Hank Williams “I Saw The Light” Biopic Premiers in Nashville – Complete Report
On Saturday evening (10-17), the highly-anticipated, yet much-maligned movie covering the life of Hank Williams called I Saw The Light made its big star-studded Nashville debut at the Belcourt Theater just south of the city’s Music Row district. Many of the stars of the film were in attendance, including Tom Hiddleston who plays Hank Williams, Elizabeth Olsen who plays Audrey Williams, Maddie Hasson who plays Hank’s second wife Billie Jean, and Bradley Whitford as Fred Rose.
The event transpired 24 hours after the news came down that the release of the film would be delayed until March 27th, taking the once Oscar-buzzed film out of contention for the 2015 awards, and fueling speculation that the film is struggling to gain traction after the terrible reviews that came out of the film’s debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
After the red carpet ceremony and screening of the film at the Belcourt, festivities moved to Acme Feed & Seed on lower Broadway for an afterparty where Tom Hiddleston performed two sets of 5 or 6 songs each as Hank Williams, singing songs from the country legend’s repertoire that were rehearsed and performed for the movie. About 100 dignitaries, cast, crew, and press were assembled for the event, including Hank Williams’ daughter Jett Williams. At one point much of the cast was dancing barefoot in front of the stage as Hiddleston entertained.
“I just hope that you feel, when you finish watching this movie, that we did Hank proud,” the director, co-producer, and screenplay writer Marc Abraham said to the audience prior to the screening. “There’s nothing I revere more than a great artist, and he was certainly that and gave so much to so many people.”
Tom Hiddleston added, “I hope by the end of this film you’re shouting, ‘Hank!’ to be honest. Playing Hank Williams is one of the great privileges of my life, truly. The idea of bringing a film about Hank Williams to Nashville, to Music City, is beyond my wildest dreams . . . I always think of Hank as a firework. He was burning brightly and made people gasp in awe, and he blazed out too soon. All I wanted to do was do right by him. Tell his truth. Do right by his family and Hank Jr. and Hilary and Holly and Jett and Lucretia and all the people that have become the torchbearers of his legacy. You all know him.”
Hiddleston mentioned all of Hank Sr.’s immediate living family, except Hank Williams III, or Hank3, who has openly criticized the making of the film, especially the choice of Tom Hiddleston to portray Hank.
Saving Country Music corespondent Kelly McNoldy from the Muddy Roots team was on hand taking pictures and schmoozing with the stars. Video of Hiddleston performing “Hey, Good Lookin'” has also surfaced.
October 19, 2015 @ 6:25 pm
Super thanks to Kelly McNoldy for taking all the great photos. I’ll be screening the film in a couple of weeks at the Austin Film Festival and will be posting my movie review then.
October 19, 2015 @ 6:53 pm
From the looks/sounds of that embedded video I’m sorry for the family that this movie must be brutally bad. I think H3 must be the only one that gets it but this guy hiddleston is painful to watch.
October 19, 2015 @ 7:02 pm
As far as singing, it’s not spot on. Not terrible, not great. I’m more interested in the actual story, though. The voice, I can get past that. I just want the story of Hank. Hope we get that, and look forward to your movie review!
October 19, 2015 @ 7:37 pm
Doom: Bah! Blasphemy! This is the best they could do? I always thought Hiddleston was a strange choice for the role, but I still expected more from him. I blame the director and the writers mostly, not Hiddleston himself. Others don’t see it that way however, including one villainous friend of mine. I would like to invite Loki to voice his opinion:
Loki: (weeping and sobbing) Tom… (sniff) after bringing me to life on the big screens of Midgard (sniff) you had to go and ruin our image by being involved in a failed Hank Williams biopic (sniff). Hank’s songs always spoke to me (sniff). Whenever Daddy… I mean Odin (sniff) would give one of his speeches about how great Thor is and ignore me (sniff) I would go off to listen to songs like “Tear in my Beer” while drinking Asgardian mead (sniff). Not only have I been disappointed in this movie (sniff) but now my actor was involved. What will stop him from $hitting on MY legacy next (sniff)? There’s truly no happiness for Loki! (weeping and sobbing)
Doom: (sigh) Look, don’t judge Loki too harshly. He has family issues.
October 20, 2015 @ 8:45 pm
I love these kind of posts XD
i have a new headcanon as to what kind of music Loki listened to while drowning his sorrows after his defeat in NYC thanks to this so thank you!
October 20, 2015 @ 12:53 am
It’s a joke when he sings.
October 20, 2015 @ 2:17 am
I admit it, I wasn’t pre-disposed to think kindly of this flim, and I don’t feel disappointed. It’s a shame, this is a life which begs to be done, and done right, on the big screen.
October 20, 2015 @ 2:18 am
PASTE.com had this headline:
“Tom Hiddleston was a Convincing Hank Williams in Nashville This Weekend” with a link to a say-nothing-really story about Huddleston.
Of course, they also had this article linked as well:
“15 Vegan-Safe Halloween Candies”
October 20, 2015 @ 12:11 pm
The media got played perfectly this weekend in regards to “I Saw The Light.” They announced the delay for the release Friday afternoon, which is when you announce anything you want the media and the rest of the world to forget by Monday. Then throw the Nashville shindig, and what are the headlines on Monday? How awesome the movie afterparty was. Disregard that more negative reviews came from the screening and the movie got downgraded in the release cycle, isn’t Hiddleston hot as Hank?!?
October 20, 2015 @ 6:19 am
Oh my stars, that poor lad can’t sing a lick.
Score – Hank3 – 1, Hiddleston – 0
October 20, 2015 @ 12:43 pm
I think it speaks worlds that jett was the only one there……… She would show up for anything I never was that impressed with her
October 21, 2015 @ 2:26 pm
Hank Williams The Show He Never Gave will always be my favorite Hank Williams movie.
October 21, 2015 @ 5:41 pm
Ahhhhhhh! After seeing Tom Hiddleston interviewed on The Graham Norton Show I am actually looking forward to the film. He does the most HILARIOUS celebrity impressions …. including Robert DeNiro right in front of Robert DeNiro. Tom seems like a nice dude and I think is genuinely talented:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFhhPDcPNvI
He’s also stars in Guillermo del Toro’s new gothic romance Crimson Peak, which I’ve not seen but everybody is raving about. I can’t wait to see this nor I Saw The Light.
Eagerly awaiting your review, Trig. I have a feeling it may not be as bad as everyone says.