Country Strong (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

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