THE BETTER ANGELS
All that I am, or hope
to be, I owe to my angel mother.
-Abraham Lincoln
The Better Angels is a monumental film presented in the most serene terms possible.
Gently, gently, and layer by layer, it wraps viewers in the
essence of the physical, emotional and spiritual environment of Abraham
Lincoln's childhood. Watching it is like
an immersion in the spirit of the American
frontier.
To
partially explain my endorsement of The
Better Angels, let me state up front:
I love my country, I love America.
I am fascinated by this place and by my countrymen and women. I love it when artists can represent the
American character in their work.
American character is revealed in every facet of the Arts through the
works of Aaron Copeland or Miles Davis, John Updike or James Baldwin, Edward
Hopper or Georgia O'Keeffe, and more. Terence Malick has this talent. I have
admired his work since first watching his film, Badlands, many years ago and, more recently, Tree of Life. A.J. Edwards
is the writer/director of The Better
Angels while Malick is credited as a producer. I can't help but see Malick's influence; it
seems pervasive and idiosyncratic.
The
story is introduced by Lincoln's cousin and is told as reminiscence. Lincoln
was blessed with two angel mothers whose influence on a boy shaped the destiny
of a nation. The simple, sparse narration and dialogue often leaves to the
viewer the interpretation of events and people in young Lincoln's life. The words that pass between characters are
almost unimportant; there is nearly a mumble core quality to the dialogue. But listen closely anyway, writers and actors
have scattered gems throughout the movie.
The
cinematography carries the impact of this film. It is shot in the style of
Ansel Adams' photographs, magnificent images in black and white and the million
greys in the photographer's spectrum. Scenes of rushing streams, impossibly
tall trees and vistas illuminated by bright sunshine seem to join as cinematic
homage to that iconic American photographer.
To set
the aural atmosphere, the film's soundtrack carries a romantically pastoral
tint. Several bars of music from
Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 precede the first frames of film. With a gentle and
swelling convergence of strings, the music sets the scene. The soundtrack is an exquisite complement to
the entire film, a combination of classical masterworks and compositions
created for this film by Hanan Townshend, a New Zealander with a keen ear for
American Roots themes.
Lincoln
lived a difficult and isolated childhood in the Indiana of the early
1800's. Viewers are offered a clear and
quiet look at the backbreaking work expected of every member of the family.
Survival required it. No one is asking for or expecting sympathy, not the
characters, nor the filmmakers on their behalf.
We witness that adversity is taken for granted, or even considered
God-given. We have the advantage of
knowing that this boy would overcome poverty, ignorance and tragedy thanks to
the insight and grace imparted by his better angels.
DVD UPC: 013132626864
SLP: $22.98 Anchor Bay (not released
on Blu-ray format)
Gwen Meade
Margate (NJ)
Public Library
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IMMIGRANT
(Weinstein Company)
If you are a fan of
the richly-produced Weinstein dramas – the films that can transport the viewer
to another place and time – then be sure to check out the Immigrant. Although this film was only
released in
limited markets theatrically, it has all of the hallmarks of a classic
Weinstein film – lots of drama, top-notch acting, and
pain-staking detail to scenery, settings, and costumes.
DVD
UPC: 013132629629 $29.98 Anchor Bay
----------------------------------------------------
This film stars
Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose) as Ewa, a woman who, along with her sister
Magda, sails to New York from her native Poland, in search of the American
dream. When they reach Ellis Island, the
sisters are immediately separated – Magda is quarantined for tuberculosis, and
Ewa is falsely accused of “low morals” while on the voyage (the accusations are
explained in greater detail later in the film).
Desperate to stay in America with her sister, Ewa accepts an offer from
a man named Bruno (portrayed by the always intriguing Joaquin Phoenix) for a
job and a place to stay. Soon enough,
Ewa discovers that Bruno’s motives are not pure, and, because she has nowhere
else to go, Ewa is forced into work at a nightclub/brothel. While working at the club, she eventually
meets a charming magician named Orlando (Jeremy Renner), who falls for the
beautiful Ewa. Orlando soon learns the
details of Ewa’s plight and hatches a plan to help her escape her present
circumstances. However, Bruno has also
become infatuated with Ewa, and escaping Bruno’s hold may not be so simple.
I would highly recommend this film for
anyone seeking a “hidden gem” kind of film – something apart from the typical
big budget, special-effects laden fare.
Although the plot can be a bit predictable at times, the production,
acting, and directing are all as good as one could expect from a large budget
drama. Both Marion Cotillard and Jeremy
Renner are excellent – most of the written reviews point out Marion Cotillard’s
performance as being the “heart and soul” of the film - but my personal
favorite performance in the film is from Joaquin Phoenix. As always, his performance seems to be a
demonstration of someone who could become completely unhinged at any moment,
yet you feel sympathy toward his character.
As I said, if you are a fan of the Weinstein-produced dramas, you should
definitely see this film.
