Summer Concert Series: Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (2005)

Anyone who thinks because this film was directed by Martin Scorsese, it will be anything like The Last Waltz (1978) is dead wrong. This is much less of a concert film and a much more traditional music documentary. Yet still Scorsese being the master director he is puts his own directorial flourishes throughout. This is most apparent earlier in the movie when Scorsese juxtaposes scenes of Bob as a traditional folk singer to the harsh reactions he got from going rock and roll just a few years later. This helps us who were born after the sixties and have always known both sides of Bob understand why the folk crowd felt like they were being betrayed. At the same time Scorsese's masterful filmmaking, makes us feel sorry for Bob later in the movie when he is being booed. Few if any music documentaries have ever captured the uncomfortable feeling these scenes bring and that is because not only are these scenes masterfully done but that the whole film seemed to lead up to this emotional climax in the same way you would seeing in a great fictional movie. What is also a brilliant choice in this film is that with no typical documentary narration, interviews with Bob Dylan seem to provide the narration instead. Sure there are other interviewed and talked to, but Bob is always the focus, making this movie essentially Bob's story told by Bob himself.

As should be excepted from a Bob Dylan film, the music here is excellent. Anyone who like me loves Bob's music will adore what they hear. As well as getting to hear some of Bob's biggest hits we also get to here different versions of songs we know as well as rare recordings that even Dylan buffs weren't familiar with before this film came out.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Chasing Trane (2016)

Excellent documentary on Jazz legend John Coltrane.

This movie being only a little over an hour and a half, obviously does not give a full view of the many facets of John's incredible career, yet it does remarkably well with the time it spends on its subject. We get a brief basic overview of his career as well as incredible critical insight of his music by critics, musicians, biographers and more. They all explain what John's music means to them. After listening to them talk we can hear clips of Coltrane's music and we listen to it in a way we never could before. No one is ever going to completely change our musical tastes, but as music (especially jazz) can be heard and interrupted completely different by different people, others can help us see what they hear or feel when they listen to a piece of music and that can completely change the way we hear it. That is what this movie does best and why it is such a great music documentary despite giving us a very simplified historical overview of its subject.

This film will help fans get something new out of Coltrane's music, while striking newcomers interest at the same time.

-Michael J. Ruhland

John Wayne in the Words of His Wife

The following is a 1950 article from Screenland magazine credited to Mrs. John Wayne (at this time Mexican actress, Esperanza Baur).

"Some women call themselves 'golf widows.' I'm almost a 'movie widow.' I'd really be one if my husband didn't like a quiet evening at home after his seven to seven work days, which occur day after day. Suppose he cared about nightclubs and parties? I'd never see him alone.

"You see Duke - everyone who knows him at all well calls him by that nickname which dates back to college - is so really interested in motion pictures that he works and works and works. Much harder now than before he had his big success. It's not that he's concerned only with acting or the money he can make; he wants to do as many things in movies as possible and know all about them.

"You know he has been producing pictures for the past few years. He has just completed his first production in which he did not also act, 'Torero' which was filmed in Mexico and stars Bob Stack. Soon he will also try his hand at directing one, on which he will also be producer - and star! That will be 'Alamo' and also shot in Mexico. Meanwhile he has starred in 'Rio Grande Command,' directed by his good friend John Ford, and has finished 'Jet Pilot' at RKO. For the next several years, he will make one picture a year for Warners, RKO and Republic, plus whatever ones he has time for with Jack Ford. That is a schedule, no es verdad?

"When Duke used to have time off between pictures he went hunting or fishing with friends in the High Sierra or Idaho for deer, off Baja California for Marlin or swordfish. He's not had a chance in two years. Sometimes I went along for dove hunting in the desert, but he's not had time for that in a while either. We have a very small speed boat, The Apache, moored down at Newport, only about 45 miles from home, but haven't used it since it was overhauled and painted in the late spring!

"People think all movie stars have such an easy life, that although they work hard during a film they can vacation for a long time. Well, some of them can, I know, but not all. My husband cannot. Not since he's taken on the worries and work of producing and directing.

"Fortunately his is muy simpatico. Muy, you may now means very. Simpatico is not just sympathetic. It means agreeable, friendly, easy to get along with, nice to have around. Duke is all that and more. He is honest and outspoken; he never does what you call 'mincing words.' If he makes a decision, he sticks to it. His temper is usually even and under control, but he will lose it if someone tries to make him change a decision. He is causal, informal and likes to laugh but he is not a storyteller. He likes to talk about real things: world affairs, politics and government - and of course picture business in which he's worked 20 years.

