As a filmmaker, Ethan Hawke is something of a wildchild, fresh, irreverent, unexpected and totally loveable. His new movie, Blaze, about a little known country western singer/guitarist Blaze Foley is a marvel to watch, because everyone involved seems to be having so much fun immortalizing a man, a wildchild, who lived life in a no holds barred way, following his passions and foibles without restraint. Looking and acting the quintessential flower child, Blaze Foley could take no sound advice about his abundant talent as a musician and songwriter, nor about his life, blessed with true love, hokey as that sounds. Sybil Rosen, a Jewish girl with kinky hair joined him for a romp for a time, until the real world made their Edenic world unlivable. Blaze died tragically in 1989 at age 39, trying to help a friend, and Sybil wrote a book about him, Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze Foley, the backbone of this thrilling movie.

Hawke said he and the movie’s star Ben Dickey, a singer/ guitarist/ songwriter concocted the idea at home sitting by the fire. This cozy image informs the spirit that brought all sorts of friends into the fold: Kris Kristofferson, Sam Rockwell, Richard Linklater, Steve Zahn. A superb Josh Hamilton plays Ben’s pal. Alia Shawkat is just right as Sybil, and the real Sybil Rosen makes a cameo as her mother opposite Jonathan Marc Sherman, so “Jewish” he could play Tevye.

Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne hosted a New York premiere screening at the IFC Center but did not move on to an afterparty/ concert at Roxy. They missed a great concert including some of Blaze’s compositions and covers, among them “Clay Pidgeons” and “You’ve Got to Move.” Charlie Sexton, gaunt in the movie as Townes Van Zandt, came in on some of the vocals as did Alynda Lee Segarra who plays Blaze’s sister. Ben Dickey, like Blaze, is the real deal, and I cannot wait for the soundtrack.

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura