Blaze (2018)

A reimagining of the life and times of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas Outlaw Music movement.

Director:

Ethan Hawke

Writers:

Ethan Hawke, Sybil Rosen

Stars:

Ben Dickey, Alia Shawkat, Charlie Sexton

3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Dickey	...	Blaze Foley
Alia Shawkat	...	Sybil
Charlie Sexton	...	Townes Van Zandt
Josh Hamilton	...	Zee
Kris Kristofferson	...	Edwin Fuller
Richard Linklater	...	Oilman
Sam Rockwell	...	Oilman
Steve Zahn	...	Oilman
Gurf Morlix	...	Himself
Ethan Hawke	...	Radio DJ
Alynda Segarra	...	Marsha (as Alynda Lee Segarra)
Sybil Rosen	...	Mrs. Rosen
Nancy Roppolo	...	Outhouse Waitress 1
David Hinson	...	Outhouse Cook
Aaron Augustus	...	Bus Boy

Storyline

Inspired by the life of Blaze Foley, 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.

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Plot Keywords:

country music | musician | songwriter | one word title | character name in title | 

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Taglines:

Based on a True Texas Love Story

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, some sexual content and drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Блэйз

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,250, 19 August 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$69,114, 29 November 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ansgar Media, Cinetic Media, Village Studios (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ethan Hawke decided to make a biopic of Blaze Foley, a musician who was little known in his lifetime, because he found it important to make a point that it is not only the lives of celebrities that are worth showing on the screen.

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Goofs

During a montage scene when Blaze is writing postcards from the road, Sybil is shown counting a handful of redesigned $20 bills. Foley was killed in 1989, but the redesigned $20 was not available to the public until 1998.

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Connections

Featured in Conan: Ethan Hawke/Daniel Sloss/Ninja Sex Party (2018)

User Reviews

Painfully awful

Literally one of the worst movies I've seen in the theater. The screenplay is terrible (no one talks like these people talk). The lead actor is terrible (it's apparently his fist acting job). The chronology is all over the place. The film is just BORING. I couldn't wait for it to be over, yet it just kept plodding along.