Country Strong (Blu-ray) (2010)

"That rare ensemble piece in which all four principals are not only compellingly drawn but handled with an astute sense of dramatic balance.  Justin Chang, Variety
"...a throwback, a pure, heartfelt exercise in '50s social melodrama...  Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"Country Strong rides pretty high in the saddle, confident in the remarkably realized world Feste has created for her characters.  Michelle Orange, Movieline

Editor's Note A fallen country star (Gwyneth Paltrow) strives to resurrect her ailing career with a little help from her supportive husband (Tim McGraw), an ambitious young songwriter (Garrett Hedlund), and an emerging country artist (Leighton Meester) with a rapidly growing fan base.

	Leighton Meester
	Garrett Hedlund
	Gwyneth Paltrow
	Tim McGraw
	Marshall Chapman
	Dan Beene - Co-Star
	Reegus Flenory - Co-Star
	Jackie Welch - Co-Star
	John Deaderick - Co-Star
	Ed Bruce - Co-Star
	Lari White - Co-Star
	Shana Feste - Screenwriter
	Jack Gill - Stunt Coordinator
	Jorjee Douglass - Makeup
	Anthony Little - Assistant Director
	Jennifer Albada - Makeup
	Sandy Jo Johnston - Makeup
	Linda Boykin-Williams - Makeup Designer
	Melinda Dunn - Hairstylist
	Terry Arthur - Special Effects Supervisor
	Joani Yarbrough - Hairstylist
	Patty Androff - Hairstylist
	John Bailey - Director of Photography
	Randall Poster - Music Director
	Bob Shelley Jr. - Special Effects Supervisor
	Steve Maslow - Sound Re-Recording
	Meredith Zamsky - Production Manager/UPM
	Michael Brook - Composer
	Rick Kline - Sound Re-Recording
	Gregg Landaker - Sound Re-Recording
	Rhonda Keaton - Costumes
	Fernand Bos - Music Editor
	Ian Quinn - Stunt Coordinator
	Zoic Studios - Visual Effects Designer
	Philip Tallman - Music Editor
	Ruby Guidara - Set Decorator
	Chris Clark - Hairstylist
	Jeremy Childs - Co-Star
	Jim Lauderdale - Co-Star
	Katie Groshong - Co-Star
	Chris Clark - Co-Star
	Travis Nicholson - Co-Star
	Jeffrey Buckner Ford - Co-Star
	JD Parker - Co-Star
	Lisa Stewart Seals - Co-Star
	Cinda McCain - Co-Star
	Gabe Sipos - Co-Star
	Sandra Harris - Co-Star
	Megan Henderson - Co-Star
	Terri Minton - Co-Star
	Darrin Dickerson - Co-Star
	Alana Grace - Co-Star
	Candace Michelle Coffee - Co-Star
	Katie Cook - Co-Star
	Adam Skaggs - Co-Star
	Denita Odigie - Co-Star
	Jeri Sager - Co-Star
	Kirt Lahew - Co-Star
	Ranjit Bhullar - Co-Star
	Tina White - Co-Star
	Brett Warren - Co-Star
	Olivia Haley - Co-Star
	Jim Melton - Co-Star
	Holly Watson - Co-Star
	Brad Schmitt - Co-Star
	Cory Younts - Co-Star
	Skylar Wilson - Co-Star
	Josh Graham - Co-Star
	Chris Scruggs - Co-Star
	Loney Hutchins - Co-Star
	Ian Fitchuk - Co-Star
	Bucky Baxter - Co-Star
	John Bohlinger - Co-Star
	Neal Casal - Co-Star
	Doug Frasure - Co-Star
	Amanda Shires - Co-Star
	Johnny Gates - Co-Star
	Jamie Jarbeau - Co-Star
	Matt Scanlon - Co-Star
	Michael Ollin Lotten - Co-Star
	Smith Curry - Co-Star
	Kristen Wilkinson - Co-Star
	David Angeli - Co-Star
	Gregory Martin - Co-Star
	Sara Reist - Co-Star
	James Hamlet - Co-Star
	Steve Hinson - Co-Star
	Fred Eltringham - Co-Star
	Gary Nicholson - Co-Star
	Beau Stapleton - Co-Star
	Danny Flowers - Co-Star
	Nancy Amons - Co-Star
	Jim Taylor - Co-Star
	Jonathan Martin - Co-Star
	Katrina Hagger Smith - Co-Star
	Nick Beres - Co-Star
	Kelly Sutton - Co-Star
	Shane Tallant - Co-Star
	Christine Maddela - Co-Star
	Stephanie Langston - Co-Star
	Shana Feste - Director

Chicago Sun-Times
"COUNTRY STRONG is a throwback, a pure, heartfelt exercise in '50s social melodrama....It was shot in a straightforward meat-and-potatoes style, beautifully filmed by John Bailey." 01/05/2010

Box Office
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "COUNTRY STRONG is a charmer....Hedlund's very casual, almost offhand, in front of a camera." 01/05/2010

Wall Street Journal
"The film works best when the music takes over. Its star sings well and looks lovely..." 01/07/2010

Movieline
"COUNTRY STRONG rides pretty high in the saddle, confident in the remarkably realized world Feste has created for her characters." 01/05/2010

Variety
"[R]endered with considerable empathy and emotional complexity....Buoyed by an expectedly fine soundtrack and obvious heartland appeal..." 12/21/2010

Sight and Sound
"The corners of this straight-ahead melodrama's love rectangle are briskly drawn out by writer/director Shana Feste....The most affecting scenes in COUNTRY STRONG sublimate passion and filter relationships through song." 04/01/2011

Total Film
3 stars out of 5 -- "Writer/director Shana Feste does a respectable job of shaping the characters....[Hedlund] brings sizzle and soul to the mic." 05/01/2011

Austin Chronicle 7 of 10
Hedlund's got a hell of a voice, rotgut-ragged, and whether he's crooning or wooing, whatever he's selling, and no matter how cornpone, I'm buying. - Kimberley Jones