Born into a large, impoverished family in rural Kentucky and through sheer determination and unmatched vocal talent, Loretta Lynn (Sissy Spacek) rose to become a mainstay at the Grand Ole Opry and one of the most influential Country and Western voices in a generation . Michael Apted's rags to riches profile, drawn from Lynn's autobiography, doesn't avoid musical biopic cliches but Spacek, playing her character at every age from about 13 on up, knocks it out of the park while doing her own singing at that. Tommy Lee Jones as her irascible husband/manger, The Band drummer Levon Helm as her father, and Beverly D'Angelo playing fast friend Patsy Cline (and also doing her own singing) are all great in support, with flavorful local shooting also contributing.
*** out of ****
