Rent Blue Moon (2025)

When the Music Moved On - Blue Moon review by griggs

Some films work best in small spaces, and Blue Moon leans right into that. Richard Linklater’s one-night, character study takes place in Sardi’s bar, where Lorenz Hart nurses his ego (and his drinks) as Oaklahoma! opens without him. It’s a sharp premise—one man’s crisis unfolding as his art form outgrows him.

Ehthan Hawke give Hart a fragile, slightly sizzled charm, equal parts wit and self-loathing. Andrew Scott is effortlessly smooth as Richard Rodger’s, and Margaret Qualley slips through the gloom with a warmth that almost redeems the melancholy. The performances fo much of the lifting; the direction keeps it intimate, if sometimes airless.

It’s an elegant film, if not especially exciting one—polished, well acted, and quietly sad. Blue Moon won’t dazzle, but it lingers, like the last drink ina bar that doen’t feel like home anyore.

Fascinating, Talky/Stagey, Quietly Sad, Doomed Hopefulness Biopic of Songwriter Hart's Final Year - Blue Moon review by PV

I love films about songwriters, so this was right up my alley. However, I am not sure how those not so interested in the lives of songwriters will be.

This looks as though it's adapted from a stage play - because most of the 'action'/dialogue takes place in one room, a bar. But no, it's based on letters from Hart to the young woman here.

Anyway, I loved it. I agree with 'quietly sad', or maybe 'doomed hopefulness' as Hart himself says, aware of his own tragedy as he lives it.

It reminds me a bit of SET FIRE TO THE STARS, a biopic of Dylan Thomas starring Elijah Wood. Also stagey and talky, low budget.

I liked the notes at the end, and those unaware of Rodgers and Hart should read those and wait for the song credits on-screen to see the classic songs they wrote, BLUE MOON and MY FUNNY VALENTINE amongst others, but those were adopted by pop singers and jazz musicians like Chet Baker respectively.

One for songwriting fans, like me. So I give it 5 stars.