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Down From The Mountain
2000
A documentary which follows the musical performers of the Coen brother's film 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'. Read more
| Starring | Billy Bob Thornton |
|---|---|
| Director | Nick Doob, Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker |
| Genres | Documentary |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Such has been the success of the soundtrack album to O Brother, Where Art Thou that the Coen brothers facilitated a reunion of some of the greatest names in bluegrass music at the Ryman Theatre in Nashville. They even had the foresight to hire DA Pennebaker — the godfather of the rockumentary — to film the event. Unfortunately, Pennebaker and co-directors Chris Hegedus and Nick Doob singularly fail to capture the genuine magic of the concert or its significance to aficionados. Casual country-music fans may recognise Emmylou Harris or Alison Krauss but, with no interviews or captions for the artists, they will be left in the dark over the importance of performers such as John Hartford and Ralph Stanley. Compounding the wholly predictable shooting style is a lack of backstage bustle, which is doubly disappointing considering the bonhomie of the rehearsal scenes.
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Enjoyable account of the country musicians whose soundtrack album became an enormous hit: highlights include the veteran Ralph Stanley, one of the last performances by singer-songwriter and fiddle-player John Hartford, who died soon after, and the gospel
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"...If you love this music, you won't need any convincing about how enjoyable DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN is; if you're not yet a fan, this film could be the convincer..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Come in to the country
Even if you don't normally enjoy country/bluegrass (old timey!) music, you'll enjoy the cameraderie of the documentary part of this film. I'd have given it five stars except that they don't screen all the important songs from the film - Man of Constant Sorrow isn't in it for example. But wonderful apart from that. Just off to practice ma fiddlin'.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Beautiful and flawed
This is simply the concert put on as hype for the film, with little or no airs and graces. Pure country legends that span the gamut of the bluegrass / americana of the music scene.
Some of the songs are twee, some powerful and some brilliant, although there is enough backstage shufflings and glimpses to give you more than the ticketholders view.
If you like the ARTISTS then rent it - If you like clooney and coens, there is little to excite you im afraid? -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
It all sounds the same
Pretty boring stuff. I went to the kitchen to cook in the middle of it and couldn't tell the difference from one song from the other!
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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Sublime
One of the best concert films I've seen. Up there with 'The Last Waltz' & 'Monterey Pop'.
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Superb
I love bluegrass and I loved O'Brother Where Art Thou, so this was the perfect DVD for me, the concert is much better than the documentary - which tells you very little about the performers.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Come in to the country
Even if you don't normally enjoy country/bluegrass (old timey!) music, you'll enjoy the cameraderie of the documentary part of this film. I'd have given it five stars except that they don't screen all the important songs from the film - Man of Constant Sorrow isn't in it for example. But wonderful apart from that. Just off to practice ma fiddlin'.
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Beautiful and flawed
This is simply the concert put on as hype for the film, with little or no airs and graces. Pure country legends that span the gamut of the bluegrass / americana of the music scene.
Some of the songs are twee, some powerful and some brilliant, although there is enough backstage shufflings and glimpses to give you more than the ticketholders view.
If you like the ARTISTS then rent it - If you like clooney and coens, there is little to excite you im afraid? -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
It all sounds the same
Pretty boring stuff. I went to the kitchen to cook in the middle of it and couldn't tell the difference from one song from the other!
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billy bob thornton?
was billy bob thornton in this other than as camera panned the crowd?
i loved o brother so i wasn't too disappointed when all this did was repeat the music of the film with the artists. -
Musically rapturous
No music lover could fail to be wooed by this wonderful wondeful film.
Watch this whether O Brother meant anything to you or not. -
Superb
I love bluegrass and I loved O'Brother Where Art Thou, so this was the perfect DVD for me, the concert is much better than the documentary - which tells you very little about the performers.
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Average at best.
Loving the Coen Brothers and willing to love their music is what I've now found out not the same thing.
Being a massive fan of their work (Coens), thought as I appreciate country music this would reveal some real insight into their work. It didn't.
Well put together, but put simply, if you don't know your grassroots country singers you'll be at a loss.
I can imagine it's the Glastonbury equivalent for hardcore country fans but if you're not into that it will be boring. -
Average at best.
Loving the Coen Brothers and willing to love their music is what I've now found out not the same thing.
Being a massive fan of their work (Coens), thought as I appreciate country music this would reveal some real insight into their work. It didn't.
Well put together, but put simply, if you don't know your grassroots country singers you'll be at a loss.
I can imagine it's the Glastonbury equivalent for hardcore country fans but if you're not into that it will be boring. -
Proper Country
This is Americana at its very best. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings set alone makes this required viewing.
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Settle down for a treat
I loved this DVD for a couple of reasons. Traditional folk music is an important part of our heritage and this dvd showed just how important and that it is a family/community thing.
Performing old music is a labour of love for both young and old.
The connection with O'brother is another reason to watch this dvd. It got me to watch Harlan County War, which I bought as I did this dvd and O'Brother.
Shut the door and the curtains and settle down for an entertaining evening.
Critics' reviews (6)
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Such has been the success of the soundtrack album to O Brother, Where Art Thou that the Coen brothers facilitated a reunion of some of the greatest names in bluegrass music at the Ryman Theatre in Nashville. They even had the foresight to hire DA Pennebaker — the godfather of the rockumentary — to film the event. Unfortunately, Pennebaker and co-directors Chris Hegedus and Nick Doob singularly fail to capture the genuine magic of the concert or its significance to aficionados. Casual country-music fans may recognise Emmylou Harris or Alison Krauss but, with no interviews or captions for the artists, they will be left in the dark over the importance of performers such as John Hartford and Ralph Stanley. Compounding the wholly predictable shooting style is a lack of backstage bustle, which is doubly disappointing considering the bonhomie of the rehearsal scenes.
-
Enjoyable account of the country musicians whose soundtrack album became an enormous hit: highlights include the veteran Ralph Stanley, one of the last performances by singer-songwriter and fiddle-player John Hartford, who died soon after, and the gospel
-
"...If you love this music, you won't need any convincing about how enjoyable DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN is; if you're not yet a fan, this film could be the convincer..."
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"...The music speaks for itself....It's at once plain-spoken and otherworldly, grounded in a vanishing rural way of life and uncannily modern..."
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"...The concert itself rocks along in a gentle bluegrass way....DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN is a worthwhile souvenir for fans of the genre..."
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Just before O Brother, Where Art Thou? premiered at Cannes, Pennebaker (Monterey Pop, Don't Look Back) and his crew... read more on Time Out
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A documentary which follows the musical performers of the Coen brother's film 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'.... -
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