Nashville Lady

As one of the better cinematic bios, "Coal Miner's Daughter" deserves praise because it is such a topnotch production. Sissy Spacek gives a terrific performance in the rags-to-riches, true-life story of country music legend Loretta Lynn. Spacek does her own singing in the movie, as does Beverly D'Angelo in the role of Patsy Cline.

But this lavish, big budget film has more to offer than the great performances of these two actresses. Attention to detail in production design, costumes, and makeup, plus topnotch editing combine to rev up the film's technical quality. And I loved that soundtrack with all those great country/western songs, including especially "Honky Tonk Angels" by the wonderful Kitty Wells. All of these cinematic elements render a film that is as entertaining as it is factual.

Loretta Lynn's story originates in the South; it's a story rich in emotion and appreciation of simple home values like love, family, and perseverance. Local non-actors are brought into the film in bit parts, and that amplifies the authenticity of her surroundings, especially her Southern roots.

My only problem with this film is the plot structure. The first fifty minutes could have been condensed. In particular, that part of the film that deals with Loretta's love affair with Mooney (Tommy Lee Jones), his red jeep, and Loretta's dad was too long and drawn out.

But overall, "Coal Miner's Daughter" is amazing because it presents a true-life success story that was by no means inevitable. All kinds of things could have intervened along the way to stop Loretta's rise to the top. Her husband was a big help, but she also had talent, and she got some breaks at crucial times. Her journey from rural Kentucky poverty to Nashville mansion thus makes for a gripping story helped along by the nearly perfect performance of Sissy Spacek.

The true-life story of Loretta Lynn (dominant Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek) from her youth where she married at the tender age of 13 all the way to country music stardom. Along for the ride is her husband (Tommy Lee Jones' first legitimate role), an amazingly complex individual who has anger management and jealousy issues. Beverly D'Angelo (in arguably her finest career performance) is also a solid scene-stealer playing doomed singer Patsy Cline. Spacek and D'Angelo actually did all the singing themselves and that just elevates an already high level of performances. The direction by Michael Apted is adequate and so is the Oscar-nominated adaptation, but the excellent work by the three leads makes "Coal Miner's Daughter" one of the finest pictures of the early-1980s. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

There is no doubt in my mind that this film is one of the best biopics brought to the screen. From beginning to end, you are so fully immersed in the life of Loretta Lynn, that you forget you are watching Sissy Spacek, who hands down deservedly won the Oscar and 1980 was an excellent year for the Academy awards with stiff competition.

From the opening sequences, you get sucked right in. The life of Appalachia and the struggles of Loretta growing up. The devotion of Doolittle, Tommy Lee Jones best role, to make Loretta the star that she should be is selfless, despite some tempestuous struggles.

Beverly D'Angelo, who is underrated and versatile, portrays Patsy Cline with such bravado, it just clicks with the cast and the credibility of the audience. The fact that both her and Spacek sang on their own just enhances the credibility of the film.

In summary, a must see for anyone who is a fan of Loretta Lynn and for how a biography should be filmed.

I found that this film is divided into two parts. The part before Loretta Lynn's career as a country western singer and the part after she had become a singer. I'd have to say the first portion was better. However overall this is certainly a must see motion picture. Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo and Levon Helm turn in performances that literally make the movie what it is.

Sissy Spacek got her career role and her Oscar portraying country singing legend Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter. The film was also up for Best Picture in 1980 and for a bunch awards in the technical fields. But only Spacek brought home the gold.

Loretta Lynn came from a background about as humble as you can get. She was as the title says of the film and one of her hit songs a Coal Miner's Daughter. From a place called Butcher Holler. One of the great strengths that Coal Miner's Daughter has is the location cinematography in Kentucky and Tennessee. Hollywood could never recreate the look of the poverty she came from.

She was the eldest of several kids born to Levon Helm and Phyllis Boyens-Liptak playing her parents Ted and Clary Webb. She was an assistant Moma to her younger siblings and a real Moma with for kids by the time she was 20. She married at 14 to Doolittle Lynn aka Mooney because of his original profession of moonshiner. But she liked to sing and it was her husband that said some of those songs that she made up just might be a career path. Anything was better than the unimaginable poverty in those Kentucky hills.

Watching this film today, made in 1980 and set in the 50s and 60s I thought about things today which are probably worse than in Loretta Lynn's salad days. Then the United Mine Workers was a strong union and insured some kind of living for these people. But coal for environmental reasons has been abandoned. Could Loretta Lynn make it out in 2017. She would sure have more incentive.

During her early days Loretta was mentored by Patsy Cline played here by Beverly D'Angelo. Both had the same problems, husbands who were on the sidelines of their wives' career. In this case Tommy Lee Jones plays an easy going Doolittle Lynn who feels a need every now and then to kick up their heels.

Of course the second great strength of Coal Miner's Daughter is the score of Loretta Lynn hits in the film. If you are not a Loretta Lynn fan, you might just become one after viewing this film. Some of Patsy Cline's hits are included, a little preview so to speak of her biopic Sweet Dreams.

Coal Miner's Daughter is as fresh as the day it was released and a must for country music fans.