CMFH Film Reviews

2007, USA
Drama, Music
Review by Deborah Dearth

READ THE REVIEW AT The Desert Sun.
Extended version:

In a sleepy town called Harmony, not much is gonna change in 1950 except for everything. On the verge of an integrated war and a new sound to music, the second half of the century thrusts forward.

Director John Sayles (Return of the Secaucus 7) digs into the gritty corners of an Alabama community with Honeydripper, picking at wounds from the past and forcing change on those who have long been comfortable in their habits. Particularly stubborn is the man behind the keyboard, Tyrone "Pinetop" Purvis. Owner of the anti-guitar blues club, the Honeydripper, he has no desire to usher in the next generation of musicians. That is, until blind fate wanders through town.

Fate walks in when no one's looking, and it takes the form of Keb' Mo'. Sittin' and waitin' but only seen by those who need him most, his character Possum crosses paths with a train-hopping guitar-player and the guitar-hating club owner. Almost a Greek chorus of one, the bluesman laughs at the men's flaws while guiding them in the right direction — towards each other.

Purvis is a stubborn man in an empty club, tired of watching all of his customers fill the club across the street which prefers a loud juke box to live musicians. However, when bills pile up, he makes a last ditch effort to bring in customers by booking a popular radio musician, Guitar Sam. Before the age of MTV and billboards, no one knew the face behind the voice, and when an accident delays his appearance Purvis uses this to his advantage.

Sayles is a master at what is often the lost art of dialogue. With so many filmmakers who use action to advance the plots of their films, Sayles slows down and gets to know each character. Every role, no matter how small, has a backstory that is woven into the script, and the town is allowed a fully developed character study. Some may feel these smaller parts are just distractions, but each provides further insight into the lives of the main characters and is worthy of their own development.

The movie is infused with fantastic music, and every bit of it filmed live. Blues meets R&B meets rockabilly, and generations clash and collide over the sound of music. Musicians and actors blend for the best of both worlds, with Danny Glover, Lisa Gay Hamilton and Charles S. Dutton leading a great cast and Gary Clark Jr. representing the inventive music of the future.

The film is bookended by two young boys playing paper instruments on a porch. They sneak into the Honeydripper to partake of the old fashioned blues, but are kicked out. It is not until the guitar player comes to town that these babes of the new era are allowed to participate. Progress never sounded so good.

Read the interview with director John Sayles.