Without having seen A star is born, I reckon I might have taken even more liking to this. It is more than a decent movie don't get me wrong, but it reminded me of how good the Bradley Cooper directed movie was - sorry is! But let's try not to do a disservice to this movie and as we know there can be more than one, when it comes to movies and certain genres.
This is the underdog story, trying to get her life together and becoming the person they are or should be. Very good central performances overall and well shot too. Good music and drama as it should be ...
Wild Rose
2018
Action / Comedy / Drama / Music
Wild Rose
2018
Action / Comedy / Drama / Music
Plot summary
Fresh out of jail after one year imprisoned for narcotics possession, Rose-Lynn Harlan is a 23 years-old working-class girl from Glasgow, Scotland, who tries to rectify her chaotic life: foul-mouthed, streetwise, rebellious and free-spirited, Rose-Lynn reunites with her children, older Wynonna and younger Lyle, cared for during her imprisonment by their grandmother Marion, who openly despises her daughter's lifestyle. A worker in the bakery of a shopping center for twenty years, Marion struggles to understand her daughter, who becomes determined to travel Nashville, Tennesse (country music's cradle) to become a famous country singer. Due to a lack of resources and her poor academic studies, Rose-Lynn tries to return to her former job as a singer in the country bar Grand Ole Opry, having been fired by owners Jackie and Alan after they learn about her conviction. Thanks to Marion's good name, Rose-Lynn gets a job as a cleaning lady in the house of Susannah, an upper-class woman married to James, and mother of little children Rory and Nell. Blessed with talent, charisma, cheek, and a powerful voice, one day Rose-Lynn is discovered singing in her daily work by Susannah, who befriends Rose-Lynn and decides to help her to travel to Nashville by throwing a fund-raising party especially for her. Therefore, troubles are around the corner: Wynonna and Lyle are time and time again neglected by a mother unable to reconcile with them who hides their existence to Susannah, James mistrusts Rose-Lynn by the way that Susannah is interested in her, and Marion sends an ultimatum forcing her to make a choice between her dream to be singer, or her reality to be mother. Troubled, auto-destructive and badly influenced by her friend and occasional lover Elliot (a fan of alcohol, night and wild partying),Rose-Lynn finds herself trapped in a crossroads struggling against her worst enemy: herself.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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Top cast
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A star is ... here
"May all your heartaches be songs; may all your songs be hits"
Jessie Buckley ("Rose-Lynn") is convincing in this story of grim determination, selfishness and - ultimately - compromise. Released from a Glasgow prison on licence after a conviction for possessing heroine; she returns to her mother (Dame Julie Walters) who has been babysitting her two young children - but her mind is in other things. Ever since she was a bairn, she has dreamt of being a country star, and is determined to get to Nashville. This leads to constant friction with her mother who just wants her to settle down and look after her weans. When she gets a job as a cleaning lady, she begins to imagine that her dream might come true when her employer offers to let her do a gig in the garden for her well-heeled friends to raise the money for the trip. Sadly, things conspire against her; the gig falls through - and her trip looks doomed until help comes from an unexpected source and away she goes. The story is all a wee bit procedural; but the acting - from both ladies - is not; there is something visceral about Buckley here that transcends the usual hard-luck story depiction and Walters is great as the conflicted grandmother who wants the best for everyone. The soundtrack proves another impressive string to Buckley's bow and there is a nice cameo appearance from UK broadcasting legend Bob Harris.
Tales of the Grand Ole McOpry
Rose-Lynn, a Glaswegian in her early 20s, is released from prison. Her first act is to find an ex-boyfriend for some quick sex, following which she goes to her Mum's house. Mum has been looking after her two young children while she has been inside. The next thing is to resume her prsuit as a craeer as a country singer. She has to take on a job as a cleaner in the meantime but, fortunately, her client likes her singer and has contacts. It does, however, mean abandoning her children. Again.
This is a kind of low-rent version of A Star Is Born, only without the romance, and with commendably impenetrable Glaswegian accents from Irish Jessie Buckley as Rose-Lynn and Brumme Julie Walters as Mum. Americans beware, you will need subtitles.
The main problem (if it is a problem - it was for me, to some extent) is that Rose-Lynn appears to be incapable of making any decisions except wrong ones, which makes her terribly difficult to empathise with, and you are supposed to empathise with her. As a result, you want her to succeed in her ambition, but you also want her to abandon it and settle for what she's got - two pretty good kids who deserve better. This, of course, is Rose-Lynn's quandary, so I suppose, as an audience member, you are in there with her.
It is also fair to say that it is not always particularly credible, especially Sophie Okonedo's Susannah, who is just a little bit too conveniently connected to be true.
But it is well acted, the songs are good and well-performed, and the camera absolutely loves Jessie Buckley.