Rewatchables Reference

• Bill and Liz: The Travis scene – Gwyneth's charity visit to a sick child where she improvises a song. Called her 'Oscar scene.'
• Amanda: Gwyneth's final Dallas concert performance, when she says 'country strong' and rises on the riser with full star power.
• Beau saving Chiles from bombing on stage with 'Friends in Low Places.'
• The Beau/Chiles duet of 'Give In to Me.'

• The Britney Spears-type premise of an unraveling star whose team pushes her to keep performing – extremely relevant to modern celebrity culture.
• Gwyneth's ability to cry and talk at the same time – per Bill's wife: 'Nobody is better at crying and talking at the same time than Gwyneth.'
• Country music's mainstream crossover – in 2020, country music celebrity culture is bigger than ever.
• Tim McGraw's 'I'm so psyched she's killing it' face on the side of the stage.

• Tim McGraw's character – not given enough to work with; his motivation is confusing; arguably 100% responsible for his wife's death.
• The movie is dismissive of Leighton Meester's pop-country crossover ambitions, but the last 10 years proved that's exactly how country music evolved (Taylor Swift's trajectory).
• No social media for Kelly's drunk bar performance – even in 2010, camera phones existed.
• The 2010 styling – side-part straightened bangs with barrel curls, peplum dresses, heavy under-eye eyeliner.

The tour manager (JJ) – the creepy guy Kelly was sleeping with whom Garrett Hedlund walks in on.

Gwyneth in the super-drunk scenes (dialing it up).

• Bill proposes adding a new character – Kelly's generational rival, a country star still thriving. Suggested casting: Faith Hill (natural Tim McGraw connection).
• For Tim McGraw's role, Amanda suggested recasting with someone who could play the business-craven side better, or giving him a backstory as a former singer with a duet.

• Garrett Hedlund: This was his 'lost Apex Mountain' – had both Tron and 'Country Strong' in 2010, but neither broke through. Actual apex probably 2004 ('Friday Night Lights' / Troy).
• Leighton Meester: Yes – Gossip Girl season 2-3 era plus this film.
• Gwyneth Paltrow: No (her apex was the late 90s run).

• Kelly's 'sponsor' (Beau) is a janitor at the rehab facility – wildly improbable and a HIPAA nightmare.
• No legitimate sponsor brought on tour despite enormous staff.
• Tim McGraw's character motivation is never explained – does he love her or not?
• Gwyneth sleeps in all her jewelry including a diamond tennis necklace and diamond cross.
• The three-city Texas tour (Houston, Austin, Dallas) – the first two are just small venues; economically implausible.
• A tremendous amount of implied sex but no actual sex scenes.

Bill thinks a 10-episode Netflix show would work better than the movie. Amanda notes the show Nashville already did a version of this premise.

• Did Beau and Kelly actually have sex?
• Was Tim McGraw having sex with Chiles?
• How did the media react to Kelly's death?
• How long would Chiles actually stay on the farm with Beau before wanting to be famous again? Liz: '3-4 weeks.'

• Amanda and Liz: Gwyneth Paltrow – it's her last major role and a reminder of her star power.
• Bill makes the case for Garrett Hedlund – 'It's hard to watch this movie and not wonder why he wasn't a bigger star.' Outvoted 2-1.

• Leighton Meester's real mother gave birth to her while an inmate in prison – mirrored in her character's backstory.
• Garrett Hedlund and Tim McGraw previously appeared together in the 'Friday Night Lights' movie (2004).
• Garrett Hedlund lost two Avengers franchise roles – one to Chris Evans (2010) and one to Chris Pratt (2014).