Great acting and plenty of culture.

Rating: 8/10 (19 April 2009)

Y'know, culture. Like all the characters just seem so real and the places lived in and all that. What was cool was I quickly felt like I knew the people and wanted to help them and get to know them. That's rare. Usually we're given cardboard cut-outs and dramatic music. Here we got the blues. And a nice sense of the location. And I just love the spirituality that all black people seem to share almost from birth. The natural performances and directing mean that I can enjoy observing these fascinating people and all their well-established ways of livin', talking', walkin' 'n' whatnot as if I was actually there.
Christina Ricci seems to somehow completely embody her character. Same sort of thing with Samuel L. Jackson. Because of his strong personality, it can be a little frustrating at times that all of his roles end up seeming too much like only slightly different sides of the exact same person. But here we get something different. Less of the arrogant confidence and more of a person in need of redemption. Old wounds or something. Fascinating to just watch and reflect on. When he plays guitar, we get the impression he really understands the blues. Like he's telling a story. And as if there's so much hidden in the voice that all you want to do is listen. I liked the part when the pharmacy woman sang for him. Just a nice moment. The healing power of music. Soothing tones falling on open ears.
Whatever, I just liked this. There are moments of humour and plenty of drama. No particular reason or rhyme, like life itself. Great blues music. The kind that everyone can love because of what it means. No pretensions. Just music. Singin' yer soul out. I liked how the priest guy was always encouraging his subjects to let it all out. To go on talking it through. Like therapy. We can all use it (need it) at times. Peace and freedom and religion. Was that the point of the movie? Sure, that was part of it for me. But it let's you choose. Who knows what life's about anyway? So maybe 'twas the directness of the movie that I liked. Truth. Pure and simple. And then beauty and humour and love and meaning and yada yada yada are abundant if you can just see them.
Recommended especially if you're open minded. In any case, it's a different kind of story. Like really visiting a place. Some'll enjoy and remember it better than others. So go watch it :)