{"id":2122391,"date":"2025-10-29T11:04:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T11:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2122391"},"modified":"2025-10-29T11:04:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T11:04:14","slug":"what-early-reviews-say-about-song-sung-blue-new-movie-about-milwaukee-couple-and-band","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/what-early-reviews-say-about-song-sung-blue-new-movie-about-milwaukee-couple-and-band\/","title":{"rendered":"What early reviews say about &#8216;Song Sung Blue,&#8217; new movie about Milwaukee couple and band"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Critics are starting to sing the praises of \u201cSong Sung Blue,\u201d the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/entertainment\/movies\/2024\/10\/14\/hugh-jackman-kate-hudson-to-play-milwaukee-singing-duo-lightning-thunder\/75672586007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:new movie starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Milwaukee couple and musicians Mike and Claire Sardina,;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">new movie starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Milwaukee couple and musicians Mike and Claire Sardina,<\/a> who performed in a Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline tribute act Lightning &amp; Thunder beginning in the late &#8217;80s. Their roller-coaster lives were captured in a 2008 documentary, also called &#8220;Song Sung Blue,&#8221; that the new movie is based on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hitting theaters Christmas Day, &#8220;Song Sung Blue&#8221; had its world premiere as the closing night presentation of AFI Fest in Los Angeles Oct. 26, part of distributor Focus Features&#8217; campaign to position the movie as a major Academy Awards contender.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There still aren\u2019t enough reviews for review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to grant the film a score, but of the eight reviews cited on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/m\/song_sung_blue_2025\/reviews\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the film's Rotten Tomatoes page;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">the film&#8217;s Rotten Tomatoes page<\/a> so far, seven of them are mostly positive.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Kate Hudson, left, plays Claire Sardina and Hugh Jackman is Mike Sardina in &#8220;Song Sung Blue,&#8221; a movie telling the story of Mike and Claire Sardina, a Milwaukee couple who performed a Neil Diamond\/Patsy Cline tribute act. The movie arrives in theaters on Dec. 25, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2025\/10\/song-sung-blue-review-hugh-jackman-kate-hudson-neil-diamond-1236596948\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Reviewing the film for Deadline, Pete Hammond writes;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Reviewing the film for Deadline, Pete Hammond writes<\/a> that the fact that writer\/director Craig Brewer (&#8220;Hustle &amp; Flow&#8221;) &#8220;never loses the delicate tone of this musical comedy\/drama is a miracle itself. &#8230; Ultimately\u00a0&#8216;Song Sung Blue<em>&#8216;\u00a0<\/em>is not just about a tribute to Neil Diamond but to the resilience of the humans at the center of it all. Fortunately, the film also has two ever-appealing and relatable stars knocking it out of the park \u2014 musically and dramatically.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hammond writes that Jackman &#8220;is as good as he has ever been playing a complicated guy who finds his groove in the music of an iconic singer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">And Hudson, Hammond writes, &#8220;is simply sensational in her best screen role since her Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning turn as the inimitable Penny Lane in 2000\u2019s\u00a0&#8216;Almost Famous&#8217;.As comfortable musically as she is with the heavy dramatics the role requires, her Claire will break your heart.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/reviews\/song-sung-blue-review-hugh-jackman-kate-hudson-1236561525\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Owen Gleiberman in his review for Variety;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Owen Gleiberman in his review for Variety<\/a> also singled out the performances of Jackman and Hudson. Of the latter&#8217;s performance, the reviewer suggests Hudson offers &#8220;let-it-rip acting with the fussiness burned off. And Hudson and Jackman don\u2019t just have chemistry; they have an emotional synergy that grows more moving as Mike and Claire bond together \u2014 and fuse, once again, with the power of Neil \u2014 to heal themselves.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;This is the kind of robust entertainment \u2014 wholesome though not at all toothless, alternately joyful and heart-wrenching \u2014 that doesn\u2019t get made much anymore,&#8221; <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/movies\/movie-reviews\/song-sung-blue-review-hugh-jackman-kate-hudson-neil-diamond-1236410565\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:writes The Hollywood Reporter reviewer David Rooney,;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">writes The Hollywood Reporter reviewer David Rooney,<\/a> who also suggests this is Hudson&#8217;s finest performance since &#8221; Almost Famous.&#8221; &#8220;It\u2019s a family movie in the best sense of the term, a crowd-pleaser with a ton of heart.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/criticism\/movies\/song-sung-blue-review-1235157619\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Christian Zilko writes for IndieWire:;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Christian Zilko writes for IndieWire:<\/a> &#8220;At two hours and 11 minutes, the film often feels overstuffed and too melodramatic for its own good&#8230; But even with those flaws, it\u2019s still hard to look away from the silly sincerity that powers the film.&#8221; Zilko gave the movie a B-.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/thefilmmaven.com\/song-sung-blue-review\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The most negative review so far is from Kristen Lopez from The Film Maven;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The most negative review so far is from Kristen Lopez from The Film Maven<\/a>, which slapped the film with a D-. &#8220;Hudson and Jackman are fine, but the movie&#8217;s overwrought and, at times, irritating portrayal of disability and poverty gets old fast,&#8221; Lopez writes.