When I went to the store and saw this DVD I knew it wouldn't leave my hands anymore. And I must say it's really a great DVD. It's not a rental DVD over here so people will only have the chance to buy it. It's a docu of a great man with LOTS of music. It's a DVD all big stars should have because the man stays with both feet firmly on the ground. It also shows what a great guitar player and performer the man is, so beginning artist or even advanced ones should take a look at this DVD too. The feeling I had after seeing this DVD was that the MAN himself is the style, his music is not a style but a lifestyle. I thought he was great, but he's far greater than I thought. A great opportunity for people like me out of Belgium who will never see the man live to see a man in action where all those other great ones got the juice from. It's worth every penny(Euro) I paid for it.
9 Reviews
Great documentary showing JJ Cale in a different light
BaadasssssMikie20 June 2006
Having been allowed behind the scene access during this tour, I have to say that everything you see in these videos truly portrays JJ Cale in the most accurate way possible.
The film moves slow, sometimes to the point of boring. But, that's the "laid back" feel you're supposed to get. Waiting for a train to pass, sitting in a parking lot playing guitar. This is the calm, relaxed way John leads his life. Definitely something to look up to considering his financial wealth.
The interviews with Eric Clapton are great. He puts Cale on a pedestal (so to say) and credits him properly. I admire that.
This film has finally been released in the US as well and definitely worth a look for those interested in the Tulsa Sound, the roots of popular music, and of course, JJ Cale himself.
The film moves slow, sometimes to the point of boring. But, that's the "laid back" feel you're supposed to get. Waiting for a train to pass, sitting in a parking lot playing guitar. This is the calm, relaxed way John leads his life. Definitely something to look up to considering his financial wealth.
The interviews with Eric Clapton are great. He puts Cale on a pedestal (so to say) and credits him properly. I admire that.
This film has finally been released in the US as well and definitely worth a look for those interested in the Tulsa Sound, the roots of popular music, and of course, JJ Cale himself.
Excellent documentary
George-13029 December 2006
Just watched this DVD, having got it for Christmas, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was expecting a basic concert film with maybe a couple of backstage scenes - you know the sort of thing - but this is far more than that. It's a proper documentary, running through Cale's career, including old photos and film and anecdotes, as well as visits to old haunts in Tulsa and interviews with his entourage and his long-serving tour band. Eric Clapton also makes regular affectionate contributions throughout.
All through the film J J Cale comes across as the cool and relaxed guy one would expect from his legend, but he's also got a constant twinkle in his eye and a smile and a handshake for everyone.
There's actually only a handful of live songs with the full band, which surprised me, but there's music playing all the way through and there's plenty of footage of just Cale and a guitar, which is plenty satisfying for me.
Definitely recommended to any fan, past, present or future.
All through the film J J Cale comes across as the cool and relaxed guy one would expect from his legend, but he's also got a constant twinkle in his eye and a smile and a handshake for everyone.
There's actually only a handful of live songs with the full band, which surprised me, but there's music playing all the way through and there's plenty of footage of just Cale and a guitar, which is plenty satisfying for me.
Definitely recommended to any fan, past, present or future.
Awesome Documentary
rockyfrisco16 December 2005
I'm somewhat prejudiced, since I'm in the film, as the piano player with the Cale Band, but even allowing for that, I still think it's magnificent. If they allowed me to vote even higher than ten, I would. JJ Cale has been an enigma to most of his fans, a mystery, for years. This documentary changes that. The crew from Kick Films really captured the real JJ Cale, not an easy task. I have been playing with Cale off and on since 1957 and the JJ Cale I know is the one you'll see in this film. The DVD has now been released in the USA, on 13 June, 2006 and has been available as a region two DVD in England, Germany and Australia since late 2005. This Documentary is not to be missed!
captures the man perfectly
dirtyharry6725 December 2006
i got the DVD as a xmas gift from a good friend and man what a gift it is! i always liked his music very much but i knew virtually nothing about the person john cale. this film captures him perfectly. it is slow paced, unobtrusive and just lets the man and his friends speak. and what a sweet man he is. he is a very mature human being, humble, straight, has clear opinions and seems to be a very loving person. very simple and down-to-earth. watching this documentary was a 2-hour celebration. and i'd think not just for die-hard fans of j.j. cale, because it shows - as i said already - a very simple, smart, humble and loving human being. it makes you believe in the human spirit again. great camera work, editing and sound. a REALLY good documentary. 10 out of 10.
Just fine.
punishmentpark31 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I still remember stories about J.J. Cale coming on stage, tuning his guitar and starting to play while the audience didn't realize he was on already, or that he took off time to stay away from the world (I'm not sure if they meant the entertainment world, or the world altogether) and his music is always nice to hear. 'Laid-back' is a good word for it, if not perfect, but I must admit I've never bought one of his albums. 'Cocaine' is a classic.
This documentary must be great to watch for his fans, me - I just liked it. I didn't see the 167 minutes cut (does that exist?), nor did I see 90 minutes cut, no, Dutch television deemed it just fine to kill it after about 55 minutes... thanks but no thanks.
Anyway, it was a bit of everything; Cale on tour, Cale at his birth house, Cale's history (mostly his time in California), Cale talking about his sound and of course, Clapton talking about his (Cale's) sound. And some live footage, which was nice again.
All in all... yes, pretty nice. A laid-back 7 out of 10.
This documentary must be great to watch for his fans, me - I just liked it. I didn't see the 167 minutes cut (does that exist?), nor did I see 90 minutes cut, no, Dutch television deemed it just fine to kill it after about 55 minutes... thanks but no thanks.
