2008 Woodie Awards
Movie Preview: "Homemade Hillbilly Jam"
Minnich glimpses life behind Missouri bluegrass band
By: James Hansen
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: LifeStyle
- Page 1 of 1
The word hillbilly evokes the stereotypical image of outhouses, false teeth and overalls.
Rick Minnich's new documentary "Homemade Hillbilly Jam" attempts to discern what makes a true hillbilly band by dissecting Big Smith, a band from Springfield, Mo. But don't expect the Beverly Hillbillies or you'll be disappointed.
The film doesn't follow Big Smith in the creation of a CD or on a wild and crazy tour like some more popular music documentaries. Instead, it goes into the homes and hearts of the members of Big Smith and gives an insightful look into what it means to be rooted in family.
Minnich moves us from performance to performance, but in no real chronological order. In between most of the musical sequences, we get a glimpse of the band members' ideals and a sense of their family life.
The viewer is taken into Thanksgiving dinner where the men sit around playing music and singing classical hymns. As they proceed outside, the hymns give way to an incredibly amusing dirty folk song.
Minnich is focused on giving the viewer a glimpse of these people and who they are. The most interesting aspect of the interviews is the effective contrast between the "hillbilliness" of Big Smith and the incredibly fake, borderline-offensive representation of hillbillies by The Baldknobbers, a comedy act in Branson, Mo.
Although the interviews are touching, the main reason to see this film is the music. It's a rare mix that is not quite bluegrass and not quite folk, a unique blend of a lot of things that need to be heard and this is a great place to hear it.
The folk/country/bluegrass movement has been popularized by bigger bands expanding their reach into American homes over the last few
years. Wilco, Ryan Adams and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have all succeeded at this brand of music.
Other bands, like the Yonder Mountain String Band, Old Crowe Medicine Show and Ralph Stanley, are more along the lines of Big Smith.
Whether you love or hate this type of music, Minnich gives us enough heart to go around several films. Even though the film fails to be totally engrossing, there is
so much joy and fun being had, it is hard to imagine someone not falling under the calm and gentle hillbilly spell of the film.
The film is showing as part of the Thursday Nights Docs at the Webster Film Series. There will only be one showing of the film at 8 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Winifred Moore Auditorium.
Rick Minnich's new documentary "Homemade Hillbilly Jam" attempts to discern what makes a true hillbilly band by dissecting Big Smith, a band from Springfield, Mo. But don't expect the Beverly Hillbillies or you'll be disappointed.
The film doesn't follow Big Smith in the creation of a CD or on a wild and crazy tour like some more popular music documentaries. Instead, it goes into the homes and hearts of the members of Big Smith and gives an insightful look into what it means to be rooted in family.
Minnich moves us from performance to performance, but in no real chronological order. In between most of the musical sequences, we get a glimpse of the band members' ideals and a sense of their family life.
The viewer is taken into Thanksgiving dinner where the men sit around playing music and singing classical hymns. As they proceed outside, the hymns give way to an incredibly amusing dirty folk song.
Minnich is focused on giving the viewer a glimpse of these people and who they are. The most interesting aspect of the interviews is the effective contrast between the "hillbilliness" of Big Smith and the incredibly fake, borderline-offensive representation of hillbillies by The Baldknobbers, a comedy act in Branson, Mo.
Although the interviews are touching, the main reason to see this film is the music. It's a rare mix that is not quite bluegrass and not quite folk, a unique blend of a lot of things that need to be heard and this is a great place to hear it.
The folk/country/bluegrass movement has been popularized by bigger bands expanding their reach into American homes over the last few
years. Wilco, Ryan Adams and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have all succeeded at this brand of music.
Other bands, like the Yonder Mountain String Band, Old Crowe Medicine Show and Ralph Stanley, are more along the lines of Big Smith.
Whether you love or hate this type of music, Minnich gives us enough heart to go around several films. Even though the film fails to be totally engrossing, there is
so much joy and fun being had, it is hard to imagine someone not falling under the calm and gentle hillbilly spell of the film.
The film is showing as part of the Thursday Nights Docs at the Webster Film Series. There will only be one showing of the film at 8 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Winifred Moore Auditorium.
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