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Mike and Claire Sardina of Milwaukee performed as singing duo Lightning &amp; Thunder, shown in this 1998 file photo. The couple are to be played by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in &quot;Song Sung Blue,&quot; a musical drama based on the 2008 documentary of the same name.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1016\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ZN5MxKKLiZmanlTICNMiOA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEwMTY7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/milwaukee_journal_sentinel_natl_articles_362\/2b41d8469cd1cfbe740e702c925b9db2\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Mike and Claire Sardina of Milwaukee performed as singing duo Lightning &amp; Thunder, shown in this 1998 file photo. The couple are to be played by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in &#8220;Song Sung Blue,&#8221; a musical drama based on the 2008 documentary of the same name.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The reviews offer insights into the movie (spoiler alert) of the couple&#8217;s highs and lows, from performing with Pearl Jam&#8217;s Eddie Vedder at Summerfest, to Claire Sardina losing part of her leg after being struck by a car.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Mike Sardina passed away in 2006 from a head injury. Claire Sardina still lives in Menomonee Falls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI\u2019m elated and a little dumfounded,\u201d she said in a statement after the film was announced last year. \u201cAll of the hype has taken me back to when my wonderful husband was alive and by my side. It\u2019s been wonderful to go back in time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The film also stars Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hilbert Hensley and &#8220;Sopranos&#8221; star Michael Imperioli as <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.jsonline.com\/news\/obituaries\/music-man-shurilla-was-instrumental-to-city-scene-195dict-151467085.html\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:another beloved late figure from Milwaukee's music scene, Mark Shurilla.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">another beloved late figure from Milwaukee&#8217;s music scene, Mark Shurilla.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ahead of its release, the Wisconsin Area Music Industry awarded Claire and Mike Sardina the first WAMI Lifetime Achievement Award at the 45th annual WAMI Awards this past spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/entertainment\/movies\/2025\/09\/09\/song-sung-blue-about-milwaukee-band-lighting-thunder-released\/86055177007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The trailer is out for 'Song Sung Blue,' about Milwaukee band Lightning &amp; Thunder;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">The trailer is out for &#8216;Song Sung Blue,&#8217; about Milwaukee band Lightning &amp; Thunder<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/celebrities\/2025\/10\/27\/hugh-jackman-sutton-foster-red-carpet-debut\/86925607007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster make red carpet debut at 'Song Sung Blue' premiere;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster make red carpet debut at &#8216;Song Sung Blue&#8217; premiere<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span class=\"exclude-from-newsgate\"><strong>More: <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/movies\/2025\/10\/27\/hugh-jackman-song-sung-blue-premiere-kate-hudson\/86828548007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Neil Diamond misses 'Song Sung Blue' premiere, but sends 'emotional' FaceTime message;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Neil Diamond misses &#8216;Song Sung Blue&#8217; premiere, but sends &#8217;emotional&#8217; FaceTime message<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Contact Piet Levy at (414) 223-5162 or\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/movies\/articles\/mailto:plevy@journalsentinel.com\" data-ylk=\"slk:plevy@journalsentinel.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">plevy@journalsentinel.com<\/a>. Follow him at\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PietLevyMJS\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:facebook.com\/PietLevyMJS;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">facebook.com\/PietLevyMJS<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2025\/10\/29\/movie-reviews-song-sung-blue-milwaukee-band-lightning-thunder-sardina\/86947681007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:What first reviews say about 'Song Sung Blue' about Milwaukee band;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">What first reviews say about &#8216;Song Sung Blue&#8217; about Milwaukee band<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Critics are starting to sing the praises of \u201cSong Sung Blue,\u201d the new movie starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Milwaukee couple and musicians Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed in a Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline tribute act Lightning &amp; Thunder beginning in the late &#8217;80s. Their roller-coaster lives were captured in a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2122392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[366979,403010,35108,309934,366981,367460,313216,355633,348390,366977],"class_list":["post-2122391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-claire-sardina","tag-hudson-hilbert-hensley","tag-hugh-jackman","tag-kate-hudson","tag-lightning-thunder","tag-mike-sardina","tag-milwaukee","tag-neil-diamond","tag-pete-hammond","tag-song-sung-blue"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/What-early-reviews-say-about-Song-Sung-Blue-new-movie.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2122391"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2122393,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122391\/revisions\/2122393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2122392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2122391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2122391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2122391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}