• Actor Hugh Jackman and filmmaker Craig Brewer attended the Milwaukee premiere of their new movie “Song Sung Blue” at the Oriental Theatre Dec. 2.
• Jackman stars as Mike Sardina, a real-life Milwaukee musician who was in a Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline tribute band Lightning & Thunder with his wife Claire.
• Claire Sardina and her daughter Rachel Cartwright – played by Kate Hudson and Ella Anderson – also introduced the film, with Cartwright holding back tears praising the film as “so beautiful.”

A big Hollywood movie premiere with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars made its way to Milwaukee’s east side Dec. 2.

Hugh Jackman was at the Oriental Theatre, along with filmmaker Craig Brewer, for the Milwaukee premiere of their new movie “Song Sung Blue.” An Oscar contender from Focus Features out in theaters Christmas Day, “Blue” is based on a 2008 documentary, also called “Song Sung Blue,” about real-life Milwaukee couple Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed around town in a Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline tribute band Lightning & Thunder from the late 1980s through the mid-2000s.

Claire Sardina, played by Kate Hudson in the film, was also in attendance at the local premiere along with her daughter Rachel Cartwright, portrayed by Ella Anderson. They joined Jackman, Brewer and Fox6 Milwaukee’s Gino Salomone for a 12-minute introduction — where Jackman and Brewer surprised Sardina with an engraved bench, dedicated to Lightning & Thunder, that will have a permanent home at the Wisconsin State Fair, where the band often performed and even got married.

“This is one of the most amazing stories … that celebrates Milwaukee, that celebrates Neil Diamond and family and love,” Jackman said in his introduction about the documentary that inspired him to sign on to star in Brewer’s adaptation, before Brewer had even written the screenplay. “I thought this is the kind of movie I want to be in, this is the kind of movie we need, and tonight, of this four- or five-year journey, is the most important night so far.”

The packed theater was filled with several relatives and longtime friends of the Sardina family, who frequently burst into cheers, and also Greg Kohs, the director of the documentary, who received his own applause and compliments from Jackman and Sardina.

“Do you think that Lightning is here tonight …?” Claire Sardina called out to cheers, honoring her husband, portrayed by Jackman, who died in 2006. “I love you, honey. I love you.”

“This movie that you’re going to watch is so beautiful,” Rachel Cartwright told the audience, holding back tears.

“I can’t thank both of you enough for making this wonderful story,” she added, looking at Brewer and Jackman.

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Crowds swarm the Oriental Theatre in the cold for the premiere

Around 5:45 p.m. invited guests shuffled into the Oriental lobby from the cold along snowy sidewalks on Farwell and North avenues as a musician covered Neil Diamond songs inside the theater — with Claire Sardina making a guest appearance with passionate vocals for the finale.

Dozens of fans without a ticket huddled outside under the theater marquee, wearing “Song Sung Blue” winter hats and cheering for social media videos, waiting for Jackman to arrive. Landmark Lanes next door hosted a party that continued after the movie ended, featuring Milwaukee cover band 5 Card Studs in the Moon Room.

After Jackman’s car pulled up to screams around 6:35 p.m., the Oscar-nominated actor, 57, stopped in front of video cameras, bright lights and camera flashes for smiling poses and media interviews on a “blue carpet.” Jackman also posed for photos with Brewer, Claire Sardina and Rachel Cartwright, who chatted with the star, with Jackman finally making his way to the theater after about 30 minutes. 

Speaking to the Journal Sentinel’s Hannah Kirby on the blue carpet, Brewer credited Jackman for the Milwaukee premiere.

“I remember very early on Hugh telling me, ‘You’ve got to take this to Milwaukee. You’ve got to make sure you have a screening or a premiere in Milwaukee,’” Brewer said. “It’s a Milwaukee story. What I like most about it is that it’s also a Milwaukee story that I think a lot of people don’t even know about.”

“We want this to be kind of a legendary thing, like something that’s lore of Milwaukee, that Lightning & Thunder started here.”

The film includes other references to the Milwaukee music scene. Real-life late Milwaukee musician and Buddy Holly impersonator Mark Shurilla has a prominent role and is played by “The Sopranos” star Michael Imperioli. Veteran Milwaukee soul band the Esquires is also mentioned and portrayed in the film, and Lightning & Thunder’s most famous gig is recreated — an opening set for Pearl Jam in town, at Eddie Vedder’s request.

“Blue” also stars Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir and Hudson Hensley. The film currently has a fresh score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 17 reviews. 

Reactions were similarly glowing inside the theater, with several Wisconsin references — including a Badger Bus hat cameo and a “Poto” reference to Potawatomi Casino Hotel, drawing woos. Claire Sardina and Rachel Cartwright also received applause when they appeared for brief cameos.

Milwaukee moviegoers that spoke to the Journal Sentinel were universal in their praise.

”I didn’t know that a movie about a Neil Diamond cover band from Wisconsin would be so funny and so emotional,” said Nicole Tymus from Waterford.

”I thought it was fantastic, very family-oriented, wholesome,” said Luke Vandeberg. “It pulled at the heartstrings.”

“It’s a great story about Milwaukee. You’ve got to love it,” said Bob Babisch, retired vice president of entertainment at Summerfest. It was at the Big Gig where Vedder saw a Lightning & Thunder set, prompting him to invite the band to open for Pearl Jam in the amphitheater the same day, when Vedder joined them on stage.

“They are a piece of Milwaukee,” Babisch said of the band, praising the film as “a great love story.”

“I’m at a loss of words, it’s a lot to take in,” said Tanya Holt, who said she cried a couple of times during the movie. Holt is Rachel Cartwright’s second cousin, and she said seeing the film brought back a lot of memories, good moments and difficult ones, for the family.

“It was a great movie,” Holt said.

Pre-premiere festivities included slinging Kopp’s custard, wearing a Cheesehead

Jackman and Brewer didn’t just fly in for the premiere. The two also appeared at the Greenfield Kopp’s location earlier in the afternoon Dec. 2 and served a special flavor of the day, “Song Sung Blueberry,” for the occasion. About 1,200 fans lined up, with Jackman staying for a little over an hour and serving free scoops of custard to about 500 fans.

“That Kopp’s custard is the bomb,” Jackman told the crowd at the Oriental Theatre, bending over with his hands on his knees for extra comedic effect. “I can’t go back to ice cream ever again.”

Jackman also posted a video on his Instagram Dec. 2 sitting at a window overlooking downtown Milwaukee — while wearing a Cheesehead.

“First time in Milwaukee and I am so excited,” Jackman said in the Instagram video. “And, I’m never taking cheese off my head again. I can’t believe I went 57 years without it.”

More: What early reviews say about ‘Song Sung Blue,’ new movie about Milwaukee couple and band

More: The trailer is out for ‘Song Sung Blue,’ about Milwaukee band Lightning & Thunder

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‘Song Sung Blue’ trailer stars Kate Hudson, Hugh Jackman

The trailer for “Song Sung Blue,” with Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, shows the triumph and pain behind Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder.

This story was updated to add new information.

The Journal Sentinel’s Hannah Kirby and Adrienne Davis contributed to this report.

Contact Piet Levy at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

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