--- title: "Blue Moon: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/blue-moon/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/blue-moon" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 24 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Blue Moon (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 24 reviews: 19 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics welcome Blue Moon as a witty, melancholy portrait of Lorenz Hart, with praise centred on Ethan Hawke’s performance. The reviews repeatedly credit him with making Hart’s brilliance, neediness and loneliness visible beneath the talk, while several also commend Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley. Richard Linklater’s sensitive direction and the sharp dialogue earn approval for keeping professional decline and romantic disappointment affecting without becoming excessively mournful. The spread runs from enthusiasm to qualified approval, with no outright negative reviews. Reservations concern the chamber drama’s momentum: some find the speeches exhausting, the middle slack or the humiliations overworked. The Independent finds the film increasingly claustrophobic despite Hawke’s compelling performance, while Variety admires the layered writing but considers him miscast, distracted by the hairpiece and physical adjustments. Hawke is therefore both the clearest point of agreement and the subject of a smaller, pointed dispute over his suitability for Hart. ## Evening Standard — Hannah Pettit Rating 5/5. 28 November 2025. Pettit finds the chamber drama poignant and compelling, with a sadness that avoids becoming overly melancholic. She particularly praises the performances, singling out Margaret Qualley’s scene about a confusing college fling. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-margaret-qualley-b1260239.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2025. Grierson finds the film an understated, profound elegy for an artist confronting his decline. He especially praises Ethan Hawke’s vulnerable and egoless portrayal of Lorenz Hart. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-10-17/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater-lorenz-hart-margaret-qualley) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 February 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the film witty, poignant and finely nuanced. Hawke’s energetic performance and Linklater’s sensitive direction are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/blue-moon-ethan-hawke-feels-unstoppable-richard-linklaters-loving-broadway-biopic) ## IndieWire — David Opie Rating B+. 14 October 2025. Festival review. Opie finds the film a vibrant, witty portrait that brings viewers closer to Hart, though it does not fully succeed and sags somewhat in the middle. He especially praises Ethan Hawke’s commanding, nuanced performance and his chemistry with Andrew Scott. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/blue-moon-movie-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater-lorenz-hart-1235096607/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/4/3. 25 November 2025. Jenkins finds the film handsome but slight, meandering, and lacking purpose. He praises Ethan Hawke’s immersive, appealing portrayal of Hart, while criticizing the piling up of humiliations and predictable foreshadowing. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/blue-moon) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the film beautifully executed, fascinatingly nuanced, and a satisfying addition to Linklater and Hawke’s collaboration. Hawke’s performance is singled out for capturing Hart’s razor-sharp wit alongside the damage and loneliness beneath it. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater-andrew-scott-margaret-qualley-1236140076/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2025. Brody praises Blue Moon as a moving portrait of a gifted artist confronting obsolescence. He singles out Ethan Hawke’s transformative performance and the film’s vivid embodiment of Hart’s intellect and personality. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/10/20/blue-moon-movie-review-nouvelle-vague) ## Time Out — Stephen A Russell Rating 4/5. 17 March 2025. The review presents the film as a sassy, heartsore gem. It singles out the reunion of Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott for praise. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/blue-moon-review-2025) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2025. Bradshaw finds the film witty and heartbreakingly sad, praising Ethan Hawke’s terrific, campy performance as Lorenz Hart. He singles out the film’s sharp portrayal of Hart’s overlapping professional and romantic disappointments. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oct/16/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater-broadway-hart-rodgers) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2025. Willmore finds the film unexpectedly rewarding, despite occasional contrivances in its script. She particularly praises Ethan Hawke’s nuanced performance and the despair he conveys through small gestures. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-lives-for-this-kind-of-role.html) ## The AV Club — Katarina Docalovich Rating B. 24 February 2025. The review finds Linklater’s portrait of Hart sharp and compelling, though it criticizes the casting of Ethan Hawke as distracting. It praises the writing’s acidic wit, even as Hawke’s height and appearance undercut some of its impact. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/blue-moon-review) ## Slant Magazine — Marshall Shaffer Rating 3/4. 18 February 2025. Shaffer finds the film succeeds despite a stumble in its extended monologue, thanks to the force of Ethan Hawke’s performance. He praises Hawke’s emotional depth and the film’s willingness to trust audiences with deliberate dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater/) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2025. Ide finds the film elegantly witty and melancholic, with Ethan Hawke delivering an excellent performance. She particularly praises his portrayal of Hart’s bitter, needy wit, though she notes the height-reduction techniques can feel unconvincing. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-other-films-blue-moon-wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-and-more) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 November 2025. The headline presents the film as a tender, positive portrait. It singles out the performances of Ethan Hawke and Andrew Scott as shining. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/blue-moon-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2025. Festival review. Debruge finds the film splendid and its screenplay sparkling, despite Hawke being badly miscast. He praises the witty, richly layered writing while criticizing the distracting hairpiece and physical tricks used to transform the actor. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/blue-moon-review-rodgers-and-hart-ethan-hawke-1236311303/) ## Screen Daily — Lee Marshall Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2025. The available standfirst frames the film as a poignant portrait of Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart. It singles out the performances of Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott and Margaret Qualley, but the review’s fuller verdict is unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-sings-in-richard-linklater-drama/5202177.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2025. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no praise or complaint to identify. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/movies/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke.html) ## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab Rating 3/5. 28 November 2025. Macnab finds Blue Moon a minor, stagey and increasingly claustrophobic Linklater film, despite its witty dialogue. He praises Ethan Hawke’s quirky, courageous performance, which makes the self-pitying Lorenz Hart compelling. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/blue-moon-review-linklater-ethan-hawke-b2874248.html) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film a poignant, quietly powerful character study. Hawke’s nuanced performance is singled out for grounding Hart’s flamboyance, fragility, and loneliness. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/blue-moon-review/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 7/10. 5 September 2025. Festival review. The review finds the film a tragic, engrossing showcase for Linklater and Hawke, though Hart’s long speeches can become exhausting. It especially praises Hawke’s performance and the quiet moments that reveal Hart’s loneliness. [Read the review](https://collider.com/blue-moon-review-ethan-hawke-richard-linklater-margaret-qualley/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2025. Wilkinson finds the film an engaging, melancholic character study, though some asides feel excessive. She especially praises Ethan Hawke’s portrayal of Hart’s wit and sadness. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/blue-moon-2025-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2025. Festival review. The critic finds the film a bittersweet, engaging portrait of a man watching his world change. They praise its nuanced characterization and unobtrusive, stagey presentation of Hart’s story. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/blue-moon-review-richard-linklater-ethan-hawke/) ## Deadline — Stephanie Bunbury Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2025. Festival review. Bunbury finds the chamber piece compelling but an uncomfortable experience, with Hawke making Hart’s genius and neediness painfully vivid. She especially praises the evocative atmosphere of a vanishing Broadway-era New York. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/02/blue-moon-review-richard-linklater-broadway-chamber-piece-ethan-hawke-margaret-qualley-1236293587/) ## The Skinny — Stefania Sarrubba Rating ★★★. 24 November 2025. The review finds Blue Moon less engaging than Linklater’s best, but still one of his finest films. It particularly praises Ethan Hawke’s textured, theatrical performance as Lorenz Hart. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/blue-moon-richard-linklater-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/blue-moon.md