Cuban music has ìBuena Vista Social Club,î Bluegrass has ìDown From the Mountain,î and now the blues has ìLightning in a Bottle.î ìLightning in a Bottleî was a closing film at the Mill Valley Film Festival this year. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (ìTraining Dayî) with Executive Producer Martin Scorsese, this is a performance documentary that chronicles the concert performed at New Yorkís Radio City Music Hall last year. More than fifty artists from different music genres and generations give stellar performances. The film shows the weekís rehearsals leading up to the performance. It chronicles the history of the blues from its African roots to America, and its evolution to rock ní roll and hip-hop. It features backstage interviews and archival footage of performances and interviews of the great early blues musicians.

ìLightning in a Bottleî gives you a front row seat at this exciting ìsalute to the bluesî benefit concert where we see legends from Chicago blues star Buddy Guy to B.B. King, David ìHoneyboyî Edwards, legendary icon Odetta, and Mavis Staples to their descendents like The Neville Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Cole, and Kebí Moí. One of the highlights was Buddy Guy singing Jimmy Hendrixí ìRed House.î Ruth Brown teams up with Mavis Staples and Natalie Cole with a very funny rendition of ìMen are Like Streetcars.î There are some performances that were so spectacular that you lose yourself and have the impulse to stand up and cheer.

The-behind-the-scenes footage is sometimes touching and sometimes humorous. There are many references to greats who have died or who wonít be with us much longer. The film explores the musiciansí rough lives of poverty and racism, and how the musicians turned their woes into brilliant music. We see musicians talking to each other backstage about hard times, strokes, heart attacks, being broke, and making it big.

The low points of the film are Steve Tyler and Joe Perryís rendition of ìIím a King Beeî which make it sound like Aerosmithís music instead of blues. And Chuck D. performance John Lee Hookerís ìBoom Boomî seemed sacrilegious. It was disappointing that Warren Hayesí performance was left out. Some of the musicians from other genres were a happy surprise especially India.Arie perfomorming ìStrange Fruit,î and Macy Grayís astonishing performance of ìHound Dog.î The young Shemekia Copelandís extraordinary voice is inspiring in her performance of ìSomethingís Got a Hold on Me.î

This performance doc is a treat. If you are a blues fan you will love ìLightning in a Bottleî and leave it wanting more.

In San Francisco, this is Joan Widdifield for Movie Magazine.

© 2004 - Joan K. Widdifield, Psy.D - Air Date: 11/17/04