Rating: 
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: As a boy, I listened at night to broadcasts of the Grand Ole Opry from WWVA in Wheeling, West Virginia. Not all of the music, and certainly most of the humor (Minnie Pearl) was not to my taste, but the things that struck me then, and have stayed with me ever since, were the inclusion of musicians of all ages, the lack of slickness in the performers, and the authenticity of the music.In an era of Rhinestone Cowboys (and now, Cowgirls) it is a real pleasure to see that there are others who value that kind of music. Hats off to Emmylou Harris, John Hartford, T-Bone Burnett and the Coen Brothers for bringing it all back. Much of the success of the video lies in the interweaving of backstage scenes and the subsequent performances of the artists on stage. You quickly come to realize that the performers are good people brought together by their love of bluegrass and country music, and you end up liking them. One of the best videos I have seen, it is the real thing.
Rating:
Summary: O, What a Night!
Review: All year long, the soundtract to the Coen brother's hilarious film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" has been one of the most played CD s in my CD player.I thought that this musical genre of what many call "old timey music" was a wonderful discovery.With this in mind, I was pleasently surprised when a DVD titled "Down From the Mountain" was released (with companion soundtract) featuring a live Nashville concert of a collection of the original performers celebrating the "O Brother" music. At last I was allowed to see the faces that went along with such beautiful voices such as the Cox Family, the Whites, the Fairfield Four and Gillian Welch. This is a well made documentry from director D A Pennebaker (of "Dont Look Back" fame) along with Nick Doob and Chris Hegedus.The filmmakers do an excellent job of allowing the viewer to see what goes into putting an all-star concert such as this, together. We also get an intimate view of the back stage dressing room areas and the performers (who was to know that Emmylou Harris is a baseball freak who follows the games during her shows?). But the real meat of this documentry is the actual show that was put on at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, one evening of May 2000. It is such a thrill to see so much talent put together on one stage singing and playing such wonderful music.The late John Hartford is an amusing host who introduces us to such powerhouse talents as Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley and many more.Highlights of that evening included songs such as "Will there Be Any Stars in My Crown", "I'll Fly Away", "O Death" and the evening finale of the classic "Angel Band".The DVD as a whole has a very good looking picture quality and the sound is superb.A minor quibble is that the instant access to the songs could have been done better. This is a wonderful concert, which I heartily recommend you buy for your viewing pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: The Artists Behind the Music
Review: It is extremely rare to find a concert film in which every aspect of the production is both interesting and first-rate. I kept sitting, watching the film with something more than admiration, thinking, this is how it should always be. I think what separates 'Down From the Mountain' from other concert films is the performers being themselves. You see that these performers are just people like you and me, but with a burning passion for what they do. I would bet that even if 'O Brother' had never been a successful film, the performers would have had just as much fun putting this concert together. The music is fantastic, all of it. But even more enjoyable are the stories within the concert. We see so many interesting things: Emmylou Harris, so totally comfortable in performing and so at ease, talking with younger performers not as the Godmother of Modern Country Music (which she is), but as a friend and colleague. Allison Krauss comes across as a little shy onstage (and I've noticed it in live performance as well) until she begins to cut loose. Ralph Stanley shows why he is the undisputed Emperor of Bluegrass music as he tells of his roots and then blows you away with "Oh Death." To me the most interesting performances of the film belong to Gillian Welch and her partner David Rawlings. At times, Gillian is a little uncertain onstage, but like Krauss, when it's time to perform, she takes the concert to another level. The simplicity of music and the depth of her lyrics (which seem to be simple on the surface) combine to create something almost new, something that while watching, really moves you. It's hard to describe, but you'll see and hear it. Congratulations to all the performers and the filmmakers for what I'm sure will become a lasting document of great American music.
Rating:
Summary: Emmylou Semper
Review: Semper the best for me
I think Emmylou was the first Country singer I heard
After all this time She's almost the Best!!
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST STUFF THERE IS!!!
Review: AFTER FALLING IN LOVE WITH "O, BROTHER" AND THE SOUNDTRACK CD, I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE RELEASE OF THE CONCERT FILM!!! IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! THE MUSIC IS SPECTACULAR-MOST IS FROM THE FILM, WITH SOME WONDERFUL ADDITIONS!!! CHRIS THOMAS KING IS FANTASTIC!
