I SAW THE LIGHT: HIDDLESTON IS HANK

I’ve been a fan of Hank Williams since I was a little boy. One of the first LPs I ever owned was a collection of songs performed by Williams from 1965 that I still have to this day. When the Williams biopic YOU’RE CHEATIN’ HEART aired on TV I was glued to the set. As I grew up I moved on to rock music but that LP remained in my collection though not listened to quite as often. Thus when new movies about Williams arrive I am still interested. I SAW THE LIGHT is perhaps the best representation of the man and his music as I’ve seen.

Tom Hiddleston, Loki in the recent Marvel hero movies, stars as Williams going from the early start of his career to his first marriage to wife Audrey (Elizabeth Olsen) to his death in 1953 at age 29. Though his time here was short Williams led a colorful life that was cut short by his alcohol abuse as well as the tempestuous nature of his romantic inclinations. Much of that is touched on here but never to the point of exhausting these items. Instead the movie moves at a methodic pace that some will find slow and others will appreciate rather than the usual flash bang boom most biopics offer. The times were different then and so was the world of country music.

Shown beginning at a small station with a weekly program Hank dreams of the day he can play at the Grand Ole Opry, the pinnacle for country music stars. Hank meets and falls in love with Audrey but his influential mother builds a barrier between the pair, even after they marry. Audrey has dreams of her own as a performer but her talent is far less than her desire. This among other things drives a wedge between the couple.

As Hank’s star begins to rise so too does the constant touring that it engenders. With Audrey at home tending to their just started family Hank does what many touring stars do. He imbibes far too much and finds himself with a different woman each night. Couple that with the already deep wedge between the two and his mother’s influence and a parting of the ways seems inevitable. But even then there remained a love between these two.

The damage done and the chosen lifestyle of Williams as a touring musician influenced not just his life but the songs he wrote as well. The pain of loss, the demons faced with his addictions all found their way into his music. All of that is shown here in subtext that helps propel the movie forward.

What makes the movie work for me is that the usual histrionics shown in movies like this isn’t done. We don’t see long drawn out moments of rage between the two main characters. They happen but not nearly as often as the conversational moments when the pain caused and felt by Williams is there for us to see. This felt more like real life than the tantrums one has come to associate with biopics dealing with the topic of adultery and addiction.

What makes the movie more memorable than anything is the stand out performance of Hiddleston as Williams. From the involuntary ticks on display as he performs, the rhythmic movement of foot from side to side, to the way he holds his guitar make for a complete immersion into the role. That he actually sang the vocals on each track only adds to the depth of his performance. While I will always remember George Hamilton as Williams in YOU’RE CHEATIN’ HEART it will be Hiddleston I come to consider when I next listen to Williams perform.

The movie only got a slight nudge when it was released rather than a huge push. Because of that it never got the attention that it deserved. One can only hope that changes when Oscar time comes around. Hiddleston was that good in this role. If not then at least we can all enjoy the film when we want to pop it into the DVD player from time to time. If you haven’t seen this one look for it. It will be a wise investment of your time. And it may even make you dig out that scratched old vinyl LP to listen to once again.

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