Customer Reviews

Coal Miner's Daughter

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To me, the success of a film biography isn't whether fans of the personality will watch the movie; they will, whether it is any good, or not...the true measure of success is how the film captures an audience who DON'T know the person, and wins their hearts.

"Coal Miner's Daughter" does this, better than nearly any other 'biopic', and the film is as passionate and wonderful today as it was in 1980.

There are several reasons for the film's 'staying' power; first, British director Michael Apted, making his first American feature, brought an unbiased eye to the lifestyle of poor but proud rural America. Eschewing the clichés of the "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Dukes of Hazzards" stereotypes, he cast many 'locals' in the film, and attempted to recreate, as realistically as possible, the world Loretta Webb/Lynn knew so well.

Second, the film boasts not one or two, but three powerhouse supporting performances. Tommy Lee Jones, who Apted picked over Harrison Ford, is a revelation as Doolittle 'Mooney' Lynn. With only a handful of credits when the film was released, he demonstrated the dazzling combination of humor and sensitivity that would eventually win him a place as one of our finest actors. Levon Helm, making his dramatic debut as Loretta's father, Ted, is even more impressive. Low-key, but irresistible, he offers so much love and power in his portrayal that it's easy to see why he would remain influential to his superstar daughter, long after his passing. In a brief but sparkling portrayal, Beverly D'Angelo channels Patsy Cline to perfection (I may be alone in my opinion, but I prefer her portrayal over Jessica Lange's, in "Sweet Dreams"). With earthy charm and worldliness, she would change Loretta's image from 'cowgirl' to 'royalty', and her shocking, early death would shatter Loretta, much as it would for everyone who loved her.

Of course, without a strong, charismatic performance in the lead, nothing else would matter, and Sissy Spacek is nothing less than spectacular! Handpicked by Loretta Lynn, herself, from a photograph (Spacek would admit that she felt 'wrong' for the role, and uncomfortable about Lynn proclaiming the actress as "her" choice on national TV, but as she was preparing to turn it down, "Coal Miner's Daughter" came on a 'classical' radio station she was listening to, and she suddenly knew she was 'meant' to play the part!) Contrary to popular opinion, she had to learn Lynn's Southern accent, and spent grueling weeks learning how to sing her signature tunes (including a week with Loretta, herself). The end results are stunning! Despite only a passing resemblance, Spacek so totally captured the talent, vulnerability, feistiness, and strength of Loretta Lynn that she won the 1980 'Best Actress' Oscar (over Gena Rowlands, Ellen Burstyn, Goldie Hawn, and Mary Tyler Moore), and is still identified with the role, today.

I knew little of Country Music in 1980, and even less about Loretta Lynn, but the film captured my heart...and after 25 years, it still moves me!

"Coal Miner's Daughter" IS a CLASSIC!

Finally, it's on DVD!

Okay, I'm one of those folks who knows this movie up and down, back and forth, word-for-Kentucky-word, and proud of it!

I remember seeing this film on the big screen in 1980, when I barely knew who Loretta Lynn was, and I loved it dearly from that moment on.

If this film hadn't been up against my other all-time favorite movie for the Best Picture Oscar in 1980, it should have (and would have) won, hands-down.

I waited for years for this film to finally be released on DVD, and I wasn't disappointed. My VHS edition, while as wonderful as a pan&scan movie can be, was worn out from repeated viewing. The quality of the picture and sound on the DVD is superb, as are the special features, including an interview with Director Michael Apted and Miss Loretta Lynn herself, as well as a rememberance by Tommy Lee Jones. Once you've watched the whole film all the way through, you'll want to watch it again with the commentary by Sissy Spacek and Director Michael Apted.

Even if you have never heard the name "Loretta Lynn", you'll adore and treasure your "Coal Miner's Daughter" DVD.

My Jaw's-a-swellin' up - from pure happiness!

I LOVE this movie. This heartwarming, true rag-to-riches film about the life of Loretta Lynn took even the most sophisticated audiences by surprise when it was first released. Sissy Spacek is wonderfully accurate in her portrayal of the legendary but still humble and approachable country music star. This film made people who HATED country music take a second look. The story of the backwards, backwoods, painfully shy little girl whose simple, self-penned, biographical songs made her a huge star with almost unequaled # 1 country hits, is just as touching and great as when it was released. Tommy Lee Jones is perfect as "Doo", the man who stood by his woman, and Beverly D'Angelo gives a memorable performance as the legendary Patsy Cline. The fact that Spacek and D'Angelo so effectively do all their own singing, considering the shoes they had to fill, just makes this film all that much of a wonder. Levon Helm, of The Band, is also very good as "Lorettys" daddy. Just an all- around terrific film, with many touching moments from a by-gone time, when a little girl with a record could tap on the radio station window one day, and be a star a week later. Sissy Spacek's Oscar winning performance makes for a total class production about a total class lady. Loretta Lynn became one of this city boys favorites since seeing this film, and she remains so... a true, greatly admired, humanitarian *star*, who could teach most other celebrities a thing or two about "stardom". A perfect film for the whole family, the ultimate "feel good" movie. Thanks Loretty !! (And Sissy, too.) Just GREAT!!

