Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)

 “[to Doolittle] If you’re born in Kentucky you’ve got three choices; coal mine, moonshine or move it on down the line.” – Lee Dollarhide

Number of Times Seen – 1 (30 Apr 2014)

Brief Synopsis – The life story of Country singer Loretta Lynn from her upbringing in a mining town in the 1940’s thru her success and stardom in the 70’s

My Take on it – This biopic was done quite well and I think that has to probably do with the fact that Loretta Lynn herself helped get the movie made.

Sissy Spacek won an Oscar for portraying her from when she was a young 13 year old girl until she peaked with her stardom in the late 1970’s.

I think that she looked a bit old to be playing a 13 year old, but it wouldn’t have worked any other way being that there are pivotal points in her life that take place at the young age.

Tommy Lee Jones plays her longtime husband and they stick together thru many turbulent times over the 30+ years that this movie spans.

The characters were done well and I liked the depiction of the mining town and it’s inhabitants following the end of WWII.

The problem that I had with this movie was that it felt very uneven.  The first half was much better constructed and the second half seemed to just whiff thru so many years that the narrative was somewhat lost in that shuffle, but still done competently.

Bottom Line – Very good biopic.  First half is stronger than the second. Great performances by Spacek and by Jones. Recommended

Rating – Globe Worthy

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