Fresh
A film that's lovely to hear, though not much to look at.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Overview
On May 24, 2000, the historic Ryman Auditorium was booked to offer Nashvillians an evening of sublime beauty. Label executives and soundtrack producers so loved the music of O Brother, Where Art Thou? that they brought it to life as a benefit concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen loved it so much that they hired famed documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker to record the show for posterity. The concert that unfolded that night was one of the greatest musical moments in the annals of Music City. Performers: John Hartford, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Chris Thomas King, The Cox Family, Fairfield Four, Union Station, Colin Linden, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, The Peasall Sisters, Ralph Stanley, David Rawlings, The Whites.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
97%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The music is grand, the performances are direct and Down From the Mountain is unpretentious in its presentation of both.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Fresh
In her performances and asides to the documentarians, it is Welch who best articulates why this music is so moving.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
Fresh
Like the old-timey music that inspired it, Down From the Mountain is sweet, serene and utterly unconcerned with polish.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
Fresh
A tender tribute to Hartford's spirit, and to the enduring value of the plaintive and celebratory music that emerged from this country's farm fields and front porches and backwoods churches.
Misha Berson, Seattle Times
Comments
Talk about the film with other members