Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- wistful
- emotionally heightened
- music movie night
- country music evening
What critics said
Critics broadly agreed that the cast commits strongly to the material and that Gwyneth Paltrow performs the songs effectively, but found the screenplay clichéd and disjointed.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kelly Canter’s attempted comeback and Beau Hutton’s ascent are shaped by the emotional and professional costs of public performance.
Kelly’s alcoholism is the central obstacle to her recovery, marriage, career, and ability to remain on tour.
Kelly, James, Beau, and Chiles navigate romance and career ambitions under the scrutiny of audiences, managers, and paparazzi.
Country songs and staged appearances function as major dramatic set pieces for Kelly’s comeback and Beau’s emergence.
Films like Country Strong, and why
Crazy Heart
music-centered drama about ambition, addiction, romantic entanglements, and performers struggling with public success
Walk the Line
country music drama combining troubled performers, alcoholism, romance, and emotionally direct musical performances
Nashville
behind-the-scenes music drama focused on fame, performance, relationship conflict, and damaged artists
A Star Is Born
romantic musical drama about recovering performers, personal sacrifice, and the costs of public acclaim
Movie Details
- Director
- Shana Feste
- Release Date
- 2010-12-22
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (269)
Cast
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Garrett Hedlund
- Tim McGraw
- Leighton Meester
- Marshall Chapman
- Lari White
- Jeremy Childs
- James DeForest Parker
- Lisa Stewart
- Jackie Welch
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Country Strong about?
- A damaged country star’s comeback collides with the ambitions, desires, and personal costs surrounding the young songwriter who may replace her.
- What is Country Strong like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Country Strong as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Country Strong violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Country Strong.
- What did critics think of Country Strong?
- Critics broadly agreed that the cast commits strongly to the material and that Gwyneth Paltrow performs the songs effectively, but found the screenplay clichéd and disjointed.
- Which films are like Country Strong?
- Films with a similar feel include Crazy Heart, Walk the Line, Nashville, and A Star Is Born.
- How long is Country Strong?
- Country Strong runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch Country Strong?
- In United States, Country Strong is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
