STORYLINE: Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together. (IMDb)

    Many big name artists have had biopics made about them.  Amy Winehouse, for instance, had this treatment in 2024’s Back to Black.   Sprinkled in the mix are movies about lesser known musicians, and the music world. Such films include Green Book (2018) and Spinning Gold (2022).  As 2025 fades into 2026, the story of Lightning and Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute duo is told in Song Sung Blue. 

   Song Sung Blue is not the first film to center around music, for star Hugh Jackman (Les Moserables – 2012, The Greatest showman – 2017) and Kate Hudson (Almost Famous 2000).  Despite being a cookie cutter biopic the film is more fascinating then the two movies High Jackman was in, and held its own with Almost Famous. For comparison, I think Almost Famous is fantastic film that is highly original.

    This 2025 feature film follows the normal musicial biopic trajectory. Boy and girl meet on the music circuit, have some success, tragedy happens, they hit rock bottom, and a come back ensues. It worked for this film.  It worked because Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson played well together.  It worked because I did not know the musicians, or their story before I went to see the movie.  I can’t say that about some of the bigger named musicians with biopics out there. 

   What really drew ne into the story was Lightning and Thunder weren’t original musicians. They found their success as a tribute band.  The one constant across all music biopics, is musicians following they’re passion for their music. Song Sung Blue follows Lightning and Thunder’s passion for a musician, Niel Diamond.  I liked the different angle.

    I will admit I am not a huge fan of Neil Diamond music, but I enjoy a good movie when I see it.  I enjoyed The Jazz Singer (1980), starring the legendary musician, much like I did Song Sung Blue, about his tribute performers. 

   Until next time I will see you at the movies!