Review of Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) by Brad G — 17 Jan 2011

Like most biopics, this one rests on the strength of the acting leads. Spacek and Jones are duly great in their roles (although Jones had a hard time pulling off a young look in the early scenes). Some of the supporting cast were a bit more problematic--Loretta's father I thought delivered his lines in a noticably wooden fashion.

I found out later that his main career is as a musician, so that explained that. Unfortunately he featured heavily in the beginning of the film, when an audience should become engaged as quickly as possible.

Therefore I blame this bit of casting/editing on the director. After that first half hour, the film improves rather dramatically and continues strongly from there. The life of Loretta Lynn isn't necessarily that unique--she was a rags-to-riches singer who toured extensively and had some issues with her kids and marriage that typically follow from that.

But in the sense that all human beings are interesting and have their own stories to tell, the film succeeds because of the investment from Sissy Spacek in the role. And you have to give her mega-kudos for singing her own music.