Overview
- The Craig Brewer musical drama starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson is in theaters following December screenings and a holiday release.
- Relatives Mike Sardina Jr. and Angelina Sardina say they were excluded and underpaid as consultants, with Mike Jr. saying he is considering legal action, according to press interviews.
- Music rights to Neil Diamond’s catalog were secured with help tied to Eddie Vedder and producer John Davis’s family, with new arrangements led by Scott Bomar and longtime Diamond guitarist Steven Bennett.
- Jackman and Hudson performed many numbers live on set with vocals captured for authenticity, the filmmakers said.
- Early reaction is upbeat, with a reported 75% critics’ score and a reported 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a Golden Globe nomination for Hudson.