So good

I went to see “Song Sung Blue” last night, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.

I went to see it because I knew it was about a Neil Diamond cover band and I have a soft spot for his music.

Oh, and I was curious about it being based on a documentary. But I didn’t know the back story.

It was very much not the movie I was expecting. But I mean that in a good way. It was uplifting and distressing, in oddly equal measure.

The movie — based on a 2008 documentary with the same name — follows the real-life story of Claire “Thunder” Sardinia and Mike “Lightning” Sardina, who performed Neil Diamond songs together. One of their most memorable performances was at Summerfest in 1995, where they opened for Pearl Jam and sang “Forever in Blue Jeans” with Eddie Vedder.

That’s the real-life couple on the left.

What upset me most about the movie is something I’m not sure Americans would even register. The biggest tragedy is that people like Mike can’t afford health insurance.

As an Australian, watching the things he did to get around that was distressing.

When I briefly lived in New York I was shocked to see someone get hit by a car and beg onlookers not to call an ambulance because they didn’t have health insurance.

What a terrifying way to live.

I can’t imagine how many more people are struggling with medical issues or dying unnecessarily every year in the US because they can’t afford the rising insurance premiums.

I don’t understand why so many Americans still fall for the idea that universal health care is some sort of communist plot.

Terribly sad.

But great movie.

I saw an interview with Hugh Jackman where he said he invited himself to stay with the actual Neil Diamond and discovered his family have a tradition that when anyone says “so good” two other people in the room have to say “so good, so good”.

So good!

Song of the day: Neil Diamond “Sweet Caroline”