George & Tammy

I finished watching the last episode last night. It's just an amazing story of what love is or could be.

It will be shameful if Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon don't win the highest awards. Everyone needs to see this. It is a timeless story of a particular time.

The movie epitomizes the glimpse of real life story that is imbedded in the fabric of American life, with the good and the bad. Human weaknesses and inspiration take center stage.

Music, sets, make-up, direction, writing, is all a standout compared to the meaningless rubbish, being thrown at viewers.

The fact they sing it themselves is incredible and awe inspiring.

This review is written to those who were never brought up listening to "country" music. I'm one who wasn't. I watched this series because I like the main actors. Man, I blown away by the lyrics of these songs and the way they were sung! I didn't care if George and Tammy's life was accurately portrayed. I cared more about how the actors and the series itself made the words to these songs so vivid to me. I congratulate everyone who made this emotional story possible... which included their youngest daughter. It made me appreciate this music so much more. I'm impressed how how these simple songs can be packed with so much emotion. I'm convinced that anyone who isn't familiar with this genre will develop a special liking for it. I sure as hell did.

George Jones was already a country music legend but heavy drinking was taking its' toll and he was on the way out unless he could do something about it. But there is no sign that he is about to do this or that he even cares what he is doing to himself until Tammy Wynette enters his life. Tammy was on the rise being only a year and a half in Nashville with three successful records to her credit. Tammy idolizes George or rather his music and finally is able to be hired as an opening singer for him. She is in love with him from the start but he is married and so is she with three kids of her own from a previous marriage and three inherited from her second husband. George falls in love with her and takes her away from her husband but their problems are just beginning and the biggest problem is that George is a self-destructive abusive drunk. I've only seen the first two episodes but it is pretty obvious how this is going to play out. Tammy is going to rise to the heights while George is probably going to sink to the depths and Tammy is going to hold onto him as long as she can but it will prove more than she can bare.

I know what happens later on and its' not pleasant. In fact, even episode two was hard to watch in places. So why do I think this is a 10 and plan to watch each episode multiple times as I have with the first two? First, it is extremely well written. It is very fast moving with each scene well thought out and placed. The scenes tell the story often without the need for dialog. George and Tammy are together and the scene cuts to her singing. He's singing and the scene cuts to her in the shower. She is singing "Stand By Your Man" and there are intercuts to George punching out Tammy's evil husband and retrieving the nude photographs he has been blackmailing her with. Second, the picture we get of the music industry in Nashville is revealing to say the least and the character development is sharp. Finally, the two main characters are terrific. Jessica Chastain as Tammy steals your heart as she stole George's and she is a heroine as she tries to rescue George from himself while putting up with his abuse. Of course she doesn't sound exactly like the real Tammy but to me she sings and performs the songs very well. George as played by Michael Shannon is probably a much stronger presence than was the real George Jones. He almost has to be in order to make the character palatable. The real George was 5-7 and quite ordinary looking while Shannon is 6-3, handsome and masculine. It is easy to see why Tammy, who was in love with his music, can also be in love with the man. And to me, Shannon not only sings like George, I think he sings the songs better than George. I love listening to him sing those great George Jones songs.

This is a long sad story about two people in a rut who work in a business populated by drunks, womanizers and con-men. And yet it is fascinating to watch. Highly recommended.

The music was not right....it was dragging at times. The voices are not as strong as the real George and Tammy. George's voice was one of a kind. I saw him in person a few times. Maybe they should have lip synched instead. Jessica does look a little like Tammy. The action was true according to accounts I had heard before. I think this mini series could have been better. Now I'll have to get my George and Tammy albums out and give them another listen. Tim Blake Nelson was Roy Acuff who also had a big voice but not in this show. Above all, the music has to be right for a music bio to succeed. Wish this one had.

An interesting series with excellent acting performances.

The show deals with the lives of two country stars, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, their successes and failures. The series is actually a good old-fashioned drama, where the characters are the most important, and the series depends on how good the acting will be. And the acting here is very good.

Jessica Chastain is convincing in the role of Tammy Wynette and has managed to portray a fragile person who is both inspiring and tragic at the same time. The relationship between George and her is particularly well portrayed, and Michael Shannon is interesting in the role of George Jones.

George Jones is portrayed here as a conflicted person, complex, and in the end he is shown to be someone who is ready to face his mistakes, albeit a little late. Walton Goggins is great as Earl "Peanutt" Montgomery, the man who ends up helping George Jones.

Walton Goggins plays a minor but crucial role in this story. Somehow, I was left with the impression that it would have been even better if this story had been made into a movie, and not into a TV series, because then the story would be more dynamic and would leave an even greater impression on the viewer. This way, sometimes it seemed that some parts were stretched and acted as filler.

The last episode is definitely the best. But, even with these small flaws, the series is definitely worth watching, because of the interesting story and even more interesting characters.

It shows us a glimpse of a different time, which was certainly interesting.

Definitely worth watching.