Tells the story of Lorenz Hart’s struggles with alcoholism and mental health as he tries to save face during the opening of “Oklahoma!”.

We’ve all heard of Rodgers and Hammerstein, but how many of us have heard of Rodgers and Hart? I suspect far less, with the exception of any musical theatre afficionados. Richard Linklater’s latest film is a biopic of the lesser-known name in those three mentioned, Lorenz Hart, who was Richard Rodgers original lyricist in the early days of American musical theatre. The film takes place over the course of one evening in 1943, where Lorenz Hart has been invited to attend the premiere and subsequent after show party for the musical ‘Oklahoma!’, his former partner’s first musical with his new writing partner, Oscar Hammerstein II. The title, ‘Blue Moon’, will be familiar to many because of the song, which was of course a creation of Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, possibly his most enduring legacy in popular culture.

Ethan Hawke leads the cast as Lorenz Hart and this is one of these performances that it feels like the actor has been building to across his entire career. Hawke is a fine actor who has proven it in many roles but he is outstanding as Hart, capturing a man who appears on the edge both personally and professionally yet retains an innate charisma and ability to command the attention of a room with his storytelling wit. He is at an event to celebrate a musical that will go on to be a greater success than anything he wrote with Richard Rodgers and he knows it, despite viewing it as the antithesis of everything he and Rodgers previously worked towards. He admits he is bitter, and he spends his time moving between the event and the bar where he is failing badly to not drink, ostensibly to get through the evening. His conversations with Rodgers (Andrew Scott) are excruciating to watch and we’ll learn more about the circumstances that led Rodgers to turn to Hammerstein in the first place, and why their relationship is as it is presented in the film at this point in time.

There is a line in the film from Hart to an aspiring filmmaker (George Roy Hill) that stories about friendship are more interesting than stories about romantic relationships, and that feels like a good subheading for this movie which is at heart concerned with the breakdown of a friendship. Morrissey once wrote a song called ‘We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful’, another touchpoint that may be of relevance here. Alongside Hawke and Scott, Bobby Cannavale is perfectly cast as the easy-going barman, and Margaret Qualley has a major role as an attractive young woman who Hart has become infatuated with. I found their conversations a little awkward truth be told, but it serves a purpose in illuminating where Hart was mentally and professionally at this stage of his career.

‘Blue Moon’ is an impressive chamber piece from Richard Linklater, with a career best Ethan Hawke performance as a man reflecting on his past decisions as he is forced to swallow his professional pride and join in the celebrations for a piece of art he felt cast aside from.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale and Andrew Scott

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt32536315/