Amazon.com: This ambitious mixture of dramatic reconstruction with traditional documentary affords excellent insight into legendary bluesman Robert Johnson's life, the enduring power of his music, and the myth which surrounds him. Can't You Hear The Wind Howl transcends its genre of 'docudrama,' providing the well-researched information we'd expect from a conventional documentary with the dramatic impact we could hope for from a Hollywood film.
Contemporary bluesman Keb' Mo' (Kevin Moore) plays Johnson, and Danny Glover narrates, but the real star is Robert Johnson's music. The film's strength is its power of suggestion; we never see the Johnson character up close, never hear him talk. As if in a dream, he flits in and out of scenes, whether courting his girlfriend or stirring a juke joint to mayhem. But you'd be hard put picking him out of a police lineup. We never see him such that we can know him, which is an accurate representation of the elusive musician, according to the interview footage with Johnson's proteges and peers--among them Johnny Shines, Robert Lockwood Jr., and Honeyboy Edwards. Keb' Mo', who has included Robert Johnson songs on each of his three CDs, says that portraying Johnson had a lasting effect. 'It's an internal thing,' says Mo'. 'In playing him, you pull in some of the spirit. The spirit of a juke joint, the spirit of the south at that time.' This film falls nicely between an homage and an explanation. --Sam Sutherland
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Rating: - Best Robert Johnson documentary yet
This documentary was produced in 1997, and very little new and meaningful information on Robert Johnson has surfaced since then, except for further details over his death. So, the important facts about his life are contained here. But this is more than a documentary --- the dramatizations are fabulous. It is a very relaxing film, and beautifully showcases Johnson's original recordings. Keb Mo does a fine job in recreating Johnson's recording sessions. It is visually beautiful, and takes you to the heart of the Delta. Johnny Shines, Johnson's former traveling buddy, is wonderful, and credible. I grow weary of listening to Honeyboy Edwards because the authenticity of his claims are highly questionable. Just reading the back of Johnson's death certificate raises serious questions about Edwards' recollections. No matter. This is a very entertaining and transcending work.
Rating: - The life and music of Robert Johnson
Great overall presentation about the man and his music.
Rating: - Best Robert Johnson DVD
I think I have seen all the Robert Johnson documentaries available. I like this one the most. The interviews are good, most info that is around in other places too. Integrating the artful sequences of Keb Mo as Robert Johnson is what distinguishes this disc most to me. Turn the sound up on my system, watch it on the big plasma... it's about as close as most of us will ever get to the authentic roots of what is now called blues.
Rating: - A Steady Rollin' Man
Robert Johnson was one of the most enigmatic bluesmen of the 20th century and his life is still a mystery today.Fans only have two grainy pictures of Johnson and various accounts of the mans' life by those who knew him and those who purport to have known him.Having died at the age of 27 by poisoning only adds to the legacy.Johnson, like many of his contemporaries in that early century era, liked women and whiskey and that became his undoing...a jealous husband poisoned his drink and sent Johnson off into the history books forever.In this documentary, other bluesmen will tell you what Johnson was all about, right up to those final hours but some of their testimony is questionable, as was Johnsons' entire life.But the music is there and it lives up to the Johnson image. Many songs are haunting (Hellhound on My Trail, Come On In My Kitchen) and many are sad (Drunkenhearted Man,From Four Til Late)but they all carry Johnsons'unique ... Read More
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