SONG SUNG BLUE

US, 2025, 132 minutes, Colour.

Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Ella Anderson, Hudson Hensley, King Princess, Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Mustafa Shakir, John Beckwith.

Directed by Craig Brewer.

Song, Sung, Blue - everybody knows one.

Who does not enjoy and relish the songs and singing of Neil Diamond? Well, some bikies back in Milwaukee in the early 1990s for a start! But, certainly, not too many others.

This film is a treat for Neil Diamond fans, incorporating substantial renditions of many of his songs - and everyone wanting to hear and join in Sweet Caroline!

But, the songs here are not sung by Neil Diamond himself. Rather, this is the story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a husband and wife entertaining team called Lightning and Thunder, Mike is Lightning, Claire Thunder, from Milwaukee. Mike, a Vietnam veteran with subsequent alcohol problems, but sober for 20 years, sings Neil Diamond songs in clubs, encounters Claire, a Patsy Cline impersonator. They click, marry, bond with the children of their previous marriages, form something of a family, performing locally over many years, celebrities with a devoted following.

And the point is made that Mike is not just an impersonator of Neil Diamond but, with his looking something like the singer himself, he presents himself as an ‘interpreter’ of the songs. And, with Hugh Jackman in the role, talented singer, convincing actor, Mike Sardina comes alive. And, again talented singer, very persuasive actor, Kate Hudson is a most effective Claire.

This is a showbiz story of localized oomph, Mike’s dentist as his agent (even doing a filling with a lightning bolt on the tooth), a Milwaukee entrepreneur organising the venues (Fisher Stevens and Jim Belushi in these roles).

But it is also a suburban story, a busy house that audiences would recognise, financial struggles, dealing with the children, especially Claire’s daughter and a pregnancy, not just a bright lights story.

And, the story becomes very serious when Claire is the victim of a runaway car crashing into her and the house, losing a leg, therapy, new leg, depression, withdrawal, and Mike doing his best to keep the family afloat, jobs at karaoke bar… And some very joyful singing sequences at a Milwaukee Thai restaurant, the manager and his daughters gleefully joining in.

But, as they did in real life, they make a comeback, and another very happy moments when Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder joins them in a song. And, their filling a hall when Neil Diamond himself comes to town and his concert is sold out.

This dramatisation is based on a documentary from 2008, with the same title, incorporating quite a number of small details of Mike and Claire’s life.

There is a great deal of feeling, sadness and joy, in Song Sung Blue.

[For audiences who would like more, the original documentary 2008 is readily available Youtube when Googled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDukMQIz1Sc

 And, further, there is a very lengthy interview with the director of the documentary, Greg Kohs, about how he made the film:  https://www.reelasdirt.com/song-sung-blue]

1. Based on a true story, the documentary of the same name? The characters, their lives, performances? And the interpretation of Neil Diamond?
2. The 1990s, Wisconsin, the city, the streets, the town, homes, performance venues, bars, clubs, theatres? The Thai restaurant? Hospitals, AA groups, support groups?
3. The musical score? The selection of Neil Diamond’s songs, performance, interpretation? Audience response? The lesser-known songs? The popular songs, especially Sweet Caroline and audience participation?
4. The introduction to Mike, the extreme close-up, his speech, the AA meeting, 20 years without drinking, the support group? His life, singing? Previous marriage, daughter? The visits? His creativity, the issue of interpretation rather than impersonation? Hugh Jackman, singing, serious acting? His friends, Mark, the introduction to Tom, his enthusiasm, possible bookings? Mike and his wanting control? His pulling out of the performance and the repercussions for his friends?
5. The encounter with Claire, Patsy Cline songs, the conversation, the attraction, his watching her? The meetings, discussions, his name, Lightning, her becoming Thunder? The range of their performances together, the bonding, the audiences, the selection of songs?
6. Mike’s daughter, her coming to visit, the contrast with Claire’s daughter, her hostility, forced to be hospitable? The younger brother? Mike, the relationship with the family, the two girls and their friendship, discussions together? The romance, the kissing, the hesitations, good behaviour, the proposal, the ring, the wedding? The family together, the friends and playing, the cantankerous mother? The growing bond is within the family, my becoming a father figure to Rachel and Dana?
7. The idea for the Neil Diamond interpretation, the various performances, the bad booking and the bikie’s reaction, the fight? Other successes, Dave Watson, the dentist, his managing Mike, the discussions with Tom, the promotion? Tom and his enthusiasm? The issue of the tooth – with the lightning symbol on it?
8. The bond between Lightning and thunder, the exhilaration of the performances? Hopes for the future? Claire, in the garden, the car crashing into her, hospital, the amputation, her depression, at home, hostile, suspicious, depressed, Rachel trying to help her, the appointments for therapy and her neglecting them? Her outbursts against Mike? His sadness? Support for the children?
9. The issues of insurance, the money, Rachel and her working, the revelation about her pregnancy, Mike’s response?
10. Claire going to hospital, rehabilitation, the discussions with the therapist, the dream of her being successful again and her waking up on the lawn, her previous despising of AA talk, the effect of the therapy, her return? Building up, walking, suggesting that they play again together?
11. The continued support of their friends, Sex Machine, little Richard, Tom and the bookings, Mark and his age, retiring, support? The other members of the band?
12. The Thai restaurant, the manager and his love Neil Diamond, the karaoke, the songs, the manager singing? The later development, everybody singing, the manager’s daughters, the customers…?
13. The Pearl Jam issue, the girls excited, Mike ignorant, the performance, Eddie and his singing the song with them, the response of the audience?
14. Mike, his health, the various heart turns, Rachel knowing it, his concealing the attacks, continuing on? The second car out of control?
15. The buildup to the finale, Neil Diamond in Milwaukee, the sellout, the theatre manager, inviting them to do the supplementary concert, its being sold out? The excitement for everyone? And the possibility to meet Neil Diamond afterwards?
16. The concert, Mike and his heart attack, falling, hitting his head, persevering, the welcome to Claire, his coming up on the lift, and the singing the song, fulfilling his dream, the audience response? Afterwards, going to see Neil Diamond, in the car, his death?
17. The funeral, Claire and her tribute, the singing? The grief of the family?

Local celebrities, the fulfilment of their ambitions, the friendships, the tragedies, overcoming them?