ABOUT HANK WILLIAMS

It's hard to believe that Hank Williams died at 29. Sad story.

After watching the Ken Burns documentary on the history of country music and buying the book that accompanies the film and reading more about Hank Williams I saw this movie and ordered it to watch and I was very happy with the version of his story,the chapter titled "The Hillbilly Shakespeare" was accurate, never before had an entertainer been so successful in holding the audience in the palm of his hand

No fault of the performances, the actors put their soul and inspiring talent into every scene, but this film is simply a biopic without the inspiration of 'Walk the Line." Although it portrays other's reaction to Hank's alcoholism it only eludes to the dynamics that create his responses. It was too much of a straightforward narrative without a strong theme. Why did he marry his first wife if he didn't want an equally strong, ambitious and competent partner? He and his mother were equally cruel, he at least subtly cruel to her, and his mother was clearly portrayed as an enabler of Hank's behaviors. Why was she threatened by the first wife? Why the discord? Elizabeth Olsen's voice, and Audrey's, that actual wife, wasn't bad enough to explain the problems of collaborating with her. Hank may have been a loner who was ambitious and didn't compromise. That could have been his downfall and why his relationships were tense. But it doesn't explain the roots of his darkness. The movie does have two important scenes that talk about his downfalls, one where a journalist tries to interview him and the other when Hank talks about his pride. Still, the film needed more focus on the character's themes with less length to make it remarkable. Side note that I cannot resist is to Hank Williams III. Anyone who thinks a professionally trained English actor, or Aussie for that fact, can't do a role from any region is in for a big surprise. The English have more chameleon skill to disappear into a role than an actor who merely has 'star power'.

Movie could have been made without nudity. They should have shown his spiritual side more than the destructive sides. He was a great song wrighter struggling with sin brought on by getting famous to quickly and trying to please fans while dealing with back injuries from a botched surgery by taking painkillers.