Film Review: Blaze (1989)

Success in any career requires time, and that includes the one pursued by the protagonist of Blaze, 1989 biopic written and directed by Ron Shelton. The plot begins in 1949 when young woman (played by Lolita Davidovich) leaves her rural home in West Virginia in hope of becoming famous singer. Fame arrives after one decade, but in different branch of entertainment industry. Working as a stripper under name Blaze Starr, she enjoys enormous popularity and performs in most popular and “hip” night clubs and similar venues all over the country, with audience being made of wealthy businessmen, politicians and other members of social elite. In 1959 one of such venues is in New Orleans where one of the people attending the show is Earl K. Long (played by Paul Newman), flamboyant governor of Louisiana. He is immediately smitten by her beauty and starts courting her, despite huge age difference. Partly because she needs powerful backer and partly because she actually starts to like elderly politician, she finally starts romantic relationship with him. This liaison, however, creates a lot of problems for Long, As someone spent years under the shadow of his legendary brother, populist governor Huey P. Long, and later employed some of his unconventional methods of governing, Earl K. Long has accumulated large number of enemies. Additional problem is his straying of Democratic Party’s mainstream in 1950s South and idea that black citizens should have equal rights to vote and whites. Scandalous affair with a stripper might present huge trouble for Long during next election campaign.

Ron Shelton built his career on sports-related films and Blaze, which is based on autobiographical book by Blaze Starr (who also has cameo role in the film), seems at first glance atypical for him. On the other hand, Shelton recognised that there weren’t that many difference between professional sports, sex industry and politics in America, and that all three areas can be interpreted as mere branches of show business. His script in a very clever way presents two major characters as completely different in anything but their ability to shock the public while providing the same public what it wants. On the other hand, Blaze lacks depth and the script lacks coherent tone, wandering between serious drama and satirical farce. Shelton directs film in conventional ways, very much like in television biopics. On the other hand, he has good crew (which includes legendary cinematographer Heskell Wexler) and very good cast. Lolita Davidovich (who became Shelton’s wife) is enthusiastic about her role, and just like the character she is playing, put some of her “assets” to good use. She is, however, easily overshadowed by Paul Newman, a Hollywood legend who has great fun playing an old man and is especially effective when his old age is used to comical effect in a sex scene. Davidovich and Newman are helped by small army of capable character actors which includes Jerry Hardin, playing Long’s loyal aide who delights being a governor for a day due to procedural manoeuvre. Blaze is not particularly memorable nor important film, but it would entertain most of those who watch it.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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