‘Blue Moon’: Ethan Hawke’s Transformation Into Musician Lorenz Hart

BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: Ethan Hawke attends the "Blue Moon" premiere during the 75th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palast on February 18, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images) — Getty Images

Multiple Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke’s transformation in Blue Moon, the actor’s first film in a decade with longtime collaborator Richard Linklater, received an enthusiastic response in Berlin Fest

The audience reactions at the Berlinale world premiere were positive for the bio musical drama from Sony Pictures Classics.

It tells the story of American lyricist Lorenz Hart (Hawke) as he battles alcoholism and depression on the opening night of Oklahoma! the first musical penned by his former creative partners Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

After the screening, cheers erupted for Linklater and his star, who was dressed in a checkered suit and large multicolored tie.

As Hart, Hawke is in every frame of “Blue Moon” and is almost unrecognizable on screen — especially concerning his height (the lyricist was only 5 feet tall).

“The tone of the movie we hoped would be like a Rogers and Hart song — perfectly crafted, witty, melancholic, sad, funny, all of that stuff,” Linklater said on stage, adding that he’d been working on the film for 12 years but Hawke “was a little too young for the part” originally.

“It was an exercise in simplicity — I kept thinking about music or a Matisse line drawing, it was incredibly simple,” Hawke said about his approach to the role. The actor, however, had to contend with a superfan in the front row, who shouted at him several times while he tried to speak. “Thank you so much, I love you too. I feel the same way, let’s meet later,” he responded as she continued to try to speak. He did later stop by to sign an autograph for her and smiled politely as she patted him on the arm.

Hawke believes that “taking risk in art is greatly lowered when money is the top priority when creating art.”

“If you love offensive art and you want it, demand it,” Hawke said. “Right now, people don’t think they’ll make any off it, so it doesn’t get made.”

Linklater touched on current events sparking art that may be found offensive. This is a theme in Blue Moon, as it follows Lorenz Hart struggling with alcoholism and depression while watching his former creative partner go on to large success.

“Movies particularly have always been escapism, and in our movie, he’s accusing Oklahoma! of being escapist in the middle of the horrors of WWII,” the director said. “I think most human psyches want to escape a bit. There’s probably less offensive art now than there has been in the past.”

Along with Hawke, the movie stars Andrew Scott, Margaret Qualley, and Bobby Cannavale.

Blue Moon is the first big, buzzy and starry hit to receive world premiere in Berlin, which has already seen Robert Pattinson and Timothée Chalamet swing by as part of their “Mickey 17” and “A Complete Unknown” tours, respectively.

Sony Pictures Classics, which has Blue Moon for the U.S., is planning a release in May.

Blue Moon: Ethan Hawke’s Unrecognizable Transformation Into Musician Lorenz Hart

‘Blue Moon’: Ethan Hawke’s Transformation Into Musician Lorenz Hart

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