My Morning Jacket

May as well get this thread going in case it really happens.  Here's a story from the local weekly:
http://www.velocityweekly.com/2004/0804/sound/news_notes.html

Movie mania

In addition to pumping a barge-full of money into the local economy, the film "Elizabethtown" is reaping some unexpected benefits.

The Cameron Crowe-directed production has been in the region for several weeks, shooting in Louisville, Elizabethtown and Versailles, Ky., and our ears burn with stories of Kirsten Dunst sightings.

But lucky is the fortunate artist or musician who has been sucked into the Hollywood vacuum.

The biggest winner is My Morning Jacket, which was enlisted to serve as a shaggy group of singers in the film's crucial funeral scene, reportedly crooning Skynyrd's "Freebird." (Which, most Jacket fans would conclude, was probably going to happen at some point, anyway.)

Meanwhile, the folks at Lebowski Fest tell us that the production company sought and received permission to use an official Lebowski Fest poster in the movie, supposedly for an office cubicle.

Louisville artist Brad White is the best example of having something drop right in your lap.

Set designers were prowling for material at the Nitty Gritty in Germantown when they fell in love with one of White's distinctive paintings, which they quickly purchased to decorate an apartment in "Elizabethtown."

whoa!  MMJ does Skynrd?!?  zoinks!

Well, Crowe did say the movie was a comedy. If you saw MMJ cover Van Halen's Jump you'd know they can do tongue-in-cheek just fine.

Quotewhoa!  MMJ does Skynrd?!?  zoinks!

this is true I was actually hoping you'd respond with a clarification just of this sort.  the guys do have a healthy sense o' humor :D

i would definately be interested in hearing them do freebird...plus it gives me an excuse to see the movie

I saw Built to Spill do Freebird a few years ago.  I was really skeptical when i heard the opening bars, but by the guitar solos I was banging my head along with everyone else.  It ended up being the best part of the show.

Freebird may be a rock n roll cliche (and I still can't listen to it when it comes on the radio)  but that night it friggin' rocked.  I'm excited abt MMJ doing it.

Say what you will, Freebird fucking RULES!!!!!!!!

and I called it in the "What would you love MMJ to cover" Thread.  So give it up Bitches!!!!!!!!!   Next thing you know they'll be covering the Pina Colada song in the sequal (second movie).  If you have bare feet and a flying V you know Freebird Fucking Rules!

QuoteSay what you will, Freebird fucking RULES!!!!!!!!

and I called it in the "What would you love MMJ to cover" Thread.  So give it up Bitches!!!!!!!!!   Next thing you know they'll be covering the Pina Colada song in the sequal (second movie).  If you have bare feet and a flying V you know Freebird Fucking Rules!

Uh, maybe without lyrics, and just the last jamming part extended for about 10 minutes.  Then, a killer take of "Green Grass and High Tides" by the Outlaws.

Freebird has lyrics????

Quote

Uh, maybe without lyrics, and just the last jamming part extended for about 10 minutes.  Then, a killer take of "Green Grass and High Tides" by the Outlaws.

yeah, pretty slow at the start and the lyrics just sound depressing...then, the killer ending kicks in at about the 5 minute mark and goes for at least another 4 minutes...just about rock perfection if you look past the lyrics, the slow part, the fact that it's Skynrd, and the Neil Young thingy.

"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me..."
and so forth.

If you ask me (which no one has), I would much rather hear Simple Man.

I heard that Neil and the Skynyrd boys were actually friendly, and that wrote "Southern Man" hoping he could convince Skynyrd to record it.

Phish does the best Freebird EVER.  All acapella, even the guitar wailing parts.  

that must have been a sight to see :D

QuotePhish does the best Freebird EVER.  All acapella, even the guitar wailing parts.  

My friend does the same damn thing everytime it comes on the radio.  He's actually really good, there's no telling how many hours he spent practicing it.

mmm, this kinda puzzles me. Danny Cash saying he'll punch the first one who requests Freebird in the face and now this?? Don't get me wrong, i like Freebird and i think MMJ likes it too, but they did seem to be fed up with critics only comparing them with Skynyrd or Neil Young because everyone else did and were to lazy to actually listen for themselves.

