BLAZE
US, 2018, 129 minutes, Colour.
Ben Dickey, Alia Shawcat, Charlie Sexton, Josh Hamilton, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Linklater, Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Ethan Hawke, Sybil Rosen.
Directed by Ethan Hawke.
Blaze is a portrait of country musician and composer, Blaze Foley. The film is been directed by Ethan Hawke who co-wrote the screenplay with Foley’s former lover, Sybil Rosen, based on her book, Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze. (Sybil Rosen herself has a role in the film, playing her mother).
The strength of the film is in musician Ben Dickey portraying Blaze Foley. There is the outline portrait of him as a character and of his life and career. Dickey also brings to life Foley’s music and performance.
Alia Shawkat portrays Sybil Rosen, devoted yet finding the relationship difficult. Kris Kristofferson plays his father.
The film was shot in Louisiana and has the atmosphere of the South. There are cameos for a number of Ethan Hawke’s friends including his frequent director, Richard Linklater, as well as Sam Rockwell, Wyatt Russell, Josh Hamilton and Steve Zahn.
Mainstream audiences will probably find it too focused on the character and his music, but for those who know Blaze Foley and who appreciate American biographies and the emotion of the audience in country music, it will be well appreciated.
1. An appreciation of the musician, Blaze Foley? As a person, as a musician, his career and composition? His personal limitations?
2. The direction by Ethan Hawke, his interest, the number of guest stars in cameos? The screenplay adapted from the novel by Foley’s partner, Sybil Rosen, Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze Foley?
3. The film’s style and its presenting impressions, random sequences, radio interviews, flashbacks? The overall effect in creating a portrait of Foley?
4. The performances, Ben Dickey as Foley, impersonating him, singing all the songs? Alia Shawcat as Sybil?
5. The device of having Townes Van Zandt being interviewed on the radio with his friend? A basis for the flashbacks? Van Zandt and his collaboration with Foley over the years? The bond between the men?
6. Foley as a character, the accident, his limp, his music, local, his meeting with Sybil, the relationship, the decision to go out on their own, the tours and the performances, the range of reactions for and against? Success? Influence on Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson and their tributes?
7. Foley as a character, ups and downs, friendly, yet drinking? The effect? Sybil and her difficulties, his being away for a long time, returning and apologising?
8. Sybil and her mother, her patience with Blaze, staying with him, his absences, her suspicions, her eventually leaving?
9. The overall impression of the Country and Western scene, composition, lyrics, performances, tours, radio exposure? Reputations?
10. Foley losing his life at 39, the young man and his exploiting his father, Foley accusing him about the cheque, the boy shooting Foley, the pain of his death?
11. The film as a contribution to movies about Country and Western and the Blues? And as a tribute to Foley?
