Country Strong (2010)

Director:

Shana Feste

Writer (WGA):

Shana Feste (written by)

Release Date:

7 January 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

It doesn't matter where you've been as long as you come back strong.

Plot:

A rising country-music songwriter works with a fallen star to work their way fame, causing romantic complications along the way.

Plot Keywords:

Songwriter | Country Music | Bare Chested Male | Singing | Blonde

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Kelly Canter
Tim McGraw	...	James Canter
Garrett Hedlund	...	Beau Hutton
Leighton Meester	...	Chiles Stanton
Marshall Chapman	...	Winnie
Lari White	...	Hair Stylist
Jeremy Childs	...	JJ
J.D. Parker	...	Joe
Lisa Stewart	...	Travis' Mom (as Lisa Stewart Seals)
Jackie Welch	...	Teacher
Cinda McCain	...	Misty
Gabe Sipos	...	Travis
Sandra Harris	...	Orderly
Megan Henderson	...	Megan Henderson
Dan Beene	...	Bob
Keitrick Clark	...	Security
Reegus Flenory	...	Security Guard
Terri Minton	...	James's Assistant
Ed Bruce	...	Clint
Darrin Dickerson	...	Tex
Alana Grace	...	Ginny
Katie Groshong	...	Richard's Assistant
Candace Michelle Coffee	...	Denise
Katie Cook	...	Gossip Show Host
Adam Skaggs	...	PA #1
Travis Nicholson	...	PA #2
Denitia Odigie	...	PR Girl in Classroom
Jeffrey Buckner Ford	...	Richard
Jeri Sager	...	Stylist
Kirt Lehew	...	Biker (as Kirt Lahew)
Ranjit Bhullar	...	Doctor
Tina White	...	Interviewee
Brett Warren	...	Jesse Clark
Olivia Haley	...	Fan
Jim Melton	...	Fan
Holly Watson	...	Interviewer
Brad Schmitt	...	Interviewer
Andy Cordan	...	Interviewer
Cory Younts	...	Beau's Bandmate
Skylar Wilson	...	Beau's Bandmate
Josh Graham	...	Beau's Bandmate
Chris Scruggs	...	Beau's Bandmate
Loney Hutchins	...	Beau's Bandmate
Ian Fitchuk	...	Beau's Bandmate
Bucky Baxter	...	Kelly's Bandmate
John Bohlinger	...	Kelly's Bandmate
Neal Casal	...	Kelly's Bandmate
Chris Clark	...	Kelly's Bandmate
Jim Lauderdale	...	Kelly's Bandmate
Doug Frasure	...	Kelly's Bandmate
Amanda Shires	...	Kelly's Bandmate
John Deaderick	...	Kelly's Bandmate
Johnny Gates	...	Chiles' Bandmate
Jamie Jarbeau	...	Chiles' Bandmate
Matt Scanlon	...	Chiles' Bandmate
Michael Ollin Lotten	...	Chiles' Bandmate
Smith Curry	...	Chiles' Bandmate
Kristin Wilkinson	...	String Quartet Member
David Angeli	...	String Quartet Member
Gregory Martin	...	String Quartet Member
Sara Reist	...	String Quartet Member
James Hamlet	...	Honky Tonk Band Member
Steve Hinson	...	Honky Tonk Band Member
Fred Eltringham	...	Studio Band Member
Gary Nicholson	...	Studio Band Member
Beau Stapleton	...	Studio Band Member
Danny Flowers	...	Studio Band Member
Nancy Amons	...	Reporter
Jim Taylor	...	Reporter
Jonathan Martin	...	Reporter
Katrina Smith	...	Reporter (as Katrina Hagger Smith)
Nick Beres	...	Reporter
Kelly Sutton	...	Reporter
