Rockstars, step aside. A Broadway biopic has finally graced our screens. Richard Linklater’s “Blue Moon,” the director’s latest film, is a comically depressing biopic of lyricist Lorenz Hart — a perfect watch for viewers searching for captivating dialogue and stellar performances.

The film, which premieres Oct. 25, follows Hart (Ethan Hawke) during a drunken spiral on the opening night of “Oklahoma!,” resulting in a story that slowly breaks down an incredibly compelling and complex character.

“Blue Moon” thrives on simplicity, employing no gimmicks, set changes or elaborate transitions to distract from the narrative. The single-day story approach is not foreign to Linklater or Hawke: the duo previously worked together on “Before Sunrise” (1995), which, like “Blue Moon,” also narratively unfolds over just one night, prioritizing compelling dialogue and character exploration over grandiose action.

The entire movie, apart from two short scenes, takes place at a restaurant, Sardi’s, where all of Broadway is celebrating Richard Rodgers’ (Andrew Scott) success with “Oklahoma!,” his first production without his creative partner, Hart.

Meanwhile, Hart floats between joining the party and sitting at the bar, talking to the bartender, Eddie (Bobby Cannavale), and the pianist, Knuckles (Jonah Lees), as he struggles to reconcile feeling happy for his colleague and accepting that the peak of his career has passed.

The expert set design of Sardi’s facilitates the development of the story. Taking place in only a room with a bar, Hart commands the attention of the few people around him, going on long-winded speeches about his work, his knowledge of the industry and his new love for a college girl named Elizabeth (Margaret Qualley).

Other than Hart’s rambling conversations, the plot runs slowly and a bit dry. The entire night is somewhat narrow, focusing almost exclusively on documenting Hart’s spiral.

Those searching for a dynamic account of the opening night of “Oklahoma!” with perspectives from not just Hart but also Rodgers and Hammerstein, will be left unsatisfied, as the film does not delve deeply into Rodgers’ perspective of the night, other than a few arguments with Hart.

Nevertheless, the clever dialogue alongside Hawke’s realistic depiction of his complex character is enough to drive “Blue Moon” as an engaging and compelling film.

Navigating his character’s stark revelations, Hawke masterfully convinces viewers to pity Hart through his portrayal of the character early in the film as someone entertaining and charismatic.

Hawke’s understanding of Hart as a frantic storyteller who manages to be both self-righteous and self-depricating all in one night carries the story: a raw portrayal of someone struggling to grasp reality and recognize their personal struggles.

In addition to Hawke’s gripping performance, Qualley brings a directness to the film in the role of Elizabeth. For example, while Elizabeth recounts her new experiences at Yale during a scene with Hart in the coat room, she openly and explicitly addresses all her emotions. Unlike Hart, who likes to romanticize his issues, Elizabeth faces the distress in her life and her faults — such as desperation and a male-centric mindset — head-on.

As a biopic, “Blue Moon” succeeds in representing Hart’s identity, both an artist and an individual, beyond his crisis. His dialogue is cleverly punctuated with brief moments when he breaks into song or provides commentary on quotes or lines in movies and Broadway tunes.

The abundance of entertainment references makes it clear to the audience that Hart was well-versed in the industry, although viewers do not see any scenes of him working as one would in most biopics. Only one short scene is set in a theater, with the rest taking place in a restaurant.

“Blue Moon” relies heavily on the performance of its leading actor to carry the story. There are moments in the film where the audience may feel a lull, as not much detail is developed other than Hart’s struggle with accepting the state of his career and relationships.

However, when compared to the expectations set by the film’s trailer, it is clear that “Blue Moon” delivers exactly what it promised: a humorous account of the heartbreaking story of how one of Broadway’s most famous lyricists was brought down by the industry and ultimately by himself.