A 1993 dramedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, featuring plenty of Country Music and a cast of young actors at the beginning or end of their career.
In Nashville, there are over 10,000 aspiring singer-songwriters chasing success... with one chance in a million of getting it. For Miranda Presley (Samantha Mathis), that's one chance worth taking. Fresh to Music City from New York City, Miranda befriends three fellow hopefuls: shy Connecticut cowboy Kyle Davidson (Dermot Mulroney), spunky Southern Belle Linda Lue Linden (Sandra Bullock), and James Wright (River Phoenix), a cocky Texan with brooding good looks and a honeyed voice. Together they begin a rocky ride down the industry's well-worn highway, finding hope, heartbreak, happiness ... and, yes, the thing called love.
There's a well-made DVD out there that has an audio commentary and several nice extras, including a particularly tear-jerking tribute to Phoenix (who died two months after this film's release) called "Our Friend River".
Tropes featured in this film:
- Anger Born of Worry: As a joke, Kyle hangs off of a freight train as it's going down the track, and then falls off onto the ground. While Linda Lue and Billy treat it like it's no big deal, Miranda gets upset at Kyle, tells him off, and then storms off.
- Author Appeal: When Miranda tells James she wants to write a song with him, he takes her to see The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance at a drive-in. Peter Bogdanovich is a big John Ford fan, and a big fan of that movie.
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: Miranda and James, resulting in quite a bit of Slap-Slap-Kiss.
- Beware the Nice Ones:Miranda: You're always asking everyone else what they think.Linda: That's right. And you know what? I'm not going to do it anymore. If I don't feel like bein' nice to somebody, I'm just goin' to be mean ... or at least impolite.
- The Cameo: Trisha Yearwood appears as herself when Kyle and Miranda get caught breaking into her car so they can give her a song Kyle wrote. Yearwood records it later in the movie. Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Pam Tillis also show up briefly.
- Cock Fight: Kyle and James have a brief one over Miranda.
- Crash-Into Hello: James and Miranda meet for the first time on the parking lot of the Bluebird Café, both late for the audition that takes place there. James then proceeds to involve Miranda in a scheme attempting to get in.
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: Miranda lost her father prior to the beginning of the movie, and just can't stop thinking about him.
- The Ditherer: Linda can't decide between becoming a singer, a beauty contestant, or an actress.
- Failed Audition Plot: The movie starts as this for Miranda, but soon turns into more of a romance plot.
- Gilligan Cut: Miranda really doesn't want to have the waitress job. The next time we see her, she's indeed waiting tables.
- Give Me a Reason: James provokes Kyle about getting the girl.
- Hidden Depths: Linda has some.Linda: You know, sometimes people aren't exactly the person you might think they are when you first meet someone.
- I Am Not My Father: James is afraid of unintentionally becoming the same bad person his father was.
- The Insomniac: Miranda, to the point of it seriously impeding her relationship with James.
- Last-Minute Hookup: James and Miranda make up during the last couple of minutes of the film.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: There's a display board titled "Weeklyrates new pool" in the street outside the Drakes Hotel (where Miranda and Linda stay) which comments on plot developments in the form of song lines.
- Let's Duet: Miranda and James, "Blame It On Your Heart."
- Like an Old Married Couple:James: It seems as though you've made a cheque out for "selfish, arrogant dickhead."Miranda: Yeah, they'll cash it. They know it's you.
- Subverted in that they're actually married by this point. Though not for a very long time.
- My Beloved Smother: Linda Lou's mother shows traits of this.
- Oh, Crap!: When Kyle falls off a horse and has to be taken to the hospital. And again when he falls off a railway bridge.
- Plucky Comic Relief: Linda is a particularly cute version.
- Rule of Fun: The record company where Miranda tries to land a deal is simply called "The Famous Music Publishing Companies."
- "Shut Up" Kiss: When James takes Miranda back to her room, Miranda babbles about Linda Lue and her habits, until James says, "I need for you to stop talking", and kisses her.
- Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Interestingly, Miranda can't decide between this and All Girls Want Bad Boys for a long while.
- Skyward Scream: See the title quote. Done from the roof of a skyscraper.
- Surprisingly Happy Ending: Miranda, James and Kyle make up and drive away together, planning their future in an And the Adventure Continues manner.
- Wacky Marriage Proposal: It features a plastic ring and takes place in a supermarket.
