Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/ethan-hawke-calls-blue-moon-role-his-gift-of-a-lifetime-after-landmark-oscar-nod/
A Role That Pushed Every Limit (Image Credits: Flickr)
Ethan Hawke secured his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor at age 55 for his demanding portrayal of lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater’s indie film “Blue Moon.”[1][2]
A Role That Pushed Every Limit
Hawke described the performance as the hardest of his career, requiring a staggering volume of dialogue delivered in real time during a single 1943 party scene at Sardi’s bar on the opening night of “Oklahoma!”[2][3] He memorized more lines on the first day of shooting than in the previous decade combined, a process that “broke my brain.”[3]
The film unfolds mostly through Hart’s monologues, where he shares career anecdotes and laments his split from composer Richard Rodgers.[2] Hawke underwent physical changes, including shaving his head for a comb-over and altering his posture to appear shorter, likening the experience to skiing a slope too steep for survival.[2][4] “Holy shit, I’m going to die,” he recalled feeling during preparation.[2] Workshops with Linklater spanned years, building the character’s wit and vulnerability.
Reviving Lorenz Hart’s Complex Legacy
Hart, known for hits like “My Funny Valentine” and “Blue Moon,” grappled with insecurity, alcoholism, and fading relevance as Rodgers partnered with Oscar Hammerstein.[1][4] Hawke first encountered Hart’s work while portraying Chet Baker, drawn to lyrics blending silliness with profound themes of loneliness…
—-
Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-02-26 20:28:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8