Michael's Movie Grade: A-
A wonderful documentary about Tanya Tucker's wonderful 2019 While I'm Livin' album.
If you are a country music fan like I am then no one needs to tell you who Tanya Tucker is. Her singing songs like Delta Dawn, What's Your Daddy's Name and Texas (When I Die) will forever live int he fans of those who truly love country music and for good reason. Since she is such a country music great, it is strange to think that there was a gap of 10 years between While I'm Livin' and her previous album My Turn. While I'm Lvin' was also her first album of original music since 2002's Tanya. This movie helps us see not only why this was the case (the deaths of her parents left her devastated and emotionally drained) but also gives us a wonderfully personal look at the making of the album. The majority of this movie is made up of her in the studio making the album. For anyone who loves country music as much as I do, this footage is incredibly valuable and a pure treat. When don't only get to see Tanya as a wonderful singer but see her as a person, up close and personal. The moments with her talking about her career, her feelings about the album and life as a superstar from a young age (she began her music career at the age of 11) make it feel like we are personally spending time with her ourselves and by the end of the film, we feel somehow feel an even greater appreciation for her not only as an artist but as a human being as well.
Much of this film deals with Tanya's relationship with Brandi Carlile. Brandi is not only a great singer and songwriter in her own right but a massive Tanya fan and co-producer of this album (the other producer was Shooter Jennings (who also appears in this film), son of country music legends Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter as well as a wonderful singer with a good career of his own). The deep friendship that develops between these two is incredibly sweet and quite touching. By the end of the film Brandi is not only in love with Tanya's music but truly cares about and adores her as a person. There are times when she becomes an excited and starstruck fangirl and these scenes are simply wonderful. They also make us so happy that she not only gets to work with Tanya but become a friend. This is a dream come true for her and we get to share a little bit of her excitement with her. Tanya also learns to deeply care for Brandi. It is also wonderful to see how both of them are truly there for the other, whenever that friend is worried or in need. This leads to some really touching moments. The moments with these two talking to each other are simply wonderful.
Now for the most obvious praise for this movie. The music is fantastic. Not only is Tanya Tucker a true country music great but While I'm Livin' is a fantastic album (if you are a country music fan and haven't heard it, you really should seek it out). The performances of these songs and some of her biggest hits from the past (as well a song or two from Brandi) are country music at its finest.
My only real complaint is the scenes that recount important parts of Tanya's career. These scenes not only feel like a more typical documentary but give only the simplistic look at these parts of her career. They will give any new information or insight that those who are already country music fans don't know. They can also seem to interrupt the wonderful studio scenes, lacking any great transition to them. However with the small amount of the runtime these scenes take up this is hardly a major complaint.
If you, like me, are a major country music fan, then this movie is a must see.
No comments:
Post a Comment