Down from the Mountain

I love O Brother, Where Art Thou?. I love the soundtrack. So when I saw in my local multiplex that a documentary had been made in my town about the music recorded in my town and the subsequent concert in my town, I knew I had to go. As far a filmmaking goes, the film leaves a lot to be desired. There is no structure, no clarity, etc. It lacks the elements that make a documentary a moving chronicle. It does have, however, great footage of great artists playing great music. I have never been a fan of country music, but I love the old timey sounds of bluegrass and mountain music. Ralph Stanley is awesome! If you can find this film (I think it's only playing in Nashville) see it. It's well worth the time just for the music.

I wonder if the reviewers are still around who wrote of this concert in 2000, before 9/11, and since that tragic event if their reviews still stand. I suspect they will look at this fine effort in a different light now, and love it more. It's like looking back at innocent children before bad things happened. Although the film, Oh Brother, Where are Thou, is a favorite of mine I missed this special and didn't discover it until Netflix instant downloads became available. I have been watching it three or four times a week since I discovered it. I was shocked to find out it was done in 2000, 11 years ago. I love hearing the family's, The Cox's, the White's and of course the little Pesall sisters, who I imagine have grown and look a lot different now. I haven't Googled any of the talent in this concert because I was afraid of what I might find. Alison Krauss and Emmy Lou Harris are perfect. The Fairfield Four opened the show and Ralph Stanley closes it but the between part has purest blues and blue grass I have ever heard. That Welch/Rawlings are quit the pair. I will probably spoil this by watching it too many times but I just can't stop.

Unfortunately, I missed the actual concert at the Ryman, despite the fact that I live in Nashville. My young son is a Coen Brothers fanatic, I always found their work to be slightly off target with respect to my own tastes.

That was, until, I saw "O Brother..." which I saw several times. When "Down from the Mountain" was shown here in Nashville I also visited it several times.

What music is shown is excellent, I'm a big fan of watching music being created-- I believe that seeing the performers interact adds a depth of understanding of the music. Unfortunately, not every song presented during the concert is in the film, but what's there was very satisfying.

It looked like the film was shot on Digital Beta, or some video format and then transferred to film. As such, it looked a little flat, but the photography itself and the sound recording were both beyond reproach. I'm hoping when I get the DVD release of this film that they've skipped the film transfer and given me the pure video version.

Concert movie focussing on the `bluegrass' songs of the Coens film `O Brother Where Art Thou?' EmmyLou Harris and other perform in a feast of music that washes over you from start to finish. Sadly it doesn't include the main song that George Clooney lip-synched too. At the Edinburgh film festival, where the movie got its international premiere, legendary music documentary maker D.A. Pennebaker (Don't Look Back) explained that they had tried to get the guy to sing it about six times but he always sang different words; as a `definitive' version had already been released on the `O Brother' soundtrack, they decided, after talking to the Coens, that the number should be dropped from `Down from the Mountain.'

I am watching this on DVD for the 5th time. I usually don't watch movies over and over again in a stretch, but this is a video album. This is down to earth video, introducing stars as people who become stars on stage but a bunch of talented people who give you a feeling they are you next door neighbors, approachable. The music is superb!

I just feel there should have been more music on this though, but heck, it is great. Perhaps we can get more stuff like this. I like listening to CDs but I do like being brought close to the show, which is possible with todays set ups.