There’s a saying that not all heroes wear capes. By that token, you can say that not all superstars get to the big time. Such is the case for the highly enjoyable, rousing and emotional story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a married musical duo called Lightning & Thunder. The couple are true “everyman” entertainers whose dreams and talent were never limited by their resources or their place in the world.
Written and directed by Craig Brewer, Song Sung Blue gives the beloved Wisconsin-based act their big screen treatment. While they are far from the Hollywood Bowl, the very fact that this film exists is a testament to the perseverance and charm of Lightning & Thunder. To steal a line from another Neil Diamond adjacent film, “if you can dream it, you can do it.” Well, they did it, and viola, a major motion picture about their life is upon us this holiday season.
Craig Brewer‘s films are all about hustling, dreams, gusto and ambition. Those elements are the building blocks of all passion projects. Moreover, there is an ocean of difference between someone having “made it” and “getting there”, and that’s the hook of his stories. All of his characters fall in the latter category. All of them.
There’s a line in the film where Thunder’s daughter states “There’s people in the world who get new shit, and then there’s people like us…patching up broken shit.” And that probably best describes the characters, setting and stories the Craig Brewer makes. These are not underdogs…these are real people. And there’s actually a difference. It’s easy to cheer for a superstar, but our hearts tell us to cheer even louder for someone just getting by.
Scott Bomar, the Memphis-based musician, has worked with Brewer on nearly all his films. And their collaboration continues here in two parts. Bomar provides the score, and he also produces the songs in the film. Anytime you see Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson belt out one of Diamond’s many classics, Scott was there bringing this dream to life. With Brewer, it is a highly symbiotic process. So, even in the slower scenes, the tender, emotional or shocking moments, or the crowd-pleasing performance, Song Sung Blue is not just a movie, it’s not a show…it’s an experience.
We spoke to Scott at length years ago to talk about his background in music, his working relationship with Brewer and the oh, so groovy vinyl release of Dolomite Is My Name! As a composer, he brings depth and emotion through bespoke music for each project. And it’s with Song Sung Blue that he can break your heart with just five notes. Thanks to Scott for his time and enjoy this episode of The GoSeeTalk Podcast Experience!
This Christmas, dream huge. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star in SONG SUNG BLUE, featuring the iconic songs of Neil Diamond. Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. Only in theaters December 25.