BD UPC: 013132629636 $34.99
Heidi Metro
AV Inside
Sales
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Terraplane –
Steve Earle
In the liner
notes to Steve Earle’s latest release Terraplane
he states "...Hell, everybody's sick of all my f---ing happy songs
anyway...." Of the 16 albums that
he released (of which I own 14) I can only think of one, 2003’s Sidetracks that has a specifically happy
track, Some Dreams which was used in
a Disney movie. I don’t listen to Steve
Earle for happy songs. I listen to him
for powerful lyrics, and musical artistry and his latest release, Terreplane, does not disappoint. In the course of his career Earle can be
considered accomplished in many categories including, singer-songwriter,
country, or, rock. Just when listeners
are ready to lock him in to a category one gets the sense that the artist feels
compelled to move on. Terraplane is a blues album, a very good
blues album. My first straight-through
listen was through the near mono speakers of a lap top PC and this actually
added to the experience almost like hearing an artist that could have shared a
performance with Robert Johnson. The
track Baby Baby Baby exploits the
rougher primal elements of Earle’s voice and there is some excellent
complimentary harmonica work. I expect
to hear the track You’re the Best Lover I
Ever Had, in a movie with dark themes; it would have been perfect in HBO’s True Detective series. My favorite track on Terraplane is Acquainted With
the Wind, a piece that crosses the bridge from blues to early rock; think
the Big Mama Thornton version of Hound
Dog mashed up with the Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley versions of the same
tune.
----------------------
Hand in Hand – Richie Furay
1 We Were the Dreamers
2 Hand in Hand
3 Don't Lose Heart
4 Don't Tread on Me
5 Word of Change
6 Someday - feat Keb Mo
7 Love at First Sight
8 Let it Slide
9 Still Fine
Bonus Tracks-
1 Kind Woman - feat Neil Young / Kenny Loggins
2 Good Feelin' to Know (Live)
3 Love at First Sight - feat lead vocals by Jesse Furay Lynch
A caveat that must be expressed is that listeners who are
stuck on Copperhead Road through The Low Highway, may not enjoy this
album as much as those that enjoy artists creatively reaching beyond previous
accomplishments. Terraplane is an essential addition to blues collections, and
collections that comprehensively collect Earle’s works
Music CD
UPC: 00607396632824 $15.98 Label: New
West/Ada
M Warzala
Director of Collection Development
As an original and founding member of two ground-breaking
country rock bands back in the 1960s, Buffalo Springfield and the often
imitated POCO, Richie Furay has been
a true originator and pioneer of that musical hybrid style. In 1966, he and Neil Young, Stephen Stills,
Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin formed the legendary band Buffalo Springfield. Furay
was the one with the most mellifluous voice in the line-up of future superstars
and was called upon to sing lead on a number of classic Buffalo Springfield
tracks, some his own compositions and some written by Young or Stills. Furay's own tunes for that iconic band
include "A Child's Claim to Fame" and "Kind Woman." After Young and Stills left to pursue other
music projects (CSN, solo careers, CSNY), Furay formed the band Poco with Rusty
Young, Jim Messina (former Buffalo Springfield bassist and occasional
producer), Randy Meisner (future Eagle), and George Grantham, a band that further emphasized the country
side of country rock.
And now, Mr Furay returns with his new album, Hand in Hand, and brings us back to the
early days of his sound and the genre we love so much while showing the
experience of time and optimism despite the challenges of “modern” times. His first release since 2003’s Heartbeat of
Love, Hand in Hand again has him
taking a break from his Denver CO pastor duties and his back with strong, full
voice. Hand in Hand opens with We
Were the Dreamers and with it he brings us full force back 40 years to the
Troubador nightclub in L.A., Laurel Canyon and Sunset Blvd when Furay and
friends ruled the L.A. country rock scene and influenced Ricky Nelson, future
superstars, The Eagles and others. In
this lively tune, he takes us the full ride to modern Nashville and the
important bind of music! As he signs;
Rednecks, hippies all on stage together; “nothing less, nothing more”. The title track Hand in Hand is pure Furay love song. Touching, hoping and full of heart, honesty
and trust.
The more somber, gentle Don’t
Lose Heart, expels the importance of hangin’ in there and reminds us that
we’re not alone in this journey (called life?).
The Trilogy-like of Don’t Tread on Me/ Wind of Change/Some
Day (feat Keb Mo) reflects on the struggles America and its people have faced
and are still contending with. The finisher, celebratory and hard driving Some Day upbeat and Poco-like with fun
guitar work and give us all hope. Love at First Sight, Let It Slide gently while Still Fine brings in the funk and wraps
up the set on an encouraging note. This
great new album shows that Mr Furay is in a good place and in great form. He has the touch and relishes the
moment. Pick up this release and catch
him live, in concert as Spring is Richie Furay (and Poco) time of year.
The new CD also contains bonus tracks; Kind Woman with Neil
Young and Kenny Loggins helping out on vocals, a live version of Poco standard
A Good Feelin’ to Know (recording last year in So Orange, NJ) and Love at First
Sight featuring his daughter, Jesse Furay Lynch on lead vocals.
FULL Hand in Hand Track list-
1 We Were the Dreamers
2 Hand in Hand
3 Don't Lose Heart
4 Don't Tread on Me
5 Word of Change
6 Someday - feat Keb Mo
7 Love at First Sight
8 Let it Slide
9 Still Fine
Bonus Tracks-
1 Kind Woman - feat Neil Young / Kenny Loggins
2 Good Feelin' to Know (Live)
3 Love at First Sight - feat lead vocals by Jesse Furay Lynch
UPC: 00099923946427 SLP : $17.98 Music CD Label: eOne
RA Erdmann
Director of AV Sales/Marketing
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