Blue Moon (2025) – Started Slow, Ended Up Breaking My Heart Beautifully
Blue Moon (2025), directed by Richard Linklater, almost lost me in the first 30-40 minutes. Just Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) sitting in a bar, drinking and talking—mostly to a bartender and a young pianist. Lots of words, not much happening. I seriously thought “okay, this might be the first movie this year I quit.” But I stuck with it… and thank God I did. After that slow start, the film opened up like a flower and glued me to the screen until the credits. Heartbreaking, clever, brilliantly written, and Ethan Hawke is incredible. 8/10 and one of the most beautiful surprises of the year.
Starring Ethan Hawke as lyricist Lorenz Hart, Margaret Qualley as the girl he loves, Andrew Scott as Richard Rodgers, and Bobby Cannavale in a small but great role, this 100-minute biopic-comedy-drama is about one painful night in 1943—the opening of Oklahoma!—when everything in Hart’s life falls apart.
The Story: One Night, One Bar, One Broken Heart
It’s March 31, 1943. Oklahoma!—the musical written by Hart’s longtime partner Richard Rodgers with a new lyricist—is about to become the biggest hit Broadway has ever seen. Hart isn’t invited to the party. Instead he sits in a dim bar, drunk, brilliant, and slowly coming undone.
We watch him talk, remember, flirt with a young woman named Elizabeth (Margaret Qualley), and try to hide how much it hurts that the world has moved on without him. The whole movie basically happens in real time—one long night of drinks, memories, jealousy, and devastating one-liners.
What Saved It and Made It Amazing
- Ethan Hawke disappears into Lorenz Hart. Sad, funny, sharp, self-destructive—you feel every second of his pain.
- The dialogue is pure gold. Hart’s lines are witty, cruel, and heartbreaking all at once. That moment he tells the young director guy “be careful with love stories… maybe make friendship stories” because he’s jealous the guy is with Elizabeth? Genius. The guy doesn’t even understand he’s being warned off—and that’s the point.
- The “Just… not that way” scene when Elizabeth gently rejects Hart? I felt that in my soul.
- Andrew Scott as Rodgers is perfect—charming, successful, a little guilty. Their scenes together are electric.
- Once the emotions kick in, every conversation feels like poetry.
My Two Small Complaints
- First 30-40 minutes are slow and talky. If you don’t know who Lorenz Hart is, you might check out early (I almost did).
- It’s definitely for a limited audience—musical theater fans, old Hollywood lovers, people who already know Rodgers & Hart songs. If you’ve never heard of them, some of the weight might be lost.
But honestly? After that slow start it becomes so beautiful I forgave everything.
Ratings and Critical Reception
- IMDb: 7.1/10 (5,300 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 90 % critics (197 reviews) / 76 % audience
- Won Silver Bear for Andrew Scott at Berlin
Critics love the writing and performances; some say the pacing is too stagey. I get both sides.
A Hidden Gem for Anyone Who Loves Smart, Sad, Beautiful Movies
At 8/10, Blue Moon is the kind of film that starts quiet and ends up living in your head for days. If you love clever dialogue, heartbreak disguised as jokes, and Ethan Hawke at his absolute best—give it time past the first act. You won’t regret it.
I walked out humming “My Funny Valentine” and feeling a little drunk on feelings myself.
What did you think of Blue Moon? Did the slow start lose you, or did that “not that way” line destroy you too? Drop your thoughts below!
And suggest my next movie—I’m clearly craving more talky, emotional, smart adult dramas right now.
If this review convinced you to stick with it, hit like, follow, share. Thanks for reading—see you in the next one!