Anyway, it was a bit of everything; Cale on tour, Cale at his birth house, Cale's history (mostly his time in California), Cale talking about his sound and of course, Clapton talking about his (Cale's) sound. And some live footage, which was nice again.
All in all... yes, pretty nice. A laid-back 7 out of 10.
Music, Scenery and the Guitar Man
CedricBlye25 April 2006
Saw the film last night at the Nashville Film Festival. The documentary follows Cale and his band on a two week trip to Tulsa and back where Cale talks about his life and his approach to his music. It was great to watch in a lot of ways .. the music was great and, as a longtime admirer of the music, I heard a lot of songs in the film that I would like to own if I could figure out their names, the scenery was kind of cool and made me wonder if the German director (who had never met Cale before he made the film) had also never been through the American southwest.
For me, the most poignant parts of the film were with JJ Cale in downtown Tulsa with an acoustic guitar playing his songs -- seeing a musician transforming from a quiet, soft-spoken man into the musical genius that he is in such a mundane setting can be magic.
The film also made me think about the way we age. Cale, who tells that he is 65, obviously looks different than he did years ago and the film's photography seemed to let you catch that young musician's face from the photos it showed in the aging face of the man as he is now.
It's a great film about a man who could be anyone you know with everyday thoughts, a dry wit and a gentle and humble approach to life.
For me, the most poignant parts of the film were with JJ Cale in downtown Tulsa with an acoustic guitar playing his songs -- seeing a musician transforming from a quiet, soft-spoken man into the musical genius that he is in such a mundane setting can be magic.
The film also made me think about the way we age. Cale, who tells that he is 65, obviously looks different than he did years ago and the film's photography seemed to let you catch that young musician's face from the photos it showed in the aging face of the man as he is now.
It's a great film about a man who could be anyone you know with everyday thoughts, a dry wit and a gentle and humble approach to life.
Don't turn it off at the credits!
Roguengineer23 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I've always been a fan of John Cale, as I believe many people are, but don't know it. His music has been an inspiration to many other well known artists such as Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Eric Clapton offers a frank and honest respect to John throughout this documentary, including a funny part where he admits he was jamming with John on stage for three+ minutes before he realized they were playing the Cale song he made famous- "Cocaine". The film documents John's early life in Tulsa, Oklahoma, told in old photos and present day on site interviews. Much of the film is done from the tour bus as they roll from venue to venue, and you get a taste of what life as a traveling musician must be like. There is also some beautiful scenery as the tour bus rolls through Colorado, as well. Many other reviews here are on the money for their descriptions, and should be read, but they all say that the length is wrong- only 90 minutes instead of the 167 minutes listed by IMDb. I believe they were all wrong, and IMDb is correct, because they turned off the film when the credits roll. The film continues on, showing full length performances by JJ doing all the songs he plays during the film, and more. Don't it off at the credits! Enjoy these performances of a late, great artist. John Cale, you were one of the best. Thank you for all the music. You wrote the soundtrack to many of my favorite memories. Rest in Peace.
Not worth rushing to but relaxing and quite interesting if you get into it
bob the moo24 February 2007
Unlike the main review for this title on this site (from Rocky Frisco himself) I am not part of this film and came to it as just an ordinary viewer. In fact above and beyond that I came to it almost completely cold because all that I knew was that I had quite liked the music that I'd heard on the trailer and also that the film was being screened on BBC4 which is normally a home for interesting and intelligent documentaries etc. I'm not suggesting that somehow Frisco's comments may have been slightly slanted by being in the film but just to say that I was coming to it from a totally different place.
It is probably also worth mentioning that the film I saw was 90 minutes long and not the 167 minutes that IMDb lists it as so again maybe others have seen a different version of this and comments may or may not apply. Befitting the music and the man, the documentary is pretty laid back and doesn't overwhelm with any one thing but generally just meanders with enough to hold the interest. Considering he himself seems happy away from any form of limelight, the crew did a good job of getting nice chats out of Cale; nothing too shocking or memorable but just a man being himself and being enjoyable to spend a bit of time with. Likewise with the music; we are given sufficient performances to get a feel for his style and talent but not so much that it serves as a concert film.
Of course for some viewers this will be perhaps annoying because they perhaps wanted more music, more of Cale or more of both. Such as it is though the film was relaxed and slightly interesting. Not one that I would recommend rushing to but if you like the sound of the music and can relax into it then Cale is a laid back guy that is easy to hang with for a time, while the cool tracks play across the background.
It is probably also worth mentioning that the film I saw was 90 minutes long and not the 167 minutes that IMDb lists it as so again maybe others have seen a different version of this and comments may or may not apply. Befitting the music and the man, the documentary is pretty laid back and doesn't overwhelm with any one thing but generally just meanders with enough to hold the interest. Considering he himself seems happy away from any form of limelight, the crew did a good job of getting nice chats out of Cale; nothing too shocking or memorable but just a man being himself and being enjoyable to spend a bit of time with. Likewise with the music; we are given sufficient performances to get a feel for his style and talent but not so much that it serves as a concert film.
Of course for some viewers this will be perhaps annoying because they perhaps wanted more music, more of Cale or more of both. Such as it is though the film was relaxed and slightly interesting. Not one that I would recommend rushing to but if you like the sound of the music and can relax into it then Cale is a laid back guy that is easy to hang with for a time, while the cool tracks play across the background.
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