Shane Tallant	...	Reporter
Christine Maddela	...	Reporter
Stephanie Langston	...	Reporter (as Stephanie Langston)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Blank	...	Bar Patron
Sarah Beth Hayter	...	Backstage Dallas Fan
Jeff Ailshie	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Marc Allen	...	Paparazzo (uncredited)
Robert Lee Bell	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Lawrence Bull Jr.	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Rodney Burlin	...	Austin Fan / Houston Fan / Dallas Fan (uncredited)
Harry P. Castros	...	Dallas Fan / Music Manager / Kelly's Security Escort (uncredited)
Chelsey Corbett	...	Dallas Fan (uncredited)
Brenton Cox	...	News Cameraman / Houston Fan (uncredited)
Asia Craft	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Patrick Cranford	...	Venue Worker (uncredited)
Cris Cunningham	...	Kelly's Friend (uncredited)
Gary Douglas	...	Press Photographer (uncredited)
Preston Douglas	...	Extra (uncredited)
Adam Drake	...	Security Officer (uncredited)
Roger D. Eldridge	...	Dallas Fan (uncredited)
Donald Farmer	...	Usher (uncredited)
John Ferguson	...	Production Assistant (uncredited)
Brian Gall	...	The Stage Security (uncredited)
Brandon Garrett	...	P.A. #3 (uncredited)
Terry Gragg	...	Fan (uncredited)
Jill Headrick	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Trevor Hillsbery	...	Back stage friend (uncredited)
Denise Johnson	...	Hospital Orderly (uncredited)
Joshua James Johnson	...	Roadie (uncredited)
Wendy Keeling	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Leo Kling	...	Kelly's Friend (uncredited)
Terrence Lening	...	Dallas fan (uncredited)
Tracy Lockridge	...	Rehab Counselor (uncredited)
Marley Mathis	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Erin Naifeh	...	Extra (uncredited)
Steven Daniel Neely	...	Security Officer (uncredited)
Melissa Nyenhuis	...	News reporter scene / Fan / Dinner scene (uncredited)
Jim O'Rear	...	Roadie (uncredited)
Scott V. Palmer	...	Stage Manager (uncredited)
Ethan Patterson	...	Bartender - The Stage (uncredited)
Kayla Perkins	...	Houston Fan (uncredited)
April Rodell	...	Pretty girl (uncredited)
Garth Shaw	...	Dallas Fan (uncredited)
Bear Sheeley	...	Backstage Partier (uncredited)
Rebecca Silver	...	Herself (uncredited)
Ronda Smalling	...	Dallas fan (uncredited)
Robin Smotherman	...	Restaurant Patron / Fan (uncredited)
Scott Steward	...	Roadie (uncredited)
Sean Symons	...	Paparazzo (uncredited)
Myron Todd	...	Dallas Fan (uncredited)
Jerry L. Wallace	...	Dallas Fan (uncredited)
Erik A. Williams	...	Busboy (uncredited)
Steven J. Wilson	...	Family Friend (uncredited)
Woody Woodruff	...	Backstage Cowboy (uncredited)
Chris Woodson	...	Security (uncredited)
Danica Wozniak	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Shana Feste

