Richard Linklater’s film "Blue Moon" brings the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart to the big screen. Best known for his collaboration with Richard Rodgers, Hart led a troubled life filled with insecurities and battles with his identity. A closeted gay man and a known alcoholic, Hart’s passing at the early age of 48 is shown in the film to be full of heartache and regret.
The film is mainly set at Sardi’s, a well-known New York restaurant, depicting the aftermath of the opening of "Oklahoma!", a massive success for Rodgers and his new show partner, Oscar Hammerstein. Hart's bitterness and envy toward their success are palpable in the film as he struggles with his own unfulfilled dreams and unrequited love. The tension between him and his former collaborator adds depth to his struggles.
Linklater's film also digs deeper into Hart's romantic life, which is a lesser-known part of his story. Despite being privately gay, Hart had an infatuation with a young woman, Elizabeth Weiland, giving us a closer look at his complexity. This point is played upon in the film, and Hart’s character famously says, “To be a writer, you have to be omnisexual.”
However, the film has received some criticism particularly over the casting of Ethan Hawke as Hart. While Hawke’s performance is compelling, it is hard for audiences to believe him as the insecure, unattractive, balding man Hart believed himself to be.
Linklater and screenwriter Robert Kaplow ensure the film is jam-packed with insider nods and intriguing trivia for fans of Broadway. But the heart of the film lies in the exploration of Hart’s struggle with his identity, loneliness, and unachieved hopes, which come together in the film’s powerful climactic scene, leaving a deep impression on viewers and painting a vivid portrait of the songwriting maestro.
