Plot: What’s it about?
Loretta (Sissy Spacek) grew up in poverty in Kentucky’s coalfields, but she wouldn’t remain there forever, as her life would take her through an incredible journey. At the tender age of thirteen, she married a man named Mooney (Tommy Lee Jones) and seemed destined for a life as a homemaker. After all, she had a husband now and responsibilities. One of her true passions was music, as she loved to sing and her husband could see how talented she was. As an anniversary gift, Mooney buys her a guitar and soon enough, Loretta begins to get better and better with her musical abilities. Soon enough, Loretta finds herself on stage and in a whirlwind of events, she is the music business. She makes friends with famous singer Patsy Cline (Beverly D’Angelo), but fame has also brought her some unwanted elements. She makes some poor decisions and becomes isolated, unable to enjoy what her life has become. Although she has overcome hard times before, can Loretta make one more comeback, when it matters most?
I’ve seen a lot of movies that I knew were well crafted, but bored me to tears. Coal Miner’s Daughter is one of those movies. I know the story is solid, the performances are great, and the emotion is deep, but I still can’t seem to pay attention. The real life tale of Loretta Lynn just holds no interest for me, I get bored with most inspirational films of this kind and this one is no different. I suppose my distaste for country music is also an issue, but I don’t have to be into the subject matter to like a flick. I also find white trash to be hilarious, but that wasn’t enough to make me want to care about what I saw. As I said though, I still know this is a good movie, especially in regard to the performances. Sissy Spacek took home an Oscar for her work, while Tommy Lee Jones also turns in a terrific effort. Universal has put together this 35th Anniversary Edition, complete with a new soundtrack and a few bonus elements. In other words, if you’re a fan of Coal Miner’s Daughter, this 4K version is all you could want, so don’t hesitate to snatch up this release.
Video: How does it look?
Universal seems content to go back and re-master their entire catalog in 4K. I’m fine with that. And while the print is in good condition, grain isn’t a serious problem and debris is minor in most instances. This is not really a bright, bold movie, so the visuals do have a dull presence, but that is intentional. The film’s natural color scheme comes through well, while contrast is stark and never obscures detail in the least. It’s a solid upgrade, to be sure but not one that blew me away.
Audio: How does it sound?
By and large, any film dedicated to music (and this certainly qualifies) will be at its apex with a Dolby Atmos mix. Granted, this was made far before Atmos was a glimmer in anyone’s eye, but the end result is a bit more impressive in most respects, as the audio is by no means dynamic. But in one area, the audio shines and that is the musical soundtrack, which sounds excellent in this new track. And since the music is crucial to the film, this new soundtrack adds a lot to the experience. The songs were once flat and basic, but now they have depth and really come across well. As I said, the other elements aren’t memorable, but the music is what counts in this case, so this new mix is a smash success. .
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – Director Michael Apted is joined by star Sissy Spacek. The session is a solid one, with ample information shared from both participants. Apted asks Spacek a number of questions about her experiences in the production, to which she provides candid answers.
- Tommy Lee Jones Remembers Coal Miner’s Daughter – Pretty much that. The Oscar-winning actor reflects on one of his early roles.
- President George Bush Sr. Salutes AFI and Coal Miner’s Daughter – Taken from a 1989 AFI broadcast, the former Commander-in-Chief lists off a few films of note, including this one.
- Interview with Loretta Lynn and Michael Apted – The casting process is discussed along with the casting of Doolittle and the overall biopic of her life.
The Bottom Line
I’ve personally never cared for the movie. Well, let me rephrase that – I’ve never cared for the film’s subject matter. Country music, to me, is akin to nails on a chalkboard. Still, I can’t deny the film’s success and it was nominated for 7 Academy Awards and took home one – Sissy Spacek’s performance as Loretta Lynn, merited her a Best Actress statue. Universal’s new 4K disc gives us the best-looking and sounding version to date. And if you want to see Tommy Lee Jones when he still had a full head of hair – look no further.
