I bought a new computer monitor on December 22. AJ and Ben set it up for me on December 24, only to be greeted by a big line that turned into a long black rectangle on the screen; the screen was cracked. So, on December 27, as Christmas was officially over and everyone was gone, I traveled to Lubbock to get another monitor. That was the only errand on my list. Seemed wasteful to drive all the way to Lubbock for just one thing.

I had seen ads for the movie Song Sung Blue, had not been many movies in quite a while, love Neil Diamond’s music, and  would have all day to watch a movie, so there you go. The fact that I had not been to the movies in “quite a while” is important to this story. The last movie Bill and went to the theater to see was American Sniper in 2014. I always enjoyed going to movies more than Bill, but not long after that, he just decided he wasn’t going to the movies any more.

So, I wound up not going to many movies. I went to see Dr. Strange in 2016 in Marble Falls when I was at the lake and wanted something to do that night, and it was the only one that sounded reasonably worth going to see.  I watched The Accountant  in 2016, too, and found it intense but interesting and well done. Pat and i went to see Top Gun-Maverick in 2022 in Clovis. Then in 2025 when The Accountant 2 came out, I was also at the lake and wanted to see it, so off I went to Marble Falls again.

By this time, things had changed at theaters, and i was out of the loop. This happened to be on a Monday night, the last showing of the day, and remember I am in a town smaller than Lubbock. So when I go to buy my ticket, a screen pops up on the computer in front of the young man behind the counter, and I am told to choose my seat. Really? I’d never done that before. None of the seats had been sold, so I had my pick of the whole theater. I picked one right in the middle, and off I went. I found the seat and was surprised to find this fancy lazy boy-type seat that had a tray in front for popcorn and a drink and would lean back and raise my feet just like a lounge chair. What a deal! All new to me. I really enjoyed having the whole place to myself and enjoyed the movie. I watched all the credits at the end like i always like to do, and when the lights came on, I realized one more woman had come in after I did. As we walked out, she asked me if i liked the movie. I said yes, but I didn’t think it was quite as good as the first one and that the dance scene at the cowboy bar was the the best part. She agreed.

So fast forward to now. Had not been to any movie at the mall all this time, so  I went there to make sure I was going to the right theater and check feature times since I tried to find them on the computer, but had to create an account to do that, and  didn’t want to fool with it. Later I found times on my phone. But, anyway, I looked at the computer where I also discovered the screen to buy your tickets, but didn’t buy one. Again, out of the loop.

I had time to go exchange the computer monitor and still get back in plenty of time for the show, thinking i was in good shape. I should have known better. It’s a Saturday afternoon on a  holiday weekend in Lubbock, and the parking lot was full.

Apparently, now you have no choice but to buy the ticket yourself on the computer, or at least I saw nowhere else to buy one. So, I went to the computer and the screen with the diagram of seats. All but two seats in the very front row were already sold!  So, I picked seat A-7, got the ticket and went to the concession stand for a small popcorn, a small Coke, and a box of Butterfinger tidbits. The ticket cost $7.50; the refreshments cost $18.15. Good grief! I know they make their money on the food, but this seemed a bit much. And then I discovered these days you even have to fill your own cup and popcorn bag. Times have changed without me.

Off I go to find my seat, right smack up in the front of the big screen. These seats were also the fancy ones with the tray and footrest and all. Well, I lift my feet and try to lean back, but I can’t get the back to go down. I punch buttons and do all I know to do, and nothing happens. And if you can’t get your head back on row A, you really can’t see much of the screen comfortably. I gave up for a while, but got to messing with the seat buttons again and discovered that you have to keep pushing the same button that raises your feet and the back of the seat finally goes down! All of you already know that. But it was a learning experience for me.

So after all that, the movie finally starts. Front row seat or not, I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. The story was fine, but the music is what pulls you in and makes it great. I sat there with a smile on my face and sang along when they sang.  I will have to say that it was almost like I was in the concert crowd singing along with them from that front row seat, up close and personal. And this is a movie that you really need to see on the big screen for the best experience, not streaming on a TV or phone in some little room. The actors’ feet and bottoms were distorted up that close, but the music was enveloping.

The music is really what I went for, and I was not disappointed. I like Neil Diamond, even went to a concert in Houston years ago. You may not be crazy about Neil Diamond; heck, if you are young enough, you might not even know or care who he is, but you need to see this movie. Neil Diamond’s music is real music with melody, harmony, lyrics you can actually understand and sing or just listen to in mixed company. This is music that has feeling, that stays with you. I don’t think you can keep from getting into it when the crowd is singing along during “Sweet Caroline” in one concert scene. When they do “Soolaimon” near the end, that is quite a rousing production that you will want to sing along with. But all the songs are easy to sing along with during the whole thing. You’ll even hear some Patsy Cline and Buddy Holly along the way.

The story is based on the real life of Mike and Claire Sardina from Milwaukee who brought Neil Diamond’s music to audiences through something they called a Neil Diamond Interpretation, more than just an impersonation. Most of the movie is true, but as Hollywood is wont to do, some things were added or manipulated to focus on the emotional highs of their lives. (I will tell you that the Pearl Jam connection did happen, but you will have to go see the movie to find out what that’s all about.) Some movie reviewers found holes or weaknesses in the plot development, but for me, none of that was enough to discredit the movie. The music is what holds it together as Mike and Claire follow their dreams, overcome adversity, and love each other to the end.

Don’t read the reviews or worry about what was true and what wasn’t. Just go see the movie. You will go home with a smile on your face, a positive attitude, and without realizing it, humming along to the songs joyously shared with you in the movie.