Rating: 
Summary: A nice change..
Review: This movie is one of those movies that one can simply enjoy. There are no torrid sex scenes, no filthy language, no violence for violence sake. In this movie, we are taken back to a part of the United States that for many people was a mystery...the hill billys, the primitives, the savages that needed teachers and missionaries to save them. A culture of pioneers that isolated themselves and maintained a simple, beautiful but harsh way of life. The music throughout this film is haunting, the acting superb, and the message of the film is very clear. For those interested in the history of our American south, or interested in the folk music of the American south...then see this lovely movie. There are some tough scenes...a gruesome birth which was probably not untypical of that era...a lesbian relationship explored from the views of that
time....some infidelity... I throughly enjoyed this movie and it is one I will buy for my collection.
Rating: 
Summary: See for the music, not the story.
Review: And unless you are a true fan of mountain music, rent before buying. Though I'm not an expert or particular fan, even I could tell that it is rich and unique music, and deserves a better setting than this cliched and sometimes anachronistic movie, which often felt like a product of Screenwriting 101.There are so many problems with the story I hardly know where to start. Perhaps the romance between Mcteer's flatland academic, and Quinn's mountain man. This has been done so many times...some of their exchanges were so stereotyped they made me groan. For example, city woman Lily (McTeer) attends her first bloody, violent childbirth. Predictably, she flings at Quinn's character: "You have no idea what that woman has just been through." Just as predictably, he responds with a story that shows, yes, he does know; and which makes her, of course, sound unbearably self-righteous. Also predictably, they go in an instant from sparring to kissing. Admittedly, the transition was not handled the way I expected. Though who didn't know, the instant Tom's Granny tells Lily (McTeer) how to escape a panther, and she laughs at the idea, that she is inevitably going to end up in a scene doing just exactly what she did? The one cliche avoided was that this was not used to humiliate her by, for example, having her emerge from the woods in front of a crowd of people. Probably this is the advantage of a woman director. Aidan Quinn's performance kept me awake, however, even when he was confined by stereotype. I found it more difficult to warm to McTeer. I know she was meant to be stiff to show contrast with the mountain people, and I know a certain amount of stiffness is true to the early 20th century period. However, it was a bit too much for my taste, though that may be the director's fault, not hers. I also enjoyed Jane Adam's performance. I wasn't put off by the lesbian storyline as some viewers were. It was at least an interesting twist to the "prim schoolmarm" character. However, the confrontation between Lily and her sister is keyed more for modern ears, and is shallowly characterized. Schoolteachers of that era were held to such high moral standards that Lily's shock and anger wouldn't make her a bigot. It would have been shocking if she'd found her unmarried sister in bed with a man. I also felt Elna (Adams) would have shown more confusion and surprise at what she had discovered about herself. Her acceptance is very modern. The mistake with this storyline, however, was carrying it too far. It took over the story, and the final (tolerant) outcome wasn't believable. Again, keyed a little too much toward modern sensibilities. The biggest mistake, however, was in failing to address the real issue: How is Lily going to repay these people for the incredible gift she is getting from them? How to record their music without (as Tom puts it) exploiting them? The people are so poor they are selling their land for a fraction of its value. The real story, then, should have been about Lily finding a way to resolve this dilemma, to pay them for their music, so they can keep their land and live in their old ways. Instead she virtually abandons her work, at the very moment she can count on unlimited funding, recognition, and an eager assistant. She goes to the city to record mountain music (which doesn't quite make sense), because she thinks there will be a market for it. But wouldn't there be a better market if she continued her work and published her book, making the mountain people famous? Tom accompanies her, which contradicts everything about his character, who loves the mountain ways. About the music: A mostly successful effort was made to integrate songs in a natural or dramatic way into the story. I still remember the song about death--a showstopper. It was a shame to have Taj Mahal, the black banjo player, in for only one scene, though. Finally, Iris DeMent's "Barbara Allen" over the credits was haunting, beautiful, and worth the price of admission.
Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile Exploration of a Part of American Music History
Review: SONGCATCHER is one of those films that Hollywood used to make (and make well) all of the time. In other words, it's an intelligent story about a woman overcoming many obstacles as an outsider. In this film, a historian comes to rural America to record the local folk music, which she believes comes from Europe. At first the woman is viewed with suspicion by the locals, until she earns their respect. It's a familiar tale, but well done here. Besides the great folk tunes, one also appreciates the film's respect for the local people. Too often in Hollywood, poor people (especially poor southerners) are portrayed stereotypically. Not in this film. More and more this type of film premieres on cable, because it is seen as "too small" for a theatrical release. This is really a shame, because to fully appreciate this film's wonderful cinematography and art direction, you need to see it on the big screen. For those that can't, the small screen is perhaps the only alternative. If you love folk music or any of its musical cousins like the blues and country, you'll want to experience this charming film. For those who only listen to contemporary music, it might not be your cup of tea. If you're not sure, give it a spin in your VCR or DVD player, you just might like it. The dramatic performances are also very good. Also, look out for a cameo by blues legend Taj Mahal in the film. Overall, SONGCATCHER may not win awards for originality, but it is nonetheless a well-crafted and engaging film. It is definitely worth a look.
