Ethan Hawke makes what could have been an exhausting character equal parts charming, funny, tragic and self-aggrandizing. It is really entertaining, which is important here because Lorenz Hart is basically the entire movie.

It would have been understandable if the person cast as Bernadette played her as a bundle of quirks. She is very quirky. Blanchett does not.

Steve Carell's performance is impressive because of how unshowy it is. He emotes just the right amount and allows the story to unfold ar