Country Strong

Choose Love Every Time
Country Song, PG-13, ***, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, Leighton Meester. Screen Gems Film. Director Shana Feste. 111 minutes.

“Country Strong” is a realistic story about the trials and tribulations of the entertainment world. Kelly (Gwyneth Paltrow) is in rehab, because of alcohol addiction. While under the influence, she had a disastrous accident on stage while performing in Dallas, Texas.
In rehab, she meets Beau (Garrett Hedlund) a young country singer who loves what he does. He is working at the rehab center and playing his music at night. Beau is an ordinary guy filled with sensitivity and compassion for people.
James (Tim McGraw) is Kelly’s agent and husband. He is anxious for Kelly to get back on tour, so she can repair some of the bad press since her debacle in Dallas. Kelly and Beau have become – shall we say close friends. She wants Beau to open the show for her when she gets back on the road.
James agrees to the proposition, but he wants a third person on the tour. Chiles (Leighton Meester) who is a young performer looking for a break.
The movie captures the stress and demands of life on the road to success. The culture and country music hits the audience with cold hard details and realities.
With scenes that are sometimes overdone with drama and traumatic events, the movie shows the horror of alcohol abuse. Demonstrating the hard road back to normal, the movie drags the audience through some very difficult moments.
The stories told through country music pull at the hearts strings of people. Many lyrics open up old wounds and expose the true feelings of life. We all go through tough times and good times. Putting the moments into lyrics and music allows realism to be exposed.
The roller coaster ride through ups, downs, and curves allows the individual to enjoy the straightaway of peaceful times.
Kelly hit the bottom of life. Now she has to work hard at finding her way back to peace and contentment.
With lots of cheating among husbands and wives, the jealousy and total disorientation of what is right and wrong spans the landscape of this movie. By showing the twists and turns of taking the wrong road and then trying to find ones way back becomes the center point of this story.
The superficial things in life are discussed by Beau with discontent. He is just about the only person in the film who has a grip on what matters in life. His attitude reminded me of something I heard a long time ago. “Would you do your job if you did not get paid?” This is the sign of true dedication. The reader will understand this if he/she views the movie.
Keep in mind The Beatles song All You Need is Love.
One of the most heartwarming scenes in the movie happens at a school when Kelly sings to Travis - who is sick. This scene helps in trying to get Kelly back on track. However, will it last?
One of the concert scenes with Kelly will have the audience rocking and rolling and feeling nostalgic with memories of the past. The only thing that matters in life is _ _ _ _.