Rating:
Summary: One to Own
Review: My husband plays fiddle and wanted to see this movie because he had
heard the soundtrack was made up of old songs you have a hard time finding on recordings. I went along because I love movies. The movie turned out to be great! The music is a big contributor to what makes the film work, but this takes nothing away from the characters or story. Whoever said in one of the other reviews that this movie had soap opera situations did not see the same movie that I did. The characters are unique, as you would expect in a setting like this, and the stories are their own.
Rating:
Summary: a pleasant, if meandering film
Review: The backdrop and inspiration of "Songcatcher" is the music of the Appalachian Mountains at the turn of the century. This alone would have been enough to make for a good movie. Janet McTeer plays a musicologist who is surprised to learn that the people of this area have an oral tradition that has kept alive traditional songs thought long dead. The title of the film is "Songcatcher." The reality is that these people were often times referred to as "song stealers," and weren't as kind and generous as the McTeer character is. The film would have been entertaining enough had the filmmakers decided to explore this portion of the story. Sadly, that is not the case. They decided, instead, to bog down the story with one soap opera after the next. There's a school house in danger of closing down, a secret love affair between two teachers (though I wouldn't be so dismissive and ignorant as to call it a "lesbian agenda" as another reviewer has), and the refined musicologist falling for the backwoods and backwards mountain man (Aidan Quinn). These parts of the story didn't gel for me. On their own or maybe in an entirely different film, they could have added something. Here, they just detracted from the story and the real heart of the film -- the mountain, its people and its music. If you are a fan of traditional music and good scenery, you'll enjoy "Songcatcher." Just don't get sidetracked by the unnecessary dramatics.
Rating:
Summary: WELL WORTH THE WAIT
Review: I have waited almost 2 years to see this film, and it was well worth the wait. As an extra in the film, I got to be on the set for 3 days, and I interracted with all of the film's stars those 3 days. It was both a learning experience for me, and a pleasure to watch such wonderful actors in motion first hand. I was one of the featured square dancers in the barn dance scene. The film is even more beautiful than I could have imagined...and I lived in the midst of those mountains before moving to VA. But to see them on film thru the eyes of Maggie Greenwald, is breathtaking. The film is a wonderful representation of the mountain music and people. I highly reccomend it.
Rating:
Summary: A great film undermined by feminist-lesbian agenda.
Review: This is a film that I thought was great to a point. Then I felt that I was at a Gloria Steinem speech or a NOW convention or a lesbian film festival. There was no need for the anti-Christian or pro-lesbian element. Only the director felt that need. It would have been a great film without that. If the CD has all the songs on it, I'll buy it. I have to look for it. It would be incredibly perfect for a film CD. Great songs! As for the director, get off it. You'll do much better as a real person rather than an Ellen Degenerate fan.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good!
Review: The synopsis doesn't do justice to what this movie is about or how good it really is. Every second is a learning experience. The acting is terrific, especially Pat Carroll. You'll think the producers had found real mountain people to play the parts. And you'll leave wanting to go straight and buy the soundtrack.
Rating:
Summary: Great talent, good intentions, but...
Review: Watching "Songcatcher" reminded me of attending an illustrated lecture by a brilliant, compassionate but insufferable academic whose scholarly specialty is the music and history of Appalachia. Maggie Greenwald certainly gives us beautiful, striking pictures of the North Carolina hills; she brings on the best available actors--Janet McTeer, Aidan Quinn, Pat Carroll--to enact her tale; she hires the best available singers--Hazel Dickens, Iris DeMent, Emmy Rossum--to sing beautiful Appalachian ballads in authentic style. But instead of giving us a story that builds to a dramatically satisfying climax, Greenwald gives us a series of sermons about the exploitation of the hill folk, the despoiling of their land, the oppression of women. You agree with everything she says--you wouldn't have come to the show otherwise--but she preaches to the choir as if it had the collective brains of a field of kudzu. "Songcatcher" makes all the obvious points, and ends up in a fairly ridiculous tangle of melodramatic plot ends. But the talented people who collaborated on it ensure that it can't simply be dismissed. The movie is a series of set pieces, some of which are as beautiful as you might hope, and some unfortunately are not.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Film
Review: This film was first screened at The Hampton's International Film Festival, where I saw it, and right there and then I fell in love with it. Not only is the story beautifully written and carried out, but the music, the landscapes and the actors are especially touching, and add an entire "layer" to the film altogether. The two actors that really stood out were Aidan Quinn and the ever so fabulous Janet McTeer and her amazing performance. I would highly recommend this film, and it is definitley a must see!
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