Blaze

I remember when Blaze Foley died. As an Austin resident, his murder and funeral were covered in the local newspaper. It was a bit of a big deal. He was only 39.

In this film, Blaze (born Michael David Fuller in Malvern, Arkansas) is portrayed by fellow Arkansan, musician-actor Ben Dickey, from Little Rock. Dickey represents Blaze and his music to perfection.

Charlie Sexton, older brother to Will, both local guitar legends, plays Blaze's late friend, Townes Van Zandt, and also serves as principal narrator of Blaze's life in the years of Blaze's professional life covered by the film.

Also herein, 'Blaze' and 'Townes' perform the worst duet of Townes's most famous song, "Pancho and Lefty," that I've ever heard as they're both drunk on stage in a bar.

On a bright side, director Ethan Hawke did a superb job of capturing the mood and atmosphere of Austin and Texas in those days as I remember them.

Blaze's ex/widow, Sybil Rosen, is portrayed in the movie by Alia Shawkat. There's a photo of them both together at an event for the movie in IMDb's photo collection for this entry.

One of the best movies I have seen in a long time. This is such a touching and tragic story with a brilliant cast and performance. If you know of Blaze Foley or his music, watch the movie and revisit what you do know about this amazing man. Sybil Rosen, and Ethan Hawke especially, thank you for sharing this story and film with the world.

I mean it's a little slow, you can pause this and have dinner, come back and finish it up, but I don't think it's a bad thing. You don't rush through a beautiful poem and then toss it aside! And this is a beautiful film. The songs are very well crafted and Ben Dickey and Alia Shawkat give compelling performances. Hawke is an adept film maker, his use of imagery was interesting and I felt he captured the laconic atmosphere of singer songwriter movement in the south during the seventies and eighties. I bet Hawke could make a decent western, no problem. If you have the time to invest and a interest in music this movie will reward you.

I rarely write movie reviews, but this poignant film of the life, and music, of Blaze Foley compelled me to sit down and do so while the memory of it is still fresh in my mind. The movie evoked memories of lost simpler times in Austin, when one could buy a cheap pitcher of beer in some rustic venue and stay out all night listening to music performed by folks who would go on to become legends. Two of those legends, Blaze Foley, powerfully portrayed by Ben Dickey, and Townes Van Zandt, brought brilliantly to life by Charlie Sexton, are deeply interwoven into the tale of Austin's music scene, so if you need a reminder of what drew you to Austin in the first place, or are just the least bit curious about Austin's music heritage and beginnings, this is the movie for you. The music alone is worth the price of admission.

As far as modern movie musicals of 2018 go, this is the best one of the year. It's quite slow at times but never lags, because of its great editing, jumping between different temporal narratives.

We are told the true life story of folk singer Blaze Foley, who is played magnificently by Ben Dickey. Blaze is as charming as he is obnoxious, but sings like an angel who's had one whisky and a pack of smokes too many, and at times he let's us glance at his emotional core which makes one forgive him all his many, many character flaws.

A good film worth watching. Recommended.