"Chasing the Final Act: A Willie Nelson Obsession," penned, directed, and acted by the initial feature filmmaker and renowned German actress Eva Hassmann, is a tale of Greta Weingarten, a married woman from Germany, exasperated by her ungrateful rich husband who fails to value her. Compelled to leave her tedious marital life, she bravely embarks on an American journey to witness the final performance of her beloved idol Willie Nelson, a musician who has fascinated her since her childhood.
The movie showcases Nelson, who was 90 when the film was issued, playing his own role in concert footages and making brief appearances as himself and, quite disappointingly, as another character. Apparently, Nelson decided to contribute to "Chasing the Final Act" following the receipt of the script through a mutual acquaintance.
The origin story of Hassmann's feature offers a shot of motivation, particularly to independent film creators completely committed to their vision. Regrettably, the movie fails to leave any significant imprint. The unrelatable sequence of incidents and moments depicted in this unorganized and flawed piece make it hard to digest and appreciate.
The hopelessly exaggerated production visuals, epitomized by unimpressive green-screen effects, provide a jarring backdrop to the narrative. The supporting cast, including Peter Bogdanovich playing the role of an alcoholic hotel manager and Blaine Grey performing as Duke, an Elvis impersonator who eventually grows fond of Greta, lack depth and fail to capture the subtleties of real-life characters.
Despite its shortcomings, the film could still have made an impact if Hassmann's performance had been compelling and able to unify all elements with an eccentric zeal. However, her performance lacks a discernible comic perspective, and her similarity to Madeline Kahn of the 1970s does not pique interest.
Greta's character does not add any narrative weight, drifting from one calamity to the next without a singular driving force or focus. The film awkwardly veers towards a more theatrical representation while leaving Greta stranded on a highway. Ultimately, the film doesn’t deliver a comprehensive perception of Germany, America, pop culture, or anything else.
Much can be said about the CinemaScope dimension imagery, credited to Marco Cappetta and Alexa Ihrt, although its grandeur often overtakes the light storyline. However, the movie's saving grace is the near-continuous integration of Willie Nelson's music.
"Chasing the Final Act: A Willie Nelson Obsession" was created out of love and dreams. It is disappointing that despite multiple efforts, the movie could not achieve its intended success.
