Songcatcher-See the Movie

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 01:17 PM

Finally viewed this movie on a borrowed videotape. I must say it's tedious scanning these threads for any comments about the quality of this production.

I basically have to agree with Fortunato above. The music is nice to hear compared to what's available commercially. I especially like the dance party, and its wasted aftermath; I can identify with that! But too much of the movie is taken up with various soap opera mini-plots. There's a story here that could have stood on its own, and in my opinion the director did not have the ability to portray that story, or was unable to resist the pressures to come up with something more commercially viable.

Sure cleared the air during that church gathering when the abandoned mountain woman blew away her lover who had returned to his wife. Bet there's a song in that!

Makes me think back to the days in the mid 1960's when I and my friend Franz wandered down to Madison County, North Carolina, and jammed with various people. Hey, I've got a great idea for a movie! You won't believe what happened that last evening while we were sharing some of our mason jars of white lightning with our genial hosts, but that's another thread.

Do see the movie for the music but be prepared to block out the rest of it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 03:18 PM

Charley,

I don't see that other thread yet.

I saw this about a month ago. Just a little predictable???

There was a great ad on the Radio here a while ago. A guy wants to watch the game. His wife says that a certain movie is on that she would like them to watch. He (lying)says I've already seen it. She (testing him) says then what's it about? He says. Um, guy meets girl, guy loses girl, guy gets girl back. She says "you have seen it". This is another one of those movies.

I did like a lot of the music aspects. Would have loved to hear more of Taj Mahal frailing the banjo. They could have done so much more with it. The whole thing with the sister and the other school teacher was ridiculous.

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 05:21 PM

Steve-

Apparently there are at least 10 dualing threads on this motion picture, with most of the postings of dubious value.

I agree "Taj Mahal frailing the banjo" was a nice bit and if they could have worked him in as a major character it would have been even better. Well, maybe...

You know, it just would have been nicer if the musicians had been interacting more with each other, as they would in a party or a session. I did like the "arkwardness" of the academic songcatcher trying to figure out how to connect with the ballad singers; that rung true. But what a waste of a good musicians!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 05:48 PM

" Do see the movie for the music but be prepared to block out the rest of it"

See I liked the music fair enough... and I liked the story fair enough... Enough so that I bought it... don't think one would have been strong enough to carry the movie without the other...

Too bad the offical soundtrack didn't include more of the actual music from the movie... I'm glad I downloaded it, listened, deleted and didn't waste any money on it...

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:02 PM

Great! Thanks for the tip. Movies like this last about 2 days in Orillia...if they ever even show up here at all. I'll watch the Barrie cinemas for it.

- LH

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:08 PM

Charley -- waddaya mean, "most of the postings of dubious value"?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:23 AM

Michael- If you're serious about this question, the vast majority of the posting have little to do with the movie but are Mudcat chatter about the multiplicity of threads and some mythical poster by the name of Spaw. I find it tedious to sift through.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Art Thieme
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:32 AM

I've resisted seeing this film but was thinking I eventually would watch it. Now I'm convinced not to bother with it.

Art

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:06 AM

Art-

Rent the video and fast-forward through the yukey parts!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songcatcher-See the Movie
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:40 PM

The funny thing is that Taj was one of the first few names shown in the opening credits. I kept expecting to see him again. How long was he on screen, thirty seconds?

I did enjoy seeing the recording equipment being dragged through the hills, how surprised people were to hear their own music etc. Gave me a better feel for what the Lomaxes must have gone through.

Art, A guy I worked with is a bit of a movie buff. He has a term that he uses to describe some movies, "An okay time waster". I would put Songcatcher in this category, but only because of the music.