I Saw the Light

Hank Williams' life was like one of his songs. He was an alcoholic, a philanderer, irresponsible, and even had spina bifida, which got him hooked on pain pills. He died of heart failure at the age of 29. Sounds like a good movie subject. But I Saw the Light is not that movie.

I can't blame Tom Hiddleston, who plays Williams. He does his own singing, and to my untrained ear sounds great. Elizabeth Olsen plays his first wife, who endured a great deal of stress during their marriage (and had an abortion) and she is wonderful. But the script and direction by Marc Abraham is woeful.

First of all, Abraham doesn't seem to know how to direct a film. It's disjointed and often leaves viewers completely in the dark. Characters aren't introduced, they just show up. Much of the time we don't know where we are, or what time period, although sometimes we get title cards that give us a precise date when it's unnecessary. There are black and white scenes with Bradley Whitford as Fred Rose, who was Roy Acuff's partner and Williams' friend, as if it were a documentary, but these are the only interview segments, which make them seem completely out of place.

But beyond that, the film just doesn't say anything. After seeing it, I don't have any idea what made Williams tick. It starts with his marriage to Olsen, so we don't get any idea how he was introduced to music or why it was important to him. What made him an alcoholic? Why was he a cheater? Why did his wife stick with him? It's a complete guess.

Fortunately the music is good. Williams is one of the few country artists I can tolerate, and we hear most of his most famous songs (but not "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry").

Maybe in another generation someone will take another crack at a Williams biopic that will work.