Writing credits (WGA)
Shana Feste		(written by)

Produced by
George Flynn	....	associate producer
Tobey Maguire	....	producer
Valerie Bleth Sharp	....	line producer: additional photography
Jenno Topping	....	producer
Meredith Zamsky	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Michael Brook

Cinematography by
John Bailey

Film Editing by
Carol Littleton
Conor O'Neill

Casting by
Liz Dean
Laura Rosenthal

Production Design by
David J. Bomba
Bruce Rodgers		(segment)
Fenton Williams		(segment)

Art Direction by
John R. Jensen

Set Decoration by
Ruby Guidara

Costume Design by
Stacey Battat

Makeup Department
Jennifer Albada	....	makeup artist
Gloria Belz	....	makeup artist
Linda Boykin-Williams	....	key makeup artist
Chris Clark	....	key hair stylist
Carol F. Doran	....	wig maker
Jorjee Douglas	....	makeup artist: Gwyneth Paltrow
Melinda Dunn	....	assistant hair stylist
Sandy Jo Johnston	....	assistant makeup artist
Sherri Berman Laurence	....	makeup department head
Elizabeth Martinelli	....	hair department head
Elizabeth Martinelli	....	hair stylist: Gwyneth Paltrow
Amanda Miller	....	wigmaker
Jami Ross	....	makeup artist
Jody Sunday	....	hair stylist
Beka Wilson	....	hair stylist
Joani Yarbrough	....	hair stylist: Tim McGraw

Production Management
Meredith Zamsky	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Xochi Blymyer	....	second assistant director (additional photography)
Matthew Heffernan	....	second assistant director (additional photography)
Zach Hunt	....	second assistant director: second unit
Mark Anthony Little	....	first assistant director
Kim McCray	....	second second assistant director
Scott Rorie	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Sheila Bartlett	....	on-set scenic artist
Brooke Bernard	....	art department coordinator
David Hale	....	construction coordinator
Dave Kennedy	....	set dresser
Joie Todd Kerns	....	set dresser
Bart Mangrum	....	on-set dresser
Deborah Norris Jensen	....	art pa (as Deborah Norris)
Sean Preston	....	props
Cynthia Wynn	....	prop master

Sound Department
Brian Armstrong	....	assistant sound editor
Kami Asgar	....	supervising sound editor
Brian Calhoon	....	adr recordist
Benjamin L. Cook	....	supervising sound effect editor
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Scott G.G. Haller	....	dialogue editor
Eric Harwood	....	sound recordist
Shawn Holden	....	additional production sound mixer
Adam Horley	....	adr recordist
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Larry	....	sound effects editor
Chet Leonard	....	playback operator
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sean McCormack	....	supervising sound editor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Erin Oakley	....	supervising adr editor
Fred Paragano	....	adr mixer
Jan Petrov	....	adr recordist
Jacob Riehle	....	dialogue editor
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor
Glen Trew	....	production sound mixer
Tim Tuchrello	....	sound editor
Sarah Vorhees	....	adr assistant
Jon Wakeham	....	additional re-recording mixer
Mark Zimbicki	....	boom operator
Peter Zimbicki	....	sound
Seth Lesko	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eric A. Martin	....	special effects foreman
Tyler C. Martin	....	special effects technician
Bob Shelley	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	main title sequence
Raoul Bolognini	....	visual effects producer
Kristen Branan	....	head of production: Zoic Studios
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Andrew G. Cox	....	visual effects coordinator
James David Hattin	....	lead compositor
Niki Hillier	....	visual effects coordinator
Nicholas Lund-Ulrich	....	digital compositor
Andres Martinez	....	visual effects artist
Morgan McDermott	....	digital compositor
Rocco Passionino	....	visual effects supervisor
Rob Price	....	digital compositor
Marco Recuay	....	visual effects supervisor: Scoundrel
Doug Spilatro	....	visual effects artist
Cameron Thomas	....	compositor: Scoundrel VFX

Stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Ian Quinn	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ken W. Ballantine	....	best boy electric
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Khris Bennett	....	grip
Clyde E. Bryan	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Fred Cooper	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Jeremy Curtis	....	camera pa
Chad Deslatte	....	grip
Robert Duke	....	grip
David J. Duren	....	rigging gaffer
Tracy Facelli	....	second assistant camera
Howard Fox	....	grip
Drew Frazier	....	electrician
Scott Friedland	....	best boy rigging grip
Garland Gallaspy	....	electrician
Scott Garfield	....	still photographer
Joseph Graham	....	rigging key grip (as Joe Graham)
Christopher Greenwood	....	rigging grip
Chris Hill	....	video assist
Kenneth Howard	....	rigging grip
Kyle D. Hutson	....	set electrician
Bill Jackson	....	electrician
Gary Johnson	....	electrician
Andy Kugler	....	camera loader
David Mellow	....	first assistant camera
Matthew Moriarty	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Matthew Moriarty	....	steadicam operator
Mike Moyer	....	gaffer
Gary Myers	....	rigging electrician
Alex Nepomniaschy	....	director of photography: second unit
Brandon Rivera	....	rigging grip
Scott Satterfield	....	grip
Maxx Shores	....	electrician
Jonathan Simms	....	additional company grip
Alexander G. Smith	....	electrician
Mark Stover	....	grip
Paul Varrieur	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Darryl Wilson	....	best boy grip
Jeff Wolf	....	camera operator: "c" camera
Michael 'Rodi' Rodia	....	additional dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jo Doster	....	location casting
Maribeth Fox	....	casting associate
Helen Geier	....	casting associate
Brent Montgomery	....	casting assistant
Kim Petrosky	....	extras casting director
Jennifer Presser	....	casting assistant
Eric Souliere	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robyn Daniel	....	costumer
Celeste Dye	....	costumer (as Celeste Duke)
Marcia Eden	....	costumer
Loretta Harper	....	set costumer
Rhonda Keaton	....	key costumer
Jill Losquadro	....	shopper
Bridgett McGuire	....	set costumer
Marty Pavatea	....	costumer
Lydia Popper	....	costume assistant
Stephen K. Randolph	....	costume supervisor
Kelly Anne Ross	....	wardrobe shopper

Editorial Department
Seth Clark	....	assistant editor
Curtis Lindersmith	....	digital intermediate editor
Frank Pass	....	colorist
Crystal Riportella-Crose	....	post-production assistant
Ofe Yi	....	assistant editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Fernand Bos	....	music editor
Craig Conard	....	music production
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Philip Tallman	....	music editor
Gina Zimmitti	....	music contractor

Transportation Department
Paula Hight	....	transportation secretary
Dave Hodgin Jr.	....	transportation coordinator
Teresa Sloat	....	driver
David Tinsley	....	picture car coordinator

Other crew
Scott Adcock	....	stand-in for Tim McGraw
Brad Bell	....	key assistant location manager/scout
Madeline Bell	....	location manager
Josh Benavidez	....	production assistant: additional photography
Andrew Benz	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Blair	....	production supervisor
Crystal Borovik	....	stand-in
Drew Bourdet	....	additional production assistant
Dee Butler	....	assistant location manager
Tara Cates	....	travel coordinator
Billy Concha	....	second unit production assistant
Bob Corff	....	dialect coach
Nick Costantino	....	first assistant accountant
Jillian Ellis	....	technical advisor: concerts
Laryssa Emeigh	....	additional set production assistant
Jordan Gilbert	....	assistant production coordinator: additional photography
Lynn Glaser	....	assistant production coordinator
Amy K. Green	....	second assistant accountant
Jason Lumberjack Johnson	....	photo double (as Jason Johnson)
Nicki Johnson	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Jeremy Jones	....	stand-in/garrett hedlund
Holly Jordan	....	office production assistant
Holly Jordan	....	production assistant
Kevin Keating	....	assistant: Gwyneth Paltrow
Scott Levine	....	unit publicist
Jamie Lieberman	....	assistant: Glenn S. Gainor
Faleshia Lo	....	key second assistant accountant
Sydney Lunn	....	assistant location manager
Megan Lurty	....	set production assistant
Joy Mariano	....	additional set production assistant
Elizabeth Maxwell	....	craft service
Julie McCoy	....	production assistant
Meredith Meade	....	production coordinator
Meredith Meade	....	production supervisor: additional photography
David Midgen	....	titles producer
Jade Moser	....	photo double: Chiles Stanton
Emily Neumann	....	production assistant
Travis Nicholson	....	assistant: Garrett Hedlund
Ashley O'Bryant	....	production assistant: additional photography
Kevin Scott Page	....	production assistant
George Pauley	....	production assistant
Nick Phillips	....	production executive
Mindy Ramski	....	stand-in: Leighton Leester
Rebecca Robertson	....	script supervisor (as Rebecca Robinson-Szwaja)
Andrew Rozario	....	cast assistant to ms. paltrow
Rahim Samadian	....	office production assistant
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach
Jill Sayre	....	voice
Candice Self Perry	....	accounting clerk
Frank Sharp	....	additional voice
Rachel Silver	....	assistant: Tobey Maguire
Emily Sprouse	....	office production assistant
Mark Sussman	....	additional voice
Mark Van Horne	....	laboratory contact
Wes Veldink	....	choreographer
Ryan Whan	....	production accountant
Eric Williams	....	set production assistant
Amy Denning Winfrey	....	payroll accountant
Steve Goldstein	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Jessica Pennington	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Melissa Voyagis	....	epk field producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Nathan Lux	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Screen Gems (presents)
• Maguire Entertainment (as Maguire Pictures)
• TVM

