The first half of the film is strong, as Spacek, all pluck and naivete, leaves the poor back country of Kentucky--with Mooney at her side--for the road to superstardom. There she meets Patsy Cline (Beverly D'Angelo), already a success in the country-western world, who takes the young and talented hillbilly under her wing. I admired the way Apted and screenwriter Thomas Rickman take the time to build the characters and the tumultuous relationship between Lynn and Mooney.