Loretta Lynn is one of the most beautiful voices that is out there. I may not agree with her seemingly uniformed political opinions but she is not a bad person. In fact my love for her increases every time she sings. She is what country should be. A strong woman not afraid to address issues and with real emotion that severely lacks today. The music also has emotion, not like a country star today who wants to sound rock and roll or so concerned with image singing about car parts and thinking if they sing about "simple" things that people will view them that way. No, Loretta is stronger than that and you can see why. Beautiful locations were picked by director Micheal Apted who really seems to love the mountain land as a character just as he did in Nell. I grew up in those mountains and they affect your life profoundly. Sissy is so great as is the tragically underrated Beverly D'Angelo who should have at least been nominated!!

Coal Miner's Daughter was the movie of 1980. Sissy Spacek starred in the country music autobiography as Loretta Lynn. The movie was based on the book Coal Miner's Daughter. The book was the first country autobiography to hit the best seller list. Prior to Coal Miner's Daughter Sissy Spacek was best known for her role as Carrie in the Stephen King horror film. Sissy won audiences over with her realistic portrayal of Loretta Lynn and she took home the 1980 Oscar for Best Actress.

The DVD includes some really good bonus features. The DVD includes a brand new interview with Loretta Lynn and the films director. Loretta explains how she handpicked Sissy Spacek for the film based on a stack of pictures. She also says that she can't watch the film because it's "too real." Loretta also discloses that she took Sissy on the Oprey with her and Sissy would perform right along with her sometimes. The interview is conducted from the "Coal Miner's Daughter" Museum.

Tommy Lee Jones appears in a brand new interview where he discusses his involvement with the film. His hair looks dark and his beard looks a bit scruffy.Sissy Spacek doesn't appear on screen in a new interview but she does participate in a film commentary along with the films director. This special edition also includes a Photo Journal. This booklet is rather thin and not really of the same quality as the booklets Universal released with the Jaw special edition. It's a great DVD.

I never grow tired of this movie. I have seen it over 100 times since it was released in 1980.I own it on laser disc,VHS and hope to find it on DVD. Sissy Spacek did a outstanding job playing the "Queen Of Country Music," Loretta Lynn. She more than earned the Oscar & golden globe awards show won. The soundtrack album is also a winner ! Everyone cast in this film was perfect. This film received 7 Academy Award nominations includeing BEST PICTURE. Loretta Lynn is still going strong 20 years after this movie was released. I seen her in concert recently and she still rules as the "QUEEN." I look foward to a sequal to this all time favorite film.

. . . and, frankly, usually never even approached, in terms of quality. *Coal Miner's Daughter* set the bar very high indeed for the biopic. Most likely this was because the subject of the film, Loretta Lynn, was deeply involved in the project: it was based on her biography; Sissy Spacek actually lived with Lynn for almost a year prior to shooting; and Lynn basically kept a close watch on the proceedings. Loretta Lynn is a tough broad. If director Michael Apted had had any thoughts of making this a "sensational" piece, Lynn disabused him of the notion rather early, I would imagine. Hence, there's absolutely no salaciousness, no untoward intrusions of privacy, no "creative license". This is the story that Loretta Lynn wanted told, and by God, it got told. Needless to say, this way of making motion pictures, so uncharacteristic of the usual Hollywood method of cheapening everything for the sake of "entertainment", makes for a compulsively watchable experience. Story-wise, it's not terribly unique: it's the old rags-to-riches formula. But what rags, and what riches! The key to the movie's success is in the details: from the newspaper, serving as wallpaper, glued onto the walls of Loretta's home in the Kentucky "holler" . . . to the old pre-War washing-machine on the porch that Spacek kicks into gear while learning to play the guitar . . . to the baloney sandwiches consumed during Spacek's and Jones' journey from one radio station to the next in Tennessee . . . to the first nervous performance at the Grand Old Opry . . . to the luxuriantly appointed tour bus replete with "LORETTA LYNN" in elegant cursive writing on the side. Most impressively, Spacek does her own singing in the movie, echoing Lynn's style while avoiding overt mimicry. And Beverly D'Angelo is a revelation as Patsy Cline. A noted singer in her own right, D'Angelo arguably out-sings the real Cline in the numbers featured here. While this MIGHT be both Spacek's and D'Angelo's finest hours, it is almost CERTAINLY Tommy Lee Jones' finest hour. He plays Lynn's husband "Doo" with not only utter conviction, but with complete familiarity, as well. All in all, *Coal Miner's Daughter* remains the gold standard in the biopic genre.

Some movies are so excellent that words are insufficient to describe that excellence. Such is the case with "Coal Miner's Daughter," a movie that relies on an effectively told story of Loretta Lynn to carry the film rather than flashy special effects and action. The script is brought to life by the incredible talents of the actors, most especially Sissy Spacek, in one of the best performances of her career.

"Coal Miner's Daughter" spans the era from the late 1940s to the early 70s, focusing principally on Loretta Lynn from age 13 to her rise to fame as the best-selling female country artist. It's easy to look at Loretta's early life as an artifact of some ancient time, but in fact Loretta's life and the life of her family was quite typical in some rural areas in The United States in that era, and many of us are the children or grandchildren of similar families. This movie is thus not only the story Loretta Lynn, but is also the story of many Americans.

