Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The music segments of this video are superb. Unfortunately, there is too much time spent behind-the-scenes and not enough on the music. Anyone expecting to see the concert that toured so successfully will be disappointed in the brevity of the musical portions. Even more disappointing, and astounding in light of the success of the movie and this song in particular, the video does not include even one rendition of "Man of Constant Sorrow," even though the concert had two versions. This glaring omission negatively affected my enjoyment of the video despite the quality of the music that is featured.
Rating: 
Summary: A great concert
Review: This film is a great monument to a superb musical event. (I was also fortunate enough to see this concert reproduced in Washington last month at Constitution Hall.) If you want to see outstanding musicians playing with love and respect for their genre, this is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Great video!
Review: The video is great and gives a lot of background on the stars. I just thought there were be a bit more music. So, I give it 4 stars. Enjoy this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Great music and performances, but...
Review: ...I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy watching this as often as I would like, because of the backstage and rehearsal footage. The footage of the show leaves me wishing I had an unedited tape of the entire concert. Some of the performances that are included are not even the complete song performance, but get interupted in the middle for some backstage banter or just plain cut-off. How many times can you listen to a story about a big gator? And Emmylou - what's up with the wireless sports ticker? Cute the first time, but I suspect it will grow tiresome. Maybe with the popularity this is enjoying, a full concert version will be released?
Rating:
Summary: Bluegrass Music at it's finest.
Review: I am a fan of music that you can understand and hear the individual instruments and this DVD is OUTSTANDING music.
It is almost as good as being there at the concert in Nashville, recorded in 5.1 sound and 16.9 screen format.
If you even think you like Bluegrass, this will convert you immediately.
Rating:
Summary: This is just perfect!
Review: This is by far the best movie of a concert (and lead-in to a concert) that I have seen, and that's probably because it was made by professional movie makers. It is so well done that, musically and visually, you don't wish for it to have been done any differently. The focus on performers" faces, and the interplay that occurs between them, is captured brilliantly. The song list is excellent and the renditions superb. Even if you don't like bluegrass music, you should still enjoy this as it is more of an event than a musical performance.A great music DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Wow what a great DVD
Review: I love live music. This DVD give you the backstage life and great performanaces. I loved O'Brother and this DVD makes a perfect companion. It teaches you some of the history of Bluegrass and puts faces with the voices you saw in O'Brother. The sound was crisp, clean, and it felt like you were there. My only complaint was they didn't do the Dan Tyminski version of Man of Constant Sorrow. If you love bluegrass, if you love O'Brother, if you love live music buy this DVD. It is well worth the money
Rating:
Summary: "Bluegrass is the way into our hearts...Pure Americana"
Review: I can remember as a youngster, as my grand-parents would listen to music I really couldn't bear, or understand---was it because the true meaning was the innocence of life in the mountains, their recreation was to entertain themselves---working hard in the fields or the farm, giving their all in whatever they would persue---see now what I've been missing those years, lost out on what is now very popular in this great country of ours...AMERICA! Received gift certificates to see the film "O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?", didn't really want to go, don't like sitting in a big theater with a lot of people---hadn't heard a thing about the film or its subject matter---story started out slow, not really a big George Clooney fan(after this performance...I'm a bonifide fan), after they recorded their song for ten dollars a piece, the film started to show some promise---it was then the whole thing started to come together---listening to the soundtrack in the background as the story progressed, was like going back into time---remember almost all of the songs from my early years---well, let me tell you when this film was over, people in the theater applauded---and we left that evening feeling pretty good about the whole thing! Now let's look at the DVD at hand---this is behind the scenes and stage performances of the many artists who participated in the film---can only say John Hartford(did an outstanding job as M.C...and "Big Rock Candy Mountain", was a showstopper)...Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch(were simply superb)...believe the Fairfield Four set the tone of the show, what a talented group of gentlemen...and the unforgettable "John Law Burned Down The Liquor Store", featuring Chris Thomas King and Colin Linden is priceless...others that followed were The Cox Family("Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?")...The Peasall Sisters(sweet and cute)...David Rawlings...Gillian Welch...The Whites...Dan Tyminski(who sang for Clooney)...and the immortal Ralph Stanley, gotta love it! Total Time: 98 Minutes ~ Artisan Home Entertainment 12324 ~ (2000)
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Hard to rave about this one enough. The film gives you the feel of being everywhere at this wonderful concert. Extended backstage clips and interviews raise your expectations for the concert, which only exceeds them. The late John Hartford MCs the show which features artists on the O Brother Where Art Though soundtrack, including Allison Kraus and Union Station, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, the Fairfield Four, the Whites, the Cox Family, and Ralph Stanley. Pure Americana heaven. Somewhere there's an analytical creep out there who can find fault with this one, but I have yet to find him or her.
Rating:
Summary: The Phenomenon Continues
Review: O Brother, Where Art Thou? was a very fine film that unexpectedly spawned one of the most refreshing and long overdue musical trends in over a decade. Lovers of rural country, folk and bluegrass music were finally able to voice their dissent against the empty suits that decide which performers get TV and radio time and which are left to fend for themselves without the all mighty corporate push. Over the past two decades, a great musical heritage has been embarrassed again and again by pandering cowboy acts and pop-lite divas. George Jones, John Prine, Shaver, Welch & Rawlings, Ralph Stanley, Merle Haggard and so many other legit talents don't get 1/10 of the exposure Shania, the Dixie Chicks and Brooks & Dunn are blessed with. To be honest, I don't even want to lash out against the latter category. It's not their fault. They just want to play and be seen. Nothing wrong with that. But I'm sure even they would put themselves a little lower on the totem pole of artistic significance when compared to Ralph Stanley. It's the Cowboy Mafia in Nashville that deserve the scalding. What everything related to the O Brother soundtrack has done is give us an alternative. A vote for the independent party. A vote for grace and substance. I was lucky enough to see this concert film in the lovely Bama Theatre in Birmingham. The crowd was 50/50 baby boomers and college age kids. We applauded our favorite performers and clapped at the end of every performance as if Alison & the Union Station were on stage in front of us. The music we heard was a glory and any artist in Down From The Mountain would be much more deserving of three hours of prime time TV than a certain retiring superstar who will go nameless. Probably more interesting company too. For me, the musical highlight is Chris Thomas King's scorching John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto'. Emotionally, what hits home is John Hartford. It was touching at the Bama Theatre as audience members applauded each time he came on the screen. A talented musician and a genuine character, Hartford could not have asked for a sweeter note to end on than his lovingly captured appearance here. Clearly weakened, he soldiers on with heartwrenching dignity and wry humor. Ultimately, the film proves to be too much information. We see that the artists here who represent a more "authentic" music are just as concerned with their appearance as any Nashville hack. An air of self-satisfaction also hangs over the proceedings. Ultimately, the hipness factor that was off the charts with O Brother gets spread too thin with this follow up. Nonetheless, it remains a vital visual document of the performers who helped spark a hillbilly renaissance, a dying man's last hour and helps to further expose the world to some of its most talented musicians.
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