Blue Moon

The Lady is a Tramp, My Funny Valentine and Blue Moon – these are just three of the more than 500 songs that lyricist Lorenz Hart wrote together with composer Richard Rodgers. But no matter how successful the two were, Hart was not doing well at all. His alcoholism was becoming an increasingly serious problem, both professionally and privately. The final blow came on 31 March 1943, the day Rodgers' new musical Oklahoma! had its world premiere, this time written with a new partner: Oscar Hammerstein. Hart dislikes the lyrics and leaves the theatre before the last note has sounded to go to Sardi's restaurant, the place where theatre people come to celebrate after a premiere. Not much later, Rodgers also arrives there.

How self-destructive behaviour can ruin a brilliant career is what director Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Nouvelle Vague) shows in this compelling film, which takes place in a single evening. He does so with a top-notch cast: Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley.