LOS ANGELES -- There's probably no trickier job in Hollywood than casting a biopic about an iconic singer.
When just the right look and vocal prowess come together, you can spin Best Acting Oscar gold, like Jamie Foxx did with Ray. In most cases, you've got to settle for the right look and hope the singing kinda sorta comes together (Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line, good enough for a nomination).
If the above video of Tom Hiddleston channeling Hank Williams in a recent live performance (at the Nashville premiere of the biopic I Saw the Light) is any indication, it's kinda sorta looking like Loki as Hank Williams might fall into the latter category.
Though an early film clip and a previous live performance were promising, the Nashville gig is cause for concern.
Hiddleston, who's always game for some good, impromptu onstage fun, tried out a few Williams numbers, including the 1951 hit "Hey Good Lookin'." For some reason, though, he felt the need to embellish the title just a bit:
"This one's bought us quite a few beans and biscuits," he says in a questionable Southern accent, adding: "It's called 'Good Lookin' Young and Cookin' Howbout Cookin' Up With Me.'"
Ehhhh, close enough.
But whereas a mangled song title might be forgiveable, Hiddleston's singing is ... a little flat. And we're not talking about the geographically correct phrase for a London apartment.
The Brit actor studied for months to perform the music in the film himself, and wrapped his role some time ago. So it's possible that he's just a bit out of practice.
Sony Pictures Classics debuted the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was lukewarmly received. Maybe SPC bumped the Williams biopic from November to March 25, 2016 for some additional voice-over work?
If it sounds anything like this, we're getting cold cold feet about I Saw the Light.