"He is definite and not afraid to take sides. Some actor think that anything apart from acting is 'not their business.' But not Duke. He is now serving his second term as president of the Motion Picture Alliance for the preservation of American Ideals, an organization designed to expose and combat communist and their propaganda.   

"His sense of humor is very good. (I don't think that all his work is making Duke a dull boy.) He loves a good practical joke, whether he is the perpetrator or the victim. He thought it was so funny when about a year ago Stephan Ames bought a hundred keys put tags on them saying 'If found please return to John Wayne. Reward.' He added our phone number and address and then scattered them all over Los Angles. For days and days we had inquires. I never learned what Duke did in retaliation; I'm sure it was something equally bothersome.

"I had a horribly embarrassing experience recently as the result of Duke's sense of humor. We have a Brittney Cocker spaniel which he named Brainless because its so smart. Then we have two Cockers that he named for two mascots that he entertained overseas. The boy's dogs were Fearless and Half-As, so that's what Duke named our dogs too, knowing people would misunderstand or misinterpret the name of our poor little second pup that was half as fearless as his brother.

"But it was I who bore the burnt of the joke one day when I was taking Half-As to the veterinarian's office. Part way there I had realized that I had no money and stopped at the bank to cash a check. I took the dog in with me and directed him to sit while I cashed the check. He did, for a second. I had trusted his obeying me and hadn't put on his lead, but he's used to romping in our yard, not seeing so many people and suddenly he was playfully chasing a little boy. I went after him, excitedly calling "Here Half-As, Half-As come here." Maybe it was my accent or people just wanted to misunderstand, but soon everyone in the bank was laughing. When I caught the dog I was so embarrassed I fled without cashing the check. I went home with no stop at the vet's. When I told Duke he howled with laughter.

"You might not believe it but Duke is a very sentimental man. For example he always calls me 'Chata' which is a Mexican pet name for a little girl, although I am quite tall, or it also means pug nose and mine isn't exactly that. I love the idea because he frankly doesn't know too much Spanish. Oh he gets along in Mexico because English is spoken so widely, but if there is any need I act as an interrupter when we are there, which has been quite often lately.

"Quite in keeping with his informality is our home, which is of the rambling ranch style, furnished in early American antiques. The chairs are big and comfortable with colorful but durable covers that can stand hard ware; the plants are copper and brass with many of them planted. Books and magazines are everywhere for Duke is an inveterate reader.

"He is inclined to drop things and leave them there for me or the housekeeper to pick up. He has a trick of flicking the ashes of his cigarettes by snapping his fingers but has an accurate aim. Duke isn't exactly a hobbyist; his only collection is guns, between thirty and forty of them.

"Duke is always forgetting his keys and when we go on always forgetting to take his cameras and he has several. He is devoted to 'window shopping' in magazines, continually sending off for things he sees advertised, everything from clothes to kitchen gadgets.

"He has a way with children, they are attracted to him like nails to a magnet. His own four children, though they spend most of their time with his mother adore him, visit us often and have spent long vacations with us at Catalina, until this last summer when it was impossible because we were in Mexico. Incidentally the oldest boy Mike had a small role in an MGM picture and his brother Pat performed with his father in 'Rio Grande Command' in a bit role. Duke wants them all -there is also Toni and Melinda - to follow whatever careers they chose; if it is acting he'll encourage them.

"Duke isn't interested in any kind of jewelry for himself and likes me to wear just one piece. He seldom comments on my clothes but I know he prefers me to wear well tailored simple things. He is a wonderful dancer but isn't too fond of dancing. He likes plain American cooking.

"I had been acting in pictures, mostly in my native Mexico but some in Hollywood, for six years before we were married; then I gave up my career. I think one actor in the family is enough. If we both were working we'd see even less of each other. I want to be relaxed and untired when Duke comes home in the evening and be free to go on location trips with him - and most of his pictures have long location schedules. Duke has never said anything about my continuing or discontinuing my career but I feel he's glad I gave it up.

"Perhaps it is prophetic that when we met we where both very fond of the song 'J'Attendrai.' You may have heard the Jean Sablon recording of it; it means I'll be waiting for you. For a wife of a man as busy as Duke is, I think it is very fitting. I now say it is my theme song."

Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin, 1950

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Summer Concert Series: Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (2008)

When the great albums of the 1960's are discussed it is mostly rock and roll albums from artists like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys. However one country music album often finds its way into this list and that is Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison. While I would argue that there are plenty of great country albums of the 60's that could go on these lists, I can not deny that this album is a masterwork. If any album where to get a feature length documentary, this is a darn good choice. This album marked a turning point in John's career and happened at a very important time in his life. After this Johnny had proven to many that he had a coolness and honest that transcended country music. This was to honest and personal to define with a simple genre title. This was something new and exciting, while still being from an artist who had been around for over a decade. This also marked the time that Johnny had started to turn his life around, from the drugs and scandals of earlier the same decade.

This documentary gives great insight into why this album was so great and to all the stories of how it came about as well as the affect it would later have on John's life. Even as a Johnny Cash fan, when I first saw this movie I learned much more about the story of Glen Shirley (the inmate who's composition, Johnny performed at the concert and who Johnny would help get out of prison and start a music career for). These scenes about Glen Shirley show us a side of Johnny that many of us are not as familiar with. How even with his political and social activism, there were times when he tried to help but was misguided. He was sure he had the power to affect Glen Sherley's life in a much greater way than he actually did and how he dealt with good intentions simply not paying off. Listening to Glen's daughter and son talk is heartbreaking but powerful. It was also fascinating to listen to the people who were there with him at the show talk about his performance (from one of the inmates to a photographer to a prison guard to two members of the Tennessee Three (W.S. Holland and Marshall Grant)).

Still this film is far from perfect. At times it can feel more than a little unfocused. There is some time spent discussing John's early music of the 1950's and how the sound came about. This took up too much time for a documentary about one album instead of John's whole career, yet too little time to give any information that fans haven't heard a million times or that newcomers couldn't simply find with a quick Google search. Since there is no actual film footage of the concert, the movie uses a music video format for the songs instead. While it is always a treat listening to the songs, the music videos can feel a little flat and uninspired.

Still overall the good in this film, tops the things that don't work and therefore I still heavily recommend it to Johnny Cash fans or new comers.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Tom Petty: Runnin' Down a Dream (2007)

It is hard to think of a band that defines rock and roll music more than Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Their music has everything that rock and roll is and can be and I personally think they are one of the finest rock and roll bands of all time. Just as no band could capture the essence of rock and roll better than Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, no movie could better capture the essence of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers than Runnin' Down a Dream.

Director Peter Bogadonovich, quickly became passionate about the band of the course of making this movie and it shows here. After getting to know the boys, Peter decided that only they could tell their own story. Therefore he left out the typical documentary narration and let the band tell the story themselves. While this is a departure from your typical rock and roll documentary, I have to admit, I did not notice the first time I watched this film. This is because nothing feels missing here and when the band talks, I was so interested in what they were saying I didn't care. The boys are just as passionate talking about their music as Peter was making this film. These are people whose lives have been moved and changed by rock and roll and when this movie was made, they hadn't lost any of the passion they had when they were kids hearing rock music for the first time. Though this movie is near four hours, you are still hanging on every word that they say when the film comes to a close. Not only that but I felt like I'd be willing to listen to them talk for another four hours. In fact this became a problem for Peter Bogadonovich, who had more material than could fit in one movie and all of it was high quality.

You may have noticed in this review, I have referred to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as a band throughout this review. One thing I love about this film is that it treats them as a band instead of like Tom Petty and his backing band. After I watched this movie for the first time, I never listened to their music quite the same. Before I had listened to it as if the Heartbreakers were a backing band, but afterwards I began to appreciate what each member brought to the table, every time I would listen to one of their albums or hear the music on the radio. We get to know and respect the Heartbreakers throughout this movie in the same way we do Tom Petty himself.

Of course in a rock and roll movie, audiences want to hear rock and roll music. This film puts the music at the center stage. To be honest we learn precious little about the lives Tom Petty or the Heartbreakers lead when they are not making music. With the length of this movie and the amount of great material that ended up on the cutting room floor, perhaps that was best. There simply wasn't time and we watch the movie because we love the music. Another great thing about this is that this movie doesn't just show small little clips of the band performing these but we watch them performing the song from beginning to end and who can complain about watching and listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers do what they do best.

