Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of 'Inside Llewyn Davis' (2013)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I enjoyed "Inside Llewyn Davis", but it was an average Coen brother's film. I had moderate expectations for this documentary-style film and was pleasantly surprised. The performances are all excellent, and a nice blend of stage performances, backstage improvisation and jam sessions, and recording sessions in the studio. The Punch Brothers and The Avett Brothers were standouts for me, but all the artists put their own spin on the tune they tackled.One thing in particular I liked was that the editing was thoughtful, with no fast cutting, allowing the camera to linger on a performer for 15 to 30 seconds or longer for most of the shots. Compared to the way most live music is edited lately it was a nice surprise.

Punch Brothers predictably good as usual, rest of 'em so-so. Basically The Folk Revival Part Four: a live concert and rehearsal footage featuring various musicians from the Llewyn Davis soundtrack, and a few stunt castings like Joan Baez and Patti Smith. Chris Thile, the mandolin wiz, is always worth hearing - in moderation, but the problem with the music is exemplified by Marcus Mumford, who has the wardrobe of a 1950's hobo but has a sleek double chin and the phoney voice of someone who has grown up listening to phoney singers and doesn't know any better. He whines and squeaks like Woody Guthrie's peevish kid brother but he's English; if he could sing with genuine emotion it wouldn't matter, but he can't. Most actors don't sing well, and most singers don't act well. Marcus Mumford does neither well.Chris Thile attempts Luke Kelly, fails, and turns 'The Auld Triangle', a bitter, sleazy truculent prison song into a cheeky little joke number.A high standard of musicianship among these sixty-years-later folk revivalists, but also a high degree of nauseating 21st-century pop 'kerching!' sensibility. Not a lot of soul in evidence.

Excellent way to spend an evening. The performances were spot on & genuine. I can't stop watching it. It is acoustic music at it's very best & it introduces people to the folks who are young & continuing the tradition. A particular hat's off to T Bone Burnett, Marcus Mumford & Chris Thile. I also enjoyed seeing Joan Baez again who is still in good form. There was not one bad performance in the entire concert. The editing was seamless, cutting back & forth between the rehearsal & the concert: not a beat was missed. I was shocked at first to see Patti Smith (whom I adore) but her performance was flawless singing a Dylan tune. I had an ear to ear grin the whole time I was watching this concert. As a result of this concert I am now addicted to The Milk Carton Kids & Rhiannon Geddens. As my dear old mother used to say, "Try it. You'll like it!"