Craig Brewer directs Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson and Ella Anderson in this unlikely biopic of Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act.

Craig Brewer is one of the unsung highlights of modern American cinema. His movies are bawdy, silly, hard hitting and set in the real world. He understands the right combination of grit and glitter, tears and triumph. He is almost an anathema to what the streamers and the wide releases want to churn out… yet his tough little melodramas are crowd pleasers. He also seemingly adores musical performance. Brewer hadn’t made a dull flick yet even as gun-for-hire. This is his best work so far… the utterly unpredictable true story is glued together by Jackman and Hudson’s insane chemistry and those Neil Diamond tunes. I’m not going to lie, I have been humming Forever In Blue Jeans for days since. Also middle aged Hudson is a revelation. Never rated her before but she looks and plays grand in this. I have a sneaking suspicion that this might just “Green Book” the Oscars this year. I’d be happy with that. I’m all for heart and humour.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Almost Famous (2000)

You can follow me on Letterboxd here https://letterboxd.com/ValVerdeNights/