Another gem for Linklater and Hawke that is funny and blue.

Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon” takes place during the stage production of “Oklahoma!” (Explanation Point), but only through the perspectives of Lorenz Hart, who decides to drink away his sorrows at Sardi’s. In his latest collaboration with the filmmaker, Ethan Hawke portrays Hart, who was about 5 feet tall, and so stagecraft, forced perspective, and camera techniques were able to transform the tall actor into that height. And he also had to shave his head, use a combover, and adjust his posture to continue the transformation.

“Blue Moon” is another Linklater-Hawke entry that is a delight, ranking with the “Before Sunrise” movies and “Boyhood.” You can tell by the poetic values and the ambiance that surrounds them. And the poster with Hawke and Margaret Qualley on it gives me Woody Allen vibes (certainly much more effective than what Luca Guadagnino was going for with “After the Hunt”), but it proves to be a lot more than that.

“Oklahoma!” (And I’m not going to keep saying Explanation Point for the rest of the review, even though Hawke does throughout the movie) was created by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Hart did used to collaborate with Richard Rodgers on plays like “Babes in Arms,” “The Boys from Syracuse,” and “Pal Joey,” and songs like “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Manhattan,” and “Blue Moon.” Hence the movie’s title: “Blue Moon.” They made a great team, until Hart’s declining health and alcoholism. And remember, he was born in 1895 and died in 1943, so this movie also takes place months before his death.

We see Hart chewing the fat with the bartender Eddie (Bobby Cannavale), who wears a white outfit, a war vet piano player named Morty Rifkin (Jonah Lees), whom he nicknames Knuckles, and author E.B. White (Patrick Kennedy), whose words are worthy of his praises. He talks about his life, pain, music, and fascination for a Yale student named Elizabeth (There’s that Qualley), who is half his age. And the afterparty has him reuniting with Rodgers (Andrew Scott) and Elizabeth. And you must admire the camera angles of how Qualley is taller than Hawke and how they mingle and discuss about relationships.

“Blue Moon” was also written by Robert Kaplow, who also wrote “Me and Orson Welles,” and nine books, and he was once a teacher at Summit High School in New Jersey. It’s clear this man knows a good character study when he sees it, and these are celebrities. Maybe he should collaborate with Linklater on more movies, because of how the filmmaker directs the actors who adapt to what is on the screenplay.

The sense of humor is also honest and reminiscent of the time period. It’s able to relate to fans of Rodgers and Hart, as well as the potential that has led to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s successful career. Sometimes, it may not be as high as an elephant’s eye, but most of the time, it has a song in my heart. In fact, “Blue Moon” has a song in its heart.

The ambiance comes within the music composed by Graham Reynolds. Allow it to move with the characters and their words, and feel the magic that Linklater brings to them and to the audience.

We’ve always known that the director and star have shined before and will continue to do so. Seeing the actor transformed by make-up and camera effects, and listening to his passionate and sorrowful words, we understand what makes Lorenz Hart a vision in the music world and what led to his downfall. Again, “Blue Moon” takes place on Oklahoma’s” opening night with Hart leaving the show early. And maybe that’s the real main attraction of the night.

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