Blaze

Name: Blaze
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Released: August 17, 2018
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Aaron Augustus, Adam Brazy, Adriana Costine, Alia Shawkat, Ben Dickey

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Blaze

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Movie Details & Credits

Sundance Selects | Release Date: August 17, 2018 | NR

Starring: Aaron Augustus, Adam Brazy, Adriana Costine, Alia Shawkat, Ben Dickey, Brett Beoubay, Charles Adam, Charles Adams, Charles Barber, Charlie Sexton, Didi Costine, Edgar Arreola, Ethan Hawke, Gurf Morlix, Jean Carlot, Jeff Caperton, Josh Hamilton, Kayla Carraway, Kris Kristofferson, Martin Bats Bradford, Richard Linklater, Robert Casiello, Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn

Movie Facts:

Lead actor Ben Dickey won a Special Jury Prize for achievement in acting at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Summary: Blaze is inspired by the life of Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey), the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The film weaves together three different periods of time, braiding re-imagined versions of Blaze’s past, present and future. The different strands explore hisBlaze is inspired by the life of Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey), the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The film weaves together three different periods of time, braiding re-imagined versions of Blaze’s past, present and future. The different strands explore his love affair with Sybil Rosen; his last, dark night on earth; and the impact of his songs and his death had on his fans, friends, and foes. The braided storyline terminates in a bittersweet ending that acknowledges Blaze’s profound highs and lows, as well as the impressions he made on the people who shared his journey. [Sundance Selects]… Expand

Director: Ethan Hawke

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Music

Rating: NR

Runtime: 129 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Oliver Jones

Sep 7, 2018

Along with Dickey’s equally feral and vulnerable performance, what stands out most in Blaze is just how fully formed and realized Hawke’s vision is as a filmmaker. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Sep 6, 2018

The usual sequence of ballad-of-a-tormented-artist verses plays out: early promise; success and betrayal; redemption and death. What pulls against the relentless momentum of biography is the sweet inertia of life, a lot of which is spent drunk, in bed, on the road, hanging out with friends or all of the above. Read full review

Joshua Alston

Sep 7, 2018

Blaze feels like a true passion project, an engine running on Hawke’s endless supply of enthusiasm for his subject. Read full review

The Film Stage Dan Mecca

Apr 9, 2018

This is an interesting, frustrating man to focus on, all the way up to his muddled end. That Hawke’s film will introduce a new audience to his music and soulful tenure feels like its own victory. Read full review

Ty Burr

Sep 19, 2018

The movie is Hawke’s fourth and best feature as a director; it’s immensely touching, and only deceptively shapeless. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Sep 3, 2018

What Hawke has provided here, with plenty of grace and a minimum of fuss, is an elegy for a life that went missing, more smolder than blaze, and a chance to hear the songs of the unsung. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Sep 3, 2018

I’m convinced more of Hawke’s passion for the man than his place in music history. Read full review

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User Reviews

JLuis_001

Feb 2, 2019

What a tremendous surprise on behalf of Ethan Hawke. I didn't know anything about its subject but it didn't matter and it's really not that necessary.
This is a trip completely worth enjoying no matter which side of the spectrum you are.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Feb 18, 2019

My Mellow Melodies.

Blaze Hawke, surprisingly doesn't have the Linklater-ness in him. His methods are not illuminating but romantic. He craves for the love and the chemistry that he evidently understands, is often the crux of the game. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the guns to pull itMy Mellow Melodies.

Blaze

Hawke, surprisingly doesn't have the Linklater-ness in him. His methods are not illuminating but romantic. He craves for the love and the chemistry that he evidently understands, is often the crux of the game. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the guns to pull it off. The actors doesn't have the caliber to carry it all on their shoulders. In fact, the push, the spark, itself isn't enough for them to boost off for a long marathon. Their fatal sprints and leaps is not a way to be still, to just breathe, on screen. Ben Dickey plays the titled character Blaze Foley and might show some promising talent on the dramatic monologues and musical numbers.

Sybil played by Alia Shawkat is the major upset. She is incredible in their heartwarming moments as a couple sharing some flirty humorous talks, but as soon as the edginess comes in on the equation, the mutterings fades into silence. She fails to push Dickey back and then pull him. One of the most dramatic scene where Shawkat completely loses at drunk Dickey is a fine example of it, as the audience fails to grasp any whatsoever drama projected on screen.

On terms of writing, the script does have antics to rely upon, which may not come off easy to behold it on screen. And yes, Hawke fails to glorify them on screen, and primary reason to that would be him not trying to build up any sequence to that one moment that it hinges upon. The conversations and the cameos stabilizes this over thought out film, where in both the cases you can see a glimpse of Richard Linklater; all the jokes are funny in here. Blaze is anything but blazing, it is warm, but definitely not blazing, it is cozy but not blazing, calculative not blazing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Oct 1, 2018

Blaze Foley was a minor songwriter of folk/country music and this biopic makes no case for why he should be memorialized in celluloid. His music was OK, his performing was nothing special and his lifestyle travelled a typical self-destructive journey. The film doesn't establish him as anBlaze Foley was a minor songwriter of folk/country music and this biopic makes no case for why he should be memorialized in celluloid. His music was OK, his performing was nothing special and his lifestyle travelled a typical self-destructive journey. The film doesn't establish him as an especially great talent or even an interesting person. The most notable aspect is that it's helmed by first-director Ethan Hawke (he's also heard conducting an interview). Hawke managed to capture some effective performances (including non-actor Ben Dickey in the title role) and added a few interesting cinematic elements. Neither Mr. Hawke nor the rambling script haven't offered any real reasons to appreciate this man or the movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

GinaK

Sep 17, 2018

You might like this movie. I’ve read the reviews and I am not going to discourage you from seeing it. However, if you are not a hardcore fan of country music, you might want to consider seeing something else. Occasionally the movie is powerful and very moving, but most of the time I wasYou might like this movie. I’ve read the reviews and I am not going to discourage you from seeing it. However, if you are not a hardcore fan of country music, you might want to consider seeing something else. Occasionally the movie is powerful and very moving, but most of the time I was frustrated and/or bored with the inarticulateness and incoherence of Blaze and couldn’t wait for the film to be over.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SumarongI1037

Sep 29, 2018

This an extremely drawn out and convoluted movie. If nothing else is happening, how about the main character singing a song! The cinematography was good in places, but the movie itself seemed pointless.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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