This film is also a treasure trove of information for me and my fellow Tom Petty fans. You learn the stories about how each of their studio albums came about, how they ended up being Johnny Cash's backing band on his masterful album Unchained (maybe one of the finest albums of Johnny's career), as well as the backing band for Bob Dylan on a concert tour, how the Traveling Wilburys came to be, the creative differences in the band at various points and just how a song like Don't Come Around Here No More ends up on  concept album called Southern Accents (I really like the song, but it seems a little out of place on that album).

This is a must watch for fans of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a movie that will turn newcomers into fans.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Movie Review: The Old Guard

Michael's Movie Grade: B

A highly enjoyable but flawed Netflix action movie.

This film centers around a team that can heal themselves and use their powers for good. The two main characters of the group (Charlize Theron, Kiki Lane) are easily the most interesting. Andy (Charlize Theron) while not the most developed action movie hero is full of that coolness that attracts us to such characters. Much of this is due to the sheer charisma Theron brings to the role. If Andy brings this movie its coolness than Nile (Kiki Lane) is the character that brings the film it humanity. As the new recruit and the one who is learning (along with us) what she is capable of and the responsibility that brings, she is the one we relate and feel the most for. The character is a very real and human person that unlike the rest of the team wears her humanity on her sleeve. This type of character is the type that can fully pull us into a fantasy world like this and make us believe it and she does a wonderful job of this. On the other hand the rest of the team is rather bland and uninteresting. They really only have a few little traits that don't make full and believable personalities or very interesting ones. Whenever the movie focuses on one of these characters, it feels like it comes to a complete halt. The actors do their best with what they are given but there is no way to make the rest of the team interesting. Of course this is something most of us are familiar with when it comes to superhero movies. There is never enough time in a single movie to make a whole team of characters interesting. The filmmakers have to give the stories focus to only a couple or one leaving the others very underdeveloped (Avengers films avoid this fault by having the character already established before teaming up).

This is an action movie and the action is excellent. This is the fast paced, violent (but never offputtingly so) and intense action that fans of these types of films love. The story itself is often fair standard but effective. There is nothing that we haven't seen before story-wise, but that doesn't stop it from being involving, fun and occasionally thought provoking. True you often know where this film is heading but it is still well told despite that.

This is nothing groundbreaking, but it gives its audiences just what they want from a movie like this and if you like action films, chances are you'll enjoy this one.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: The Big TNT Show (1966)

This semi-sequel to The T.A.M.I. Show (1964), is a great follow up and an excellent concert film.

The musical selection in this movie is as good as it gets. Artists including Ray Charles, Petula Clark, The Lovin' Spoonful, Bo Diddly, Joan Baez, The Ronettes, Roger Miller, The Byrds, Donovan and Ike and Tina Turner. Any movie that features a live performance of Ray Charles performing Georgia on My Mind (no matter how many singers sing this song, Ray's version will always be the best) is definitely worth recommending. All the artists are at the top of their gang here. After country music being completely left out of The T.A.M.I. Show it is a joy to see Roger Miller here and his unique style of country music as well as his quirky sense of humor. His performance of London Swings features the best use of background dancers in either of these films. The Ronettes give a high energy and fantastically choregraphed performance that is corny as all get out but so much fun. Joan Baez's voice as always is beautiful as ever, especially on her first two song, which are in the folk tradition that she upheld so well. Unfortunately You've Lost That Loving Feeling doesn't seem to fit her all that well. Ike and Tina Turner are so energetic and tons of fun to listen to. Donovan's performances of slower, sad songs don't quite fit in with the film's mostly high energy fast paced acts, but he is still fantastic here. Before this movie I was really only familiar with Donovan for the Bob Dylan movie, Don't Look Back (1967) and I have to say, I am very impressed. Bo Diddly is here much too brief of a time, but gives a fantastic performance. The Byrds are also at the top of their game here and show just why they were so important to folk-rock.

The biggest fault of this movie was simply the fact that the teenage girls in the audience scream a lot, like all 93 minutes. It is very annoying at first but to be honest, you get used to it pretty dang quickly. This film luckily does away with the awful comedy of Jan and Dean and the use of Go-Go dancers is minimized. Though to be fair, the climax of this film is an all Go-Go dancer spectacular. Personally part of me wanted to see Go-Go dancers behind Donovan, just for how little that would fit.

Like The T.A.M.I. Show if you like 1960's music this movie is a must watch.

-Michael J. Ruhland