Country Strong (2010)

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

Director:

Shana Feste

Writer:

Shana Feste

Stars:

Garrett Hedlund, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
James DeForest Parker	...	Joe (as JD Parker)
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

Storyline

A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter (Hedlund) who sparks with a fallen star (Paltrow). Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager (McGraw) and a beauty queen-turned-singer (Meester).

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Plot Keywords:

songwriter | country music | singer | concert | singer songwriter | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Garrett Hedlund auditioned at a karaoke bar in Koreantown singing a Pearl Jam song. According to director Shana Feste, "It really wasn't the best showcase ever of his voice, but Garrett went to school for us. Literally, he took four months off and started learning how to play the guitar, took voice lessons, went to Nashville early, started working with Nathan Chapman, a record producer in Nashville who produces Miranda Lambert. I mean, he became a country singer."

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Goofs

When Chiles is with Beau in her hotel room and James knocks on the door, Chiles is seen putting on her red and gray baseball style shirt twice.

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Quotes

Kelly Canter: [to Chiles] That's how it's done, sweetheart.

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Connections

Referenced in The Trixie & Katya Show: Lies (2018)

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Soundtracks

Summer Girl
Written by Jessica Andrews, Marcel Chagnon and James Thomas Slater
Produced by Nathan Chapman
Performed by Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester appears courtesy of Time Act Music/Universal Republic Records

User Reviews

Why were deaf people not given the song lyrics.

This is a musical. Deaf people like musicals too. But not one single song lyric is subtitled. If a character is talking on stage there are subtitles. As soon as that character starts singing the subtitles stop. This makes no sense what so ever. Why treat a deaf person this way. We already can't here the music. It's like kicking us when were already down. Are the mega-stars in this movie okay with this? Some movies respect the deaf so much they will subtitle a cow going "moo". Why does this movie not respect the deaf enough to subtitle the songs. The songs in this movie I assume were chosen because the lyrics were relevant to the story. Why not give the deaf the whole story.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Love Don't Let Me Down

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,452, 26 December 2010

Gross USA:

$20,218,921

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,529,194

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Gems, Maguire Entertainment, Material Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1