SummaryBlaze is inspired by the life of Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey), the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The film weaves together three different periods of time, braiding re-imagined versions of Blaze’s past, present and future. The different strands explore h...
SummaryBlaze is inspired by the life of Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey), the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The film weaves together three different periods of time, braiding re-imagined versions of Blaze’s past, present and future. The different strands explore h...
Along with Dickey’s equally feral and vulnerable performance, what stands out most in Blaze is just how fully formed and realized Hawke’s vision is as a filmmaker.
Movies about reckless, chemically addled men rarely have the nerve to go whole hog with the bad behavior, because it makes for alienating company. Still: Blaze comes closer than most to an honest look at this sort of troubadour and this kind of life.
What a tremendous surprise on behalf of Ethan Hawke. I didn't know anything about its subject but it didn't matter and it's really not that necessary.
This is a trip completely worth enjoying no matter which side of the spectrum you are.
My Mellow Melodies.
Blaze
Hawke, surprisingly doesn't have the Linklater-ness in him. His methods are not illuminating but romantic. He craves for the love and the chemistry that he evidently understands, is often the crux of the game. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the guns to pull it off. The actors doesn't have the caliber to carry it all on their shoulders. In fact, the push, the spark, itself isn't enough for them to boost off for a long marathon. Their fatal sprints and leaps is not a way to be still, to just breathe, on screen. Ben **** plays the titled character Blaze Foley and might show some promising talent on the dramatic monologues and musical numbers.
Sybil played by Alia Shawkat is the major upset. She is incredible in their heartwarming moments as a couple sharing some flirty humorous talks, but as soon as the edginess comes in on the equation, the mutterings fades into silence. She fails to push **** back and then pull him. One of the most dramatic scene where Shawkat completely loses at drunk **** is a fine example of it, as the audience fails to grasp any whatsoever drama projected on screen.
On terms of writing, the script does have antics to rely upon, which may not come off easy to behold it on screen. And yes, Hawke fails to glorify them on screen, and primary reason to that would be him not trying to build up any sequence to that one moment that it hinges upon. The conversations and the cameos stabilizes this over thought out film, where in both the cases you can see a glimpse of Richard Linklater; all the jokes are funny in here. Blaze is anything but blazing, it is warm, but definitely not blazing, it is cozy but not blazing, calculative not blazing.
Singer-songwriter Ben Dickey is affecting as Foley, assisted ably by a supporting cast that fights to transcend the drunken-angel clichés of the man’s legacy.
Musician Charlie Sexton brings charisma and a haunted quality to Townes Van Zandt, the legendary Texas musician who was a Foley pal, drinking buddy and fellow teller of tall tales.
Blaze Foley was a minor songwriter of folk/country music and this biopic makes no case for why he should be memorialized in celluloid. His music was OK, his performing was nothing special and his lifestyle travelled a typical self-destructive journey. The film doesn't establish him as an especially great talent or even an interesting person. The most notable aspect is that it's helmed by first-director Ethan Hawke (he's also heard conducting an interview). Hawke managed to capture some effective performances (including non-actor Ben **** in the title role) and added a few interesting cinematic elements. Neither Mr. Hawke nor the rambling script haven't offered any real reasons to appreciate this man or the movie.
You might like this movie. I’ve read the reviews and I am not going to discourage you from seeing it. However, if you are not a hardcore fan of country music, you might want to consider seeing something else. Occasionally the movie is powerful and very moving, but most of the time I was frustrated and/or bored with the inarticulateness and incoherence of Blaze and couldn’t wait for the film to be over.
This an extremely drawn out and convoluted movie. If nothing else is happening, how about the main character singing a song! The cinematography was good in places, but the movie itself seemed pointless.
Production Company
Ansgar Media,
Black Hangar Studios,
Cinetic Media,
Creation Film and Television,
ORWO Film Distribution,
Orwo Studios,
Under the Influence Productions