Kate Hudson Salutes Neil Diamond at ‘Song Sung Blue’ AFI Premiere

Neil Diamond didn’t make the journey to Hollywood for the world premiere of “Music Sung Blue,” in regards to the Milwaukee couple who fashioned a tribute band to the “Candy Caroline” crooner within the ’90s, however he nonetheless made an look on the purple carpet — by way of FaceTime. Diamond’s spouse, Katie Diamond, rang up the 84-year-old music legend to speak with the movie’s stars Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, in addition to director Craig Brewer, earlier than they debuted the film on the TCL Chinese language Theater in Hollywood on Sunday night time.

“What a privilege! Attending to know Neil and Katie has been actually one thing particular for me. I want he could possibly be right here,” Hudson instructed Selection after the decision. “That’s why we make films: We’ve these connections with artists and type of fall in love with one another.”

About watching the film for the primary time with an viewers, Hudson added: “I’m so excited. I’m nervous. I can’t wait. I simply have feeling that persons are gonna love the best way this film feels.”

Certainly, “Music Sung Blue,” which is predicated on a real story, is a film in regards to the energy of connection. Jackman and Hudson painting Mike and Claire Sardina, two tip-jar musicians whose love of Neil Diamond’s music spurs them to type a tribute band referred to as Lightning and Thunder and follows as they stay out their rock star desires and navigate the trials of life with their blended household. The particular screening of the Focus Options movie was the closing night time presentation for AFI Fest, however Brewer wasn’t nervous in regards to the viewers’s response or looming critics’ opinions.

Why? He’d already gotten a rave from Diamond himself.

“It’s a dream come true,” Brewer stated about Diamond’s assist. “After I heard that Neil was watching the film, I assumed to myself, ‘That is actually the one viewers I care about.’ His music means a lot to me, and my hope is that every one the individuals who love his music will adore it. However my huge hope is that I’ve helped add some followers of his music.”

Jackman and Hudson lead an ensemble forged that features Jim Belushi, Fisher Stevens, Ella Anderson (who was not too long ago named considered one of Selection’s 10 Actors to Watch), Mustafa Shakir and Hudson Hensley — and everybody has a Neil Diamond connection.

“I did the Blues Brothers for 25 years, so I’ve an appreciation for each expert lyricist and musician,” stated Belushi. “I’ve at all times appreciated Neil Diamond for his simplicity of language and the way shortly he might get to the guts. He’s a wonderful author and a singer.”

Stevens revealed that he shares a reputation with a Neil Diamond impersonator from Australia. “I used to get calls to carry out as a result of they thought I used to be him, so it’s such a bizarre coincidence to get this film,” he stated with fun. Although Stevens had grown up listening to Diamond along with his dad — whose favourite tune was “Music Sung Blue” — and would sing a a few of his songs for karaoke, he by no means took any of the callers up on the gig. “I wasn’t, like, an authority,” he joked.

However what makes the film “Music Sung Blue” so highly effective, Stevens defined, transcends past Diamond’s lyrics. All of it comes all the way down to who the Sardinas are. “Individuals who have a dream, and so they don’t let folks shit on their dream, and, it doesn’t matter what, they do it, it’s very transferring,” he stated. “These two characters, who they’re, is so distinctive.”

And it took a particular pair of actors to painting them. “They’re two spectacular folks and I couldn’t think about anybody else,” Anderson stated of Jackman and Hudson. “They immersed themselves this story, and I noticed them give all the things that they needed to be sure that they have been precisely rendering these folks. That’s what I like to do, so being in an area the place different folks have been passionately doing so and had a love for this story, I really feel like I used to be ready to do this as properly.”

Belushi additionally heaped reward on the movie’s leads. “Kate is a lioness of an actress. It’s a vital efficiency for Kate Hudson,” Belushi stated, alluding to the crucial kudos she’s obtained for her emotional flip to this point. “Each actor wants an opportunity, and you may see the actor in Kate on this film. Craig Brewer introduced that efficiency out of it, as a result of it was at all times in her.” About Jackman, Belushi added: “He can sing, he can dance, he can smile. I had a ball with each of them!”

Talking of Jackman, the song-and-dance man had the final phrase when Brewer and the forged launched the screening and he dished about his dialog with Diamond on the purple carpet.

“I instructed him that I’d point out that we had spoken, and [asked] do you’ve gotten a message for everybody,” Jackman instructed the gang about chatting with the music grasp. “He stated, ‘Inform everybody I like them, and to maintain singing.’”