Country Blue

If you are in the mood for a 1970s southern drive-in movie, you might want to give "Country Blue" a try. To be sure, it's not a perfect movie. It has a number of slow spots, the level of acting is variable, and the boom mike is visible in several shots. Still, I had a reasonable amount of fun with the movie. It's always welcome to see Dub Taylor, who adds spark to his scenes. The production values, while not excellent, don't look too shabby. There are some pleasant songs on the soundtrack. The best things about the movie are the writing and the direction. There are several spots in the story that took me by surprise, coming out of nowhere and making me wonder just what was coming next. I couldn't predict what the ending would be. The direction really captures the feeling of the rural south; you can feel the heat and general poverty. Also, the direction adds some flourishes here and there that are novel and keep you watching. There are also some novel post-production edits here and there that get your attention. This movie won't ever win any awards, but it's good entertainment for those nostalgic for drive-in movies of this kind.