moonspinner55 Jessica Lange doesn't do her own singing as country legend Patsy Cline, however that hardly matters because the cadences of her speaking voice are musical. Lange hits some husky, lusty low-notes as the Virginia-born singer who met second husband Charlie Dick (Ed Harris) in 1956 while performing in a local bar, later staying by him through thin times (her pregnancy forcing her off a tour, his stint in the Army after being drafted) and tentative success (a hit record, "Walkin' After Midnight", which she first performed on a TV talent program). Robert Getchell's script has some crackling dialogue, but the episodes of Cline's hard struggle for country-western success as well as her tempestuous marriage to hellraiser Dick are needlessly stretched out; there's too much struggle and too much temperament, and the film begins to seem like an uphill climb (it's exhausting). For a major production with A-list talent, "Sweet Dreams" also looks a little drab and ordinary, without the location flavor of an earlier bio-pic, "Coal Miner's Daughter". Oscar-nominated Lange matches up well with Ann Wedgeworth as her mama, and her angry love for rascal Harris is well conveyed, but the highlights of Patsy Cline's career are tucked away in the folds of the domestic dramaturgy. **1/2 from ****

NutzieFagin I saw this film in the 80's when I was a young girl, and it literally opened my eyes to the music of Patsy Cline. What a voice! I heard of her but never heard her music before because it was considered old and outdated but Brother! you don't know what you're missing! I currently live in Maryland, not far from Winchester VA, Patsy Cline's hometown. Here is what I heard about Patsy's life. Patsy was born Virginia Patterson Hensley. Her mother, Hilda Hensley was a expert seamstress who married a man years her senior. The marriage was not a success because husband and father abandoned Hilda and her children. Being the oldest child, Patsy decided to become head of the family and dropped out of high school to get a job in order to support her mother and siblings. Since Hilda had Patsy at the tender age of sixteen, mother and daughter had a fierce bond until Patsy's death.Hilda and Patsy belonged to a church choir which probably lead to her love of music. Patsy was said to have perfect pitch with her voice. Eventually Patsy got involved in as a singer in bands and performed a couple gigs around town. She did marry an older man, Gerald Cline but the marriage was unsuccessful because Gerald wanted her to settle down as a normal housewife. Patsy was not a shy wallflower, but a determined woman who went after a goal when she saw it. She knew during this time that she wanted to become a singer and she knew she wanted to marry a man she recently met, Charlie Dick. After playing with such bands and appearances like Jimmy Dean and winning a talent show on Arthur Godfrey, her career took off. Her name was changed from "Ginny" to Patsy after a friend called her "Patsy" from her middle name "Patterson" Jessica Lange does a very impressive performance as Patsy Cline although the lip sync hing is a little tight. But she captures the forceful spirit Of Cline. Ed Harris, who plays Charlie Dick is good. He gives Charlie a somewhat crude character and seems somewhat obsessed with his wife while fighting some inner demons like alcohol and jealousy. But the is a love story here--both characters drawing strengths and weaknesses from one another.The film does portray Patsy as a somewhat battered wife---somewhat hard to believe because Patsy was not a person to take abuse from most people. She had a reputation for getting things cut and dry off the table with absolutely no nonsense. Some bands who performed at venues and got paid after the event would risk getting stiffed from unscrupulous mangers. But Patsy would demand money from up front before performing--"No Dough, No Show" was her motto. There is also one scene where Patsy hints that she might have been molested by her father--but there is no evidence about this. There was some protest from family members and Charlie Dick about this portrayal but they just seemed to shrug it off and not make further waves---I guess they just thought it was just better to leave it as it is.There is also mis information about the car accident that Patsy suffered as well as the fateful plane crash. Also, her marriage to Charlie Dick had its problems like most marriages---but was it abusive? All in all, despite the facts possibly bended to make the story more interesting, it is the music that is the real star of the show. It is introduction to whet your appetite and seek out further recordings. Had Patsy Cline survived today, I think she would have been greater than her legend. She was one of the first Country music performers to cross over into the pop charts.So despite the mis information to give the film more sensationalism, see the film and enjoy the music! I highly recommend getting the soundtrack too.

dbdumonteil Patsy Cline is not very known in Europa but her influence can be heard in country music :it marks her as an important antecedent for all kinds of later figures ,from Dolly Parton to Linda Rondstadt.Elvis Costello covered "sweet dreams" on her "almost blue" country album.This biopic owes a lot to its two principals: Jessica Lange as the singer whose life and career tragically ended and Ed Harris,a reluctant draftee then a violent but tender husband :I like his scene when he 's alone in the room listening to his wife's record,the only thing that's left to him.Lange is dubbed for the songs ,a good thing cause we can hear Cline's real voice.She wanted to be Hank Williams ,another artist whose fate was tragic.NB: In the late fifties, a radio is playing Presley's "can't help falling in love".If my memory serves me well,this song was part of "blue Hawai" soundtrack,which was released only in 1961.

james-1730 I just have to say. All the skin scenes with the ultra yummy Ed Harris make this a must see. Good GOD that man is hot!!!!! Ed Harris, I want to have your babies. Just kidding :) In general, I like the movie very much. It's anti-climactic of course, being about Patsy Cline. You KNOW how it's going to end. I think Jessica Lange does an okay job as Patsy, although I think ANYONE would have a hard time filling those shoes...and that distinctive, honeydew-heavy voice. The movie shows another side to the life of Patsy Cline, which of course, people didn't see "back in the day" before tacky Hollywood tabloids ran rampant across our pop culture. Again - a must see. Ed Harris - YOU are a GOD!!!