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 new version is all you could want, so don’t hesitate to snatch up this release.
Video: How does it look?
Coal Miner’s Daughter is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a basic, solid visual treatment, one that isn’t remarkable, but gets the job done. The print is in good condition, so 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. So while not the kind of transfer that makes you stand up and take notice, the movie looks great and that is what matters.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here has been given a new spin, thanks to a Dolby Digital 5.1 option. The end result isn’t that 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. This disc also includes the original mono soundtrack, French and Spanish language tracks, and subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary tracks starts us off, as 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. So quite a good track and fans should be more than satisfied. This disc also includes interviews with Apted, star Tommy Lee Jones, and Loretta Lynn herself.
