Yes, these two threads are going to weave. Meantime, the joint goes off. When it is time for Sammy to display his chops the roof burns off form the intensity and the partying customers and players alike whip up a storm of musical ecstasy which injects their ancient roots to apparitions of the future in one of the most deftly handled cinematic shows of magical realism ever as the Delta blues blends with sub Saharan beats, psychedelia and hip hop and much much more. Witnessing this, outside, now that they are not who they seem are the fugitive and the couple he came to earlier. They have instruments and music, too, even offering to join the revelry within. They beg admittance but, refusal, retire to the shadows and wait.
This does not begin to cover the threads and themes mixing like swirled spun sugar in this dense and rich feast of a film. Also starring are rival musical traditions, the always spiking race relations of the U.S. south, family loyalties and ancestry. Oh, and a cauldron's worth of supernatural threat. You like music in your movies? This one goes well beyond some fine local blues to country and its Gaelic roots, all bedded down with a rich orchestral spread. And then, if you know your electric blues, one hell of a treat toward the end with a heartrending, poignant scene (watch all the credits!) involving one of the characters.
The culture of this film is given without overly easy access. My advice is not to try to get all the dialogue as its a mix of serthren and late jazz age slang delivered smoothly and rapidly and often under the ambient sound. You'll get the gist but the full detail might await your second viewing. I just about guarantee you will want to see it at least once again. I will suggest that if you relax the need to get every line the gist will come to you.
This film was partially shot in IMAX and initially presented locally that way. IMAX films usually have breakout scenes as they are expensive. I have no problem imagining that most of the twenty-five minutes of the larger format is the blues and beyond scene which would be eyepopping. I'll be looking out for any remaining spots at the local outlet.
There is so much to take in with this one that it becomes overwhelming to describe. I could talk about the cast but there's no time to notice any false notes or overreaching in the performances. The cinematic style is a kind of distillation of '70s New Hollywood through contemporary silky digital shooting. And here's the thing, the running time makes it effectively two and a half hours. I winced at sight of that but once it started there wasn't a moment where I didn't want the film and its whole committed world to just keep rolling. That makes for an instant and interesting comparison with my favourite of last year, the similarly individual and long without feeling like it The Substance. I've seen good films so far this year and one that I'll carry for years yet (Flow) but this is the year's first great film.
Viewing notes: I went to the Nova which was fine but I'd planned to see it at the local IMAX. I will do that if it turns up again. I will also note that at my screening there was trailer for the upcoming Wes Anderson film The Phonecian Scheme. Someone must have tapped him on the shoulder and told it was time for him to put a new movie out and he just Frankensteined the last four and gave it a new title. If you like his movies, you'll probably love it. If you do not, you'll probably feel like punching the trailer in the jaw.
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