassuming drama that Hollywood just doesn’t make anymore. There’s no intrigue, no hard-earned payoff, just an incandescent lead performance surrounded by top-notch scene partners. Buoyed by Hawke’s total commitment and fellow Oscar nominee Kaplow’s scintillating script, Richard Linklater’s superb film is a transfixing look at a pivotal moment in Hart’s life and Broadway’s history.
