Movie Review: Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A wonderful documentary on country music and comedy icon, Minnie Pearl. 

Many of you who read this blog, know that I am huge country music fan. Because of this Minnie Pearl is a major name to me. She may have been a comedian, rather than a musician but few names are respected more in country music circles than Minnie Pearl. With her many years of performing on the Grand Ole Opry and country music variety show, Hee Haw, she became the greatest goodwill ambassador, country music ever had, as well as for many country music fans becoming just as much a country music icon as any musician.

For only having an hour and a half runtime this film not only gives a great overview of the career of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, the woman who became Minnie Pearl, but also helps anyone understand why she is so revered. Despite the short runtime, this film never seems to be rushing through things and at times can be quite in depth. What makes this essential viewing for all fans of Minnie Pearl is the wonderful audio recordings of the woman herself talking about her career. Even if you know the facts about her life to hear all this from her own mouth is something special. It gives you a wonderful peak into just who this woman really was. It also helps us see the differences between Sarah and Minnie, and also the ways that they were truly the same person. By listening to her voice and what she says, you can see how truly grateful and blessed she felt to be a part of the Grand Ole Opry and the country music community. It is impossible to describe the value this audio recordings have to us Minnie Pearl fans. Yet this is not the only joy of the film. This movie features some of the biggest names in country music such as Bill Anderson, Tanya Tucker, Jeannie Seely, Barbra Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Dwight Yoakam, K.D. Lang and Garth Brooks as well as Minnie's Hee Haw co-star Brabi Benton, all of whom talk about Minnie with complete and utter reverence. The scenes when they talk about meeting Minnie, are also incredibly valuable to us fans. They are also sometimes, quite emotional. This is especially true of when Dwight Yoakam talks about meeting her. There is no doubt that Dwight is getting quite emotional thinking about Minnie and this makes us have an even greater appreciation for Minnie. Making this movie even better are that there are some truly wonderful clips of Minnie on such TV Shows as Hee Haw, The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The Dean Martin Show, This is Your Life and Your Show of Shows. All of these show Minnie to her best advantage and I laugh out loud quite a few times with these clips. This is pure down home unsophisticated country humor at its absolute best. For newcomers, this movie also provides a nice summary of her career, from a young girl dreaming of becoming a serious dramatic actress to her first appearance on the Opry to her friendships with country music legends (especially Roy Acuff) to her rightful place as country music's finest comedian. 

If I had watched this movie, never having heard of Minnie Pearl, I would automatically become a huge fan. This to me is the highest compliment you can pay to a documentary like this. Whether you are a fan of Minnie Pearl or not, this is a must watch movie. 

Movie Review: The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile

 

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. 

Movie Music Monday: Someday My Prince Will Come

Quick name a Disney song that would have an after life in Jazz music. If you answered Someday My Prince Will Come, then you read the title of this blog post.

The song of course was created for the Disney studio’s landmark first feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). It was one of the sweetest scenes of the movie and was perfectly worked into the comedy before the scene or the horror that followed. This is what the film did so perfectly, every song moved the story forward and took the place of what could have been a scene full of boring exposition. The song itself is unbelievably lovely and is 100% perfect for Adriana Coslotti’s voice.

The song received its first major jazz recording in 1957. Dave Brubeck spent a day in Disneyland with his family and this gave him the idea to do a whole album of songs from Disney films. He did and the album, Dave Digs Disney. One of the standout tracks on this album was Someday My Prince Will Come.

Jazz Pianist Bill Evans recoded a version of the song for his 1959 album Portraits in Jazz.

Probably the most famous Jazz version of this song was recorded by Miles Davis on his 1961 album, Someday My Prince Will Come.

Oscar Peterson and Milt Jackson did another jazz version of the song on their 1971 album, Reunion Blues.

Outside of jazz, Tanya Tucker recorded a country version of the song. 

Another country artist who recorded the song was Chet Atkins.

Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki recorded the song for a  2002 rerelease of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Japan. 

Disney Chanel star Tiffany Thornton recorded the song for the 2009 Blu-ray release of Snow White. 

Now let us all sing along. 

-Michael J. Ruhland