Stardust/To Lefty From Willie/Honeysuckle Rose - Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson: Story-Teller

Advantages: Willie's sweet voice and stinging guitar
Disadvantages: It's not twice as long

The music: clean, uncluttered introspective. The songs: conveying the stark, sere, loneness of the singer. It's been called "blue collar blues" and I'd call it that, too, more than I'd call it country music. Only three of the songs are new, written in the 1990s, the rest are refashioned from the 1960s, and the 30 years in between scarcely matter. The songs were chosen and pieced together to tell the story of obssessive love or convey the concept of domestic abuse, whichever way you want to see it. And they do succeed in working together. They succeed in taking hold of your heart and grabbing onto it hard. Somehow, in Willie Nelson's mature voice, the older songs take on a new edge and freshness. Emmy Lou Harris's background voice deepens the poignancy and works sweetly with Willie's. Hers is the ghostly voice of the victim and ...

Jerseycoa 21.06.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Teatro - Willie Nelson

Affectionately made Standards Record

Advantages: Willie's interpretations, subtle musicianship, great songs
Disadvantages: No Willie Nelson compositions

Willie Nelson is a versatile performer. He was famous for being at the forefront of the country outlaw movement in the 70's. Released at the end of the 70's while the movement was at it's height, Nelson went against the grain with this risky offering of standards. This could have gone dreadfully for Willie but in fact what he achieved was one of his most successful and popular releases. The album is finely produced by Booker T. Jones of Booker T and the MGs. It's simply and beautifully done allowing Willie to take these songs and make them his own. It doesn't really fall into any category, as it's not really country, nor folk, nor Jazz, nor easy listening. Please excuse me for sounding utterly pretentious which I am about to do... It's Willie Nelson. The song selection is great with fantastic readings of 'Georgia on My Mind ...

Nixu1980 17.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Stardust - Willie Nelson

Half Nelson- A Gem of a film

Advantages: Fantastic performance.Beautifully made.has a charm of its own
Disadvantages: None

of both. Ryan Gosling is the soul of the film,playing a school teacher who is a free thinker. His character is complex and independent. Its a pleasure to see such a character on screen who is so different from the cliche teachers, a character who has lots of dreams. Yet he knows his limitations as a single person who won't be able to change the world by himself. His concern for the student adds a lot to his character, showing us how he feels for others and how he wishes to do good. I loved the whole feel of the film, the way it has been made. The camera work is fabulous and gives you the impression that you are watching it first hand because the camera keeps moving very slightly rather than staying static at closeups. Gosling's priceless expressions are captured effectively and his silence seems more precious than words.It is philosophical in ...

aadnan613 04.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Half Nelson (DVD)