THE BACKSTAGE FOOTAGE IS SWEET, FUNNY AND VERY ENJOYABLE! SEEING JOHN HARTFORD AT THE END OF HIS LIFE MAKES THIS EVEN MORE SPECIAL! THE WHITES, THE FAIRFIELD FOUR (UNBELIEVEABLE),EMMY LOU, ALLISON KRAUSE AND THE INCOMPARABLE RALPH STANLEY MAKE THIS A MUST-OWN FOR LOVERS OF ROOTS MUSIC!
Rating:
Summary: Faces behind the Voices
Review: After falling in love with the movie (rented, but recently purchased on Amazon.com, its on its way!)and the CD soundtrack, and now this wonderful production, I have a true picture of the "faces behind the voices". This video is well worth the purchase. Some of these artists are/will be historic figures in the world of bluegrass music. This is a collectalbe. Buy it, you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Being There
Review: I usually prefer hearing the music on disc instead of viewing a concert video, but "Down From The Mountain" is an exception. The camera work and production makes you feel you're right on stage with the performers. The show itself is outstanding, but what really makes the film go is the pre-concert build up. Ralph Stanley gives good background on Bluegrass music and you're treated to a riverboat ride by John Hartford. I felt I knew the musicians better as people from their interesting rehearsals and conversation amongst themselves. When they actually take the stage one feels like a kid cheering them on before the first note. After seeing the video, I like the live album and soundtrack even more. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Just wonderful!!!
Review: I saw this in the theater three times, and could watch it again and again. It's great to be able to put faces and personalities to the wonderful voices in O Brother, most of whom I was totally unfamiliar with before seeing O Brother. This documentary is beautifully filmed and I can't imagine anyone not loving it!
Rating:
Summary: Hook up the surroundsound and pass the bluegrass please!
Review: I wasn't sure that a documentary about bluegrass music was going to be something that a) I would enjoy, b) something I would find compelling or c) something that would turn me onto an area of music and performances enough to make me rethink my former country snobbishness. "Down from the Mountain" made me a convert on all the above bases and more. This documentary-style film about the music and artists who comprise the soundtrack for "Oh, Brother, Where art Thou?" include the immense talents of Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch. These women have ways of lovingly massaging a ballad until it truly has a life of it's own. The soulful words and melodies of family artists like the Whites, and the Cox family are wonderfully done, as are the younger performers who get to ramp up the tempo for their rendition of "Highways and the Hedges". Then there's the wonderfully dry-witted John Hartford, who takes a few moments aside from his emcee responsibilities to give a toe-tapping rendition of "Big Rock Candy Mountain". The film takes you for a backstage pass (OK, is Emmylou Harris THAT big of a baseball fan!) AND a front row performance in the acoustically amazing Ryman Theatre. Through a mix of gospel, bluegrass, blues and country, the viewer gets a real treat of hearing and seeing what was the musical underpinning for the Coen brother's blockbuster film. You might very well meet some new musical artists in this video. I did. They seem to bear a different countenance from other contemporary artists, demonstrating a solid reliance on song style, harmonies, acoustics, and ultimately bringing "everything out but the kitchen sink" in their delivery, and that was it for me. The words are familiar and the songbirds beckon, come smile, cry, clap your hands, or sing, "Hallelujah!", mountain life is pretty good and your journey's just beginning.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST STUFF THERE IS!!!
Review: AFTER FALLING IN LOVE WITH "O, BROTHER" AND THE SOUNDTRACK CD, I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE RELEASE OF THE CONCERT FILM!!! IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! THE MUSIC IS SPECTACULAR-MOST IS FROM THE FILM, WITH SOME WONDERFUL ADDITIONS!!! CHRIS THOMAS KING IS FANTASTIC!
THE BACKSTAGE FOOTAGE IS SWEET, FUNNY AND VERY ENJOYABLE! SEEING JOHN HARTFORD AT THE END OF HIS LIFE MAKES THIS EVEN MORE SPECIAL! THE WHITES, THE FAIRFIELD FOUR (UNBELIEVEABLE),EMMY LOU, ALLISON KRAUSE AND THE INCOMPARABLE RALPH STANLEY MAKE THIS A MUST-OWN FOR LOVERS OF ROOTS MUSIC!
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