Tom Hiddleston Said One of His Favorite Roles Was This Biopic in Which He Took on a Country Music Legend

Musician biopics have become increasingly popular within the past decade, as films like Straight Outta Compton, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, A Complete Unknown, and Elvis have been both massive commercial successes and serious awards contenders. It is not surprising to see that audiences are interested in seeing their favorite musicians in a cinematic venue, as it can often offer the opportunity to see the type of performance that is no longer possible. However, many of these biopics put so much emphasis on the music that they forget to tell a human drama that presents their subjects as flawed, realistic people. I Saw The Light was a subversive biopic of the beloved country music star Hank Williams and featured an amazing performance by Tom Hiddleston in the leading role.

While a British theater actor like Hiddleston may not have seemed like a natural choice to play a temperamental, challenged southern performer like Williams, he gave an incredibly naturalistic performance that included terrific renditions of many famous songs, including “Hey Good Lookin’” and “Movin’ On Over.” However, the jubilation and fanfare that concludes many musician biopics was not possible for a film about Williams, as the late musician died after complications from his addiction issues at the age of 29. Although it can be challenging to learn such uncomfortable truths about an artist whose work has brought joy to so many people, I Saw The Light examines the challenges that Williams endured and shows why his music continues to be so popular today.

‘I Saw the Light’ Isn’t a Standard Musician Biopic

I Saw The Light is not bound by the trappings of a standard biopic, as the film begins after Williams has already received some minor fame and has scored deals to perform with his band. Instead of detailing aspects of his childhood, which are better explained by personal anecdotes later on in the film, I Saw The Light chronicles the story of Williams’ marriage to Audrey Shepard (Elizabeth Olsen), his duet partner who eventually became his manager. Although the film begins by showing how earnest and hopeful the two were during their marriage, Williams and Audrey experience a turbulent relationship that becomes exacerbated by the pressures of stardom. Even though Williams is a womanizing addict who often takes the love others show him for granted, Audrey cannot help but feel invested in getting him to unlock his potential as an artist.

Tom Hiddleston Charmed As F. Scott Fitzgerald in This Time-Travel Romance

Hiddleston gave a charismatic performance as ‘The Great Gatsby’ author F. Scott Fitzgerald in the romantic comedy ‘Midnight in Paris.’

I Saw The Light examines the challenges that are inherent to the country music scene, as Williams was often forced to perform in public venues, where he has to make conscious efforts to appease the crowd. Although the film highlights how his naturally charismatic personality made him a winning presence on stage, it also shows how Williams struggled to balance his commercial success with his ambitions as an artist. In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Williams speaks out against critics of the genre, and defends country music as being representative of working-class people and their experiences. It is clear that Williams has invested much of his own personality and life into his music, which becomes more strenuous as his indulgences begin to get the better of him. While some may have complained that I Saw The Light becomes too repetitive in its later scenes, Williams’ ability to undercut his success as a result of addiction may be familiar to anyone who has dealt with a loved one’s alcoholism.

‘I Saw the Light’ Has One of Tom Hiddleston’s Most Complex Performances

Hiddleston gives a nuanced, tragic performance, as he shows how fame is both the best and worst thing that Williams could have gone through. While the ability to see the positive impact that he had on music fans certainly brought meaning to his short life, it also gave him the capacity to ignore his family and refuse to accept consequences. The film is quite balanced in showing that Williams was both a victim and a problematic figure, and does not imply that his artistic genius in any way justified the way he treated his wife. Nonetheless, the romance between Williams and Audrey is very well-handled, as the film justifies why they would continuously be drawn to one another. Even if Audrey is charmed by a lot of Williams’ behavior, she recognizes that the love she has for him cannot entirely save him, as he will have to put in effort to ensure that their relationship is in a healthy place.

I Saw The Light is a dynamic encapsulation of an era, as it offers a surprising amount of opportunity for Hiddleston to perform Williams’ songs in their entirety, even if most music biopics tend to speed through the hits by way of a montage. Given that Sony Pictures Classics pushed I Saw The Light from its fall release to a limited engagement in March of 2016, it is both unsurprising and unfortunate that there was not a significant campaign to get Hiddleston an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, even if it had been deserved. While it may never occupy the same cultural space that his work as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe did, Hiddleston’s work in I Saw The Light is an achievement that he should be equally proud of.