Pop Culture Happy Hour Blue Moon
Oct 27, 2025
Bob Mondello, NPR's film critic, joins to dissect the poignant new film, Blue Moon, featuring Ethan Hawke as tormented songwriter Lorenz Hart. They delve into Hart's struggles during the opening of Oklahoma! and the heartbreak of his creative partnership with Richard Rodgers. Mondello praises the film’s intertwining of musical comedy traditions and Hart's portrayal of loneliness. The discussion also touches on the film's emotional depth, historical accuracy, and thoughtful handling of Hart's complex sexuality. A must-listen for theater enthusiasts!
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One Night As A Character Study
- Blue Moon frames one night (Oklahoma!'s 1943 opening) as a character study rather than a full biopic.
- The film uses one evening to reveal Lorenz Hart's professional and personal collapse through conversation and presence.
Critic Fell For The Film
- Aisha Harris describes falling for the film and loving Rodgers and Hart's song catalog.
- She says the movie's talky, playlike quality and Ethan Hawke's performance won her over despite small questions.
Cleverness As Both Gift And Burden
- Bob Mondello highlights the film's alignment with Hart's relentless cleverness and how that exhausts people.
- He finds the movie a fascinating exercise in showing cleverness becoming a burden.