Distributors

• Screen Gems (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• RTL Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2011) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Greece) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2011) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Zoic Studios

Other Companies

• 424 Post  post-production sound services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Hula Post  editing systems
• Klass Security and Investigations  anti-piracy security services
• Madison Gate Records  CD cast album
• NPI Entertainment Payroll  payroll services - sound editors (as NPI Production Services)
• Paragon Studios  post-production sound services
• Picture Mill, The  main titles
• RCA Records  soundtrack
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sony Music Entertainment  soundtrack (as Sony Music Nashville)
• Tomkats Catering  catering
• Wintergreen Logistics  transportation services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving alcohol abuse and some sexual content

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #46369) | Malaysia:PG-13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | South Korea:15 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:6 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Trivia:

Hedlund heeded Tim McGraw's advice to "live and breathe country music" and to approach the role from the perspective of a singer trying to make it in the business, not an actor tackling a role, so he stayed in a cabin on McGraw's ranch where he had guitar rehearsals.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Kelly is lying on Chiles in the taxi cab, Kelly's jacket alternates between being closed and open several times.

Quotes:

Chiles Stanton:Oh, hi Beau.
Beau Hutton:You better be here to wish me luck.
Chiles Stanton:I'm on the board. I'm playing three songs tonight.
Beau Hutton:Says who?
Chiles Stanton:I happen to be in consideration as the new opening act for Miss Kelly Canter. James, my new manager, booked me this gig as a rehearsal... not that I need it.
Beau Hutton:Clint, tell me Garth Brooks here is not opening for me.
Clint:She's not, she's closing for you. Can't do nothing about it either.
Beau Hutton:This is your place, you can tell her no.
Clint:Not for James Canter, I can't.
Beau Hutton:You're gonna let this prom queen get up on stage? For Christ's, sake, Patsy Cline sang here.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (2011) (TV)

Soundtrack:

She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)

Great Film, Great Performances - Surprised at the low IMDb Rating?

Since I'm fond of good country music I thought I'd give this a try, despite not being very keen on Gwyneth Paltrow. However, in this movie she gives a storming performance as a famous country singer, gradually falling apart with depression and alcohol - and she has a great voice! Yes that really is Gwyneth singing in the film.

The good news doesn't end there because the supporting cast are just as good, Garret Hedlund and Leighton Meester were fantastic and so good as country singers that I immediately looked for their albums, but apart from the Country Strong Soundtrack, there aren't any! These are just great actors with great voices. Add in a strong performance from Tim McGraw (Oh why cant you just love your woman? - that's all she needs!!).

With fine, layered performances from all and a storming soundtrack, this is definitely unmissable for any country music lover. I'm still humming the tunes days later.

By the way, be careful if buying the soundtrack album. There are two! The first has other artists covering many of the film's songs and though it's a good album, isn't strictly from the soundtrack in every case. The second album, with the same name, seems to have original performances from the film, but was out of stock and I have it on back order. I think this is the more popular one.

Anyway, if, like me, you don't watch films that score less than about 6 on IMDb, make this one an exception. You wont regret it!