Sissy Spacek sang all the songs for the movie, which is available on CD. Sissy received an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Loretta Lynn, the only Oscar awarded to the film of the seven nominations. Sissy sounds so incredibly like Loretta Lynn that sometimes I find it difficult to know whether a Loretta Lynn CD or the movie soundtrack is playing. Sissy's phenomenal acting talent made her Loretta Lynn.

Sissy was well supported in her role by other excellent talents. The multi-talented Tommy Lee Jones played the part of Loretta's philandering husband Mooney Dolittle. Tommy Lee played the role very well within the limits of the screenplay. My only complaint is that I felt that Mooney was portrayed in a much milder way than his actual personality. I believe most viewers will perceive traits in Tommy Lee's character that are indications of the real Mooney.

Beverly D'Angelo is outstanding as brash and outgoing Patsy Cline, for a time Loretta's idol, best friend and mentor in the country music world. Patsy had a lot of influence on how naïve Loretta perceived the world and how she reacted to things. Beverly sang Patsy's songs and matched Sissy in the quality of her performance.

Also appearing in this movie were Levon Helm and Phyllis Boyens as Loretta's parents. I read that Loretta was shocked by the appearance of Levon Helm in his makeup and clothes because he looked so much like her father. This couple in role could have easily been the models for the picture "American Gothic." Another appearance worthy of note was that of Earnest Tubb as himself.

Loretta Lynn's story is such a grand story because she exemplifies the dream we all have of making our way in the world. Loretta's father was, as the title suggests, a coal miner. Coal mining is a difficult, dirty job with a lot of risk. During the time of Loretta's youth coal miners would typically get their paycheck and then go to the company store to buy food and pay their debt. In many ways working for a mine in those times was nearly like slavery or indentured servitude. Mooney and Loretta escape by first traveling to the west coast, and ultimately by capitalizing on Loretta's abilities as a singer and songwriter. Ultimately Loretta became a multi-millionaire with a wide range of business interests. This movie presents a rags-to-riches story to inspire us all.

"Coal Miner's Daughter" is one of those films that transcends musical tastes, cultures and social classes to touch all viewer's hearts. Even I, someone who was not previously familiar with the "first lady of Country Music" (the great Loretta Lynn), and certainly not a huge country music fan, found myself entertained, engaged and moved by this inspiring and affirmative film.

The story starts in Kentucky, as thirteen year old Loretta (masterfully played by Sissy Spacek, who went on to win an Academy Award for her role), one of eight children and the daughter of a dirt poor coal miner, is helping to raise her siblings and just survive in her impoverished surroundings. It is then that she meets "Doo" (Tommy Lee Jones), a man ten years her senior, who has returned from his military service, and they promptly fall in love. They end up getting married shortly after one month's time. It is "Doo" who first recognizes her singing talents, as she sings to the first of their four children, buys her a guitar and pushes her into singing professionally. Of course, this is only the beginning of a greatly successful performing career. Loretta took her experiences with her husband, as well as her humble beginnings in Kentucky, and set them to music in her numerous songs. Through the power of these songs, she always remained close to her roots, and, with her music touched many, who either related her songs or were simply touched by the honesty of her lyrics.

This film worked for me on so many levels. I appreciated the respect paid to Loretta, througout the movie, and that it wasn't at all exploitative. Though, she had her share of ups and downs, we see her struggle with great dignity (e.g; her husband's philandering, her breakdown on stage). The acting was marvelous. Tommy Lee Jones' and Sissy Spacek's on-screen chemistry as a couple was, both, believeable and honest. Also, I thought it was wonderful how Sissy Spacek did all of her own singing! If you ever hear some of Loretta's actual recordings, you would have a hard time telling the two women apart. She captured the tone and style beautifully and convincingly. As did Beverly D'Angelo (as Patsy Cline), a great inspiration to Loretta, who was her friend and confidante, on and off stage.

This is a great film that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and generations. It is truly a great glimpse into the life of a wonderful and inspiring performer, who came from modest means, went on to become one of the greatest country singers, and still maintained a strong sense of self that came through the gift of personal struggle and adversity.
I give this an A+ all the way.

As far as musical biographies are concern, coal miner's daughter stands alone. It is about the life and career of country legend Loretta Lynn, based on the autobiography of the same name. The music is fantasic, Sissy Spacek did her own singing and look and sounded amazingly like Loretta Lynn. Some say The Buddy Holly Story is just as good. It is also a fantastic movie with great music. But, unlike Sissy Spacek, Gary Busey is not doing his own singing. The movie mainly concentrates on Buddy Holly's career. Coal Miner's Daughter accurately portrays Loretta Lynn's early impoverished life in Butcher Holler, Kentucky. The movie is a good ethnographic portrayal of life in Applachia. Plus the movie does a good job in portraying the world of country music and life on the road. Coal Miner's Daughter is a great story of a person who was married at age 13 and had for kids by age 20 and ended up being one of the major country music and entertainment figure throughout the world.