Song Sung Blue Director Talks Shocking Tone Shift, Kate Hudson’s Oscar-Nominated Performance
ComingSoon spoke with Song Sung Blue writer and director Craig Brewer to discuss the hit film starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. Brewer discussed the film’s surprisingly tragic story, his process of adapting a true story, and more. The movie is now available on Digital and comes out on Blu-ray on February 17, 2026.
“Based on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams,” reads the official synopsis.
Tyler Treese: Song Sung Blue is hilarious. I saw it in a crowd with a lot of older Neil Diamond fans, and they were constantly cracking up. It was such a fun environment to watch a movie in. However, the story does take a more tragic turn. How was it juggling those tones so that the film doesn’t screech to a halt once the accident happens? I imagine it’s a fine line, but it totally worked for me and the audience I saw it with.
Craig Brewer: I always knew that the tragic elements in Lightning and Thunder’s story were going to be a challenge. Personally, I was very inspired by the family’s resilience. It’s the reason I wanted to make the movie in the first place. What’s tricky is that audiences tend to want you to choose a lane. Even back in the day, the Globe Theatre would hang a flag outside that let everyone know, you’re either going to get a comedy or a tragedy. I just don’t see life working that way. Especially if you treat a story with sincerity and respect. When that first tragic turn happens, the goal wasn’t to switch genres, it was to let the laughter drain out of the room the same way it drains out of life when something real happens.
It’s been amazing getting to see Kate Hudson get award nominations and such praise for her performance, as it’s so deserved. We don’t always get to see her show off her more dramatic acting chops. She wouldn’t be the first person a lot of people would think of for this role, so what qualities of hers made you certain that she could nail it?
There are some actors who take on a role and do a fantastic job giving you a performance. But then there are actors that go one step further. They figure out a way to inhabit a character. Through their skills, they manage to exist as real human beings. And as you watch them, there’s a part of you that assumes the actor’s effectiveness at being real is somehow effortless. That’s not the case with Kate. I saw her put in the work, day in and day out. I know she’s a glamorous movie star, but she’s fighting to create someone honest for you to root for.
It would be very easy to mock and punch down in a film about cover artists. This is so earnestly told, and it’s even a bit of a glow-up compared to real life since Hugh Jackman and Kate are just incredibly charming on-screen. Can you speak to making sure you were celebrating the people depicted rather than making them part of a joke? It would’ve been easy to belittle them at times, and it’s wonderful this film doesn’t go down that route, but still finds so much humor.
It’s been interesting to hear people be surprised that we never really made fun of these characters for wanting to make a Neil Diamond cover band. I suppose it never crossed my mind that this was a laughable endeavor. Lightning and Thunder put in the work to entertain their friends and community. I saw them as local heroes. They were earnest and driven. We celebrated them by letting them be good at what they do.
It was really interesting watching the original documentary after the film. There are these incredible lines of dialogue that I would’ve guessed were written by you, but were actually said by Mike Sardina in these videos. How was it incorporating some of those real lines into the film? I imagine that can be a tricky balance.
Craig Brewer: The tricky truth about adaptations is where to place your loyalty. Are you loyal to the original source material, or are you loyal to the viewer who will be watching a movie and still wants a pleasing story? Early on, I went to the subjects in the movie and told them that I would be taking their whole life and trying to find the simplest story to tell. I encouraged them to be creative with me, to give me details from their experiences, but understanding that I would take them as ingredients for something that could be sculpted and changed. I will always vote for emotional truth over the exact details of a life when turning something into a feature film.
This movie works so well because not only is it a blast if you are familiar with Neil Diamond, but it’s such a great entry point to him, since his music is a key component to Song Sung Blue, but not the only thing to be enjoyed. How difficult was it selecting which songs to include?
Choosing the songs was an absolute joy, but I knew there would be a day that I would feel sad for not including more numbers. I love my movie. I think we chose all the right songs to tell the story. But dammit! I wish “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” was in there.
With Song Sung Blue, you get to use a lot of the framing of a music biopic, such as the iconic songs and beautiful performances, but it feels so fresh since we’re seeing it through the lives of Lightning & Thunder. We’re seeing more and more of these, so it’s rare for one to feel fresh and exciting. You’re working on a Snoop Dogg biopic next. Obviously, it’s going to be very different from this, as every subject requires what fits their story the most, but are you looking at playing with its story structure like Song Sung Blue?
Each movie has its own vibe and rhythm. But who knows, maybe Snoop should do a cover of “Forever in Blue Jeans.”
Thanks to Craig Brewer for taking the time to discuss Song Sung Blue.
Source: Comingsoon.net