Country Strong

I'm not a big fan of Gwyneth Paltrow - I find her acting and voice generally weak. I am also not a fan of Leighton Meester - even though I have never watched an episode of Gossip Girl I don't like her or it (I know, something about books and covers.) But I actually really enjoyed both of them in Country Strong. This story isn't really anything we haven't seen before, in the movies or even in celebrity real life: a star struggling with addiction, the controlling manager, the kind, young, other man, the threat of a hot up-and-comer. But it's a good story, and done beautifully in this movie. The acting is solid, the relationships are interesting, and even though country is not my favourite genre, the music is good, really good.

Shout-outs to Tim McGraw, who has a very different role from that in The Blindside, and Garrett Hedlund, who I was pretty sure was the kid from Tron, but only just confirmed it. Hedlund is the shining star in this one, he plays his character with love and care, and his singing is top notch.

A good one even if country isn't your thing.