Homemade Hillbilly Jam (2007/First Run Features DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Documentary: C+
Fighting
stereotypes is still an important thing, no matter how much mass media and Internet we have, because new media even
produces new stereotypes. One of the
oddest things about the tired, formulaic, insulting, tired, sterilized version
of Country Music is that it essentially says the Country of the past was too
“dirty” or “raw” and now the new artists are “above” that. Who the #*&@% do they think they
are? Rick Minnich’s Homemade Hillbilly Jam (2007) tries to juggle authentic music with
showing the lives and times of the real people behind them.
The music
is interesting and certainly more authentic than the usual junk we get from
that genre these days, you get real authentic traditional Southern music and
the results are a nice change from other bad music to boot. We learn the roots of this branch of the
music, from Scottish-Irish immigrant settling in the Ozark Mountains in SW
Missouri. Most of the 80 minutes here is
in the now, but the point is getting the people across, even at the expense of
the music sometimes. I wish this were
longer and that is its biggest problem.
However,
the acts including The Pine Ridge Boys, Big Smith and Baldknockers are
included, showing this music is alive and well.
If you like music or this genre in particular, you’ll see this as a must
see (The City of Branson is alive and well) and worth a look for a nice break
from the Pop monotony we are currently suffering.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is soft with some motion blur, but color
helps to save this production. Editing
is not bad, either. The Dolby Digital 2.0
Stereo mix is not bad, but it is too bad (at least the music in a supplement) is
not in DTS. Extras include extra music
tracks, stills, outtakes and On The Road short.
- Nicholas Sheffo
