Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Ten More Classic Country DVDs

Nashville (1975). Robert Altman's daddy of all country confabulations is a 12-string, 12-ring circus.

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980). Sissy Spacek does an Oscar-winning turn as Loretta Lynn in director Michael Apted's adaptation of her biography.

Sweet Dreams (1985). Jessica Lange does a bang-up job playing Patsy in this biopic, but director Karel Reisz wisely keeps Cline's velvet voice for the songs. He'd be crazy not to.

Ray (2004). Yes, he was country, too. In fact, Ray Charles merged all kinds of music into something truly his own. Taylor Hackford directs this Oscar-winning biopic.

Thunder Road (1958). This tale of moonshine runners was written, produced, and acted by Robert Mitchum - and the big guy even sired co-star James Mitchum and wrote and sang a couple of the soundtrack's tunes.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000). Joel and Ethan Coen's oddball prison-break pic lurches through the Depresssion-era South, touching on all bases from Klansmen to hillbilly radio stars. And it provides a perfect setting for the surprising hit soundtrack.

Honkytonk Man (1982). Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this story of a colorful musician on the skids during the Depression who makes the long journey to audition at the Grand Ole Opry.

Tender Mercies (1983). Bruce Beresford directs this tale of yet another broke and broken singer, played by Robert Duvall, who won an Oscar. It boasts a fine old-school country soundtrack.

Rhinestone (1984). If anyone can turn Sylvester Stallone into a country singer, it would be Dolly Parton.

Honeysuckle Rose (1980). Back on the road again (I'm getting plum tuckered out after Walk the Line, Ray, and Honkytonk Man), with Willie Nelson this time playing the touring performer - travelin', drinkin', pill-poppin', and chasin' women in between sets. - J.K.