This kinda thing will only corner them more into that 'Southern Rock'thing. Or maybe this is one big (inside)joke, i wouldn't be surprised.

my point exactly, I am disappointed

I think it'll be kinda neat to hear MMJ do "Freebird". Yeah, it's cliche', but we haven't seen the film so it may be some big set-up that we're missing.

A little OT here... The Drive-By Truckers have a song called "Ronnie and Neil" on their album, "Southern Rock Opera". It's about how Ronnie VanZant and Neil Young were actually friends and that their feud was just in song.

again, the mantra "exposure" needs to be said here...imagine millions of theater go-er's seeing MMJ on the big screen.  short of full on gay monkey porn (not that there's anything wrong with that), why should we object?

Quoteagain, the mantra "exposure" needs to be said here...imagine millions of theater go-er's seeing MMJ on the big screen.  short of full on gay monkey porn (not that there's anything wrong with that), why should we object?

I guess you're right, I just think somethin of their own would create just as good an impression if not a bigger one ;)

true that, but like any other movie, they're probably bound by what the director dictates...in this case, it's Skynrd.

I'm not for certain, but isn't this movie set in the 70s?  kinda hard to have an MMJ tune playin' when they boys weren't but tiny tots in the late 70s... :)

Sure, I'd freakin' LOVE to have them star in their own biography, or long video, or as the Champions of Louisville Rock in "The Louisville Scene:  Why rock still matters".  But let's face it, this is CAMERON CROWE, so it's allllllllllllll good.

or is it set in another later time and the guys are gonna be a group covering Skynrd(?)

People, you're allowed to shoot me - I don't think I even know this 'Freebird' song.  :-/

Any news on that movie yet, by the way?

O:  its a 70s southern rock anthem from Lynyrd Skynyrd. you didn't miss too much, while Skynyrd is a great band I don't have freebird high on my list of their tunes--I'd rather hear "On the hunt" anyday :D

Anyone hear anymore news about this.  I googled it and found these notes about MMJ music in the movie "Paper Cut" but nothing at all about Elizabethtown. Sure hope they don't get cut.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325957/trivia
http://www.onelongsong.com/copy.html


Also saw they made Cameron Crowe's top 5 (but only 5th):
http://www.cameroncroweonline.com/news/archives/2004/jan.htm

QuoteO:  its a 70s southern rock anthem from Lynyrd Skynyrd. you didn't miss too much, while Skynyrd is a great band I don't have freebird high on my list of their tunes--I'd rather hear "On the hunt" anyday :D

Its a bloody classic!
Saw them live twice and its was stupendous both times. I also think that it was the most requested clip on Old Grey Whistle Test, but I could be wrong.

Quote

Its a bloody classic!
Saw them live twice and its was stupendous both times. I also think that it was the most requested clip on Old Grey Whistle Test, but I could be wrong.

got that grey whistle dvd? the freebird performance is on there and gotta say I like it! but there's even better stuff on there, like curtis mayfield, john martyn, new york dolls, tim buckley, tom waits and so much more from the 70s and 80s. it's a must-have.

Thanks for that CCB.  Haven't got that but might take a journey through e-bay just to check.
Saw NYD at Leeds.  I was well impressed, and quite surprised that that some of the originals were still alive.

  Couldn't keep myself from throwin' it out there after reading all this MMJ/Skynyrd hoopla, but the real deal...LYNYRD SKYNYRD!!!...will be playing at Louisville's very own Waterfront next Sunday, September 26th!
  Not a fan at all, don't own any of their music, probably even mis-spelled their name, but I've seen 'em twice before (both times for free, like this one will most likely be), and they rock!  Freebird...live, by the band who wrote it (or at least their relatives/friends that are now in the band...are any of the originals left?), it's an experience not to be missed.  

  I wonder if the boys from MMJ will be in attendance?  No shows then, so why not?!

So they're Jessie's band. Who's Jessie?

QuoteSo they're Jessie's band. Who's Jessie?

Cast credits linked below, include Paul Schneider as Jessie Baylor and Jessie's band; James Olliges, Jr., Thomas Blankenship, Carl Broemel, Patrick Hallahan and Charlie Crowe.

I guess their cover's blown:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368709/

Hey - Jed Rees is in it!!  He's Canadian!!  :)

If there would be one, What MMJ song would you love to hear in the movie. I'd love an entire version of Steam Engine at the end of it. This site would be overflowing with new members...

QuoteIf there would be one, What MMJ song would you love to hear in the movie. I'd love an entire version of Steam Engine at the end of it. This site would be overflowing with new members...

Given the plot line, Nashville to Kentucky would be an obvious fit.  But My Morning Jacket music is all so evocative I can imagine any song they play adding to the drama or excitement of a movie scene.  Old September Blues might work best on a bittersweet romantic/comedy  soundtrack at the moment a main character belatedly realizes love and redemption found in another and chases after them before the chance is lost.

Now, if only Cameron Crowe had shared his script with us, we could have all pasted in the appropriate MMJ songs and saved Nancy Wilson and Paul Westerberg a lot of trouble.

Movie release dates move around a lot, but the Elizabethtown, Kentucky newspaper carried this story this week about a July 29, 2005 release date.

I was rooting for Derby week so we wouldn't have to wait so long to see if MMJ steals the movie or hits the cutting room floor.

http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2004/11/18/news/news06.txt

'Elizabethtown' set to debut next July

By NE STAFF
STAFF REPORT

Internet sites Box Office Prophets and metromix.com, the entertainment Web site for the Chicago Tribune, are reporting the movie "Elizabethtown" has been set for a July 29, 2005 release.

The movie, named after Elizabethtown, Ky., was partially filmed here on July 22. Filming also took place in other parts of the state.

Directed by Cameron Crowe, the film is about a young man, played by Orlando Bloom, who has suffered a drastic failure in his career and is considering suicide.

However, his father dies and Bloom's character must travel back to Kentucky for the funeral.

On the way he meets and falls in love with a character played by Kirsten Dunst, and finds he enjoys the eccentricities of small-town life.

There are several extras in the film from Elizabethtown, including members of the local Lions Club.

So, I do believe 'Steam Engine' is gonna fill movie theaters soon. Why? Check out the quote on www.cameroncrowe.com
It would be a perfect closer for the movie. Oh boy!

Hell yeah! This thing is starting to sound really cool!!
Steam Engine, every second of it... i'm hoping for it now, would be amazing, if my prediction becomes reality  :)

Yeah, this is awesome.  At first I just thought it would be their cover of "Free Bird"--but if the soundtrack includes an actual MMJ original--this board better be ready for thousand of new members.

So have they already covered Freebird?  I think Steam Engine would be an amazing song to end a movie with.  I just don't know if it's really going to make that big a difference on how popular they are.  Pearl Jam wrote a song "Man of The Hour" for the Tim Burrton film "Big Fish" and they really didn't see any increase in popularity.  That may seem silly because it's Pear Jam, but they have worked really hard to get out of the spotlight.  Of course a handful of people will catch the song and then in turn catch on to the band but unless the band actually appears in the film I wouldn't expect a huge increase in popularity at least I'll cross my fingers that it doesn't happen.

Extremely happy at the prospect of MMJ blasting from theater sound systems nationwide.  Iexpect the inclusion of Orlando Bloom will generate a high female attendance at the film  ;)--get ready for competition on the site EC, Doctor, and all you other fair sex poster.... :D

QuoteExtremely happy at the prospect of MMJ blasting from theater sound systems nationwide.  Iexpect the inclusion of Orlando Bloom will generate a high female attendance at the film  ;)--get ready for competition on the site EC, Doctor, and all you other fair sex poster.... :D

Bring it on!

anyone who questions the greatness of free bird is committing the highest form of sacrilege(goddam it i know i spelled that wrong). sure its played out, but how many people can honestly say they haven't played air guitar to the extended version until they were slightly out of breath? i mean seriously, besides the star spangled banner and white christmas it is the most american song out there. everybody knows it no matter where you come from.

I've got one word.................WORD!

I can't think of how it sounds in my head...

I'm sure I know it.

I've got it in my tab book that a friend gave me years ago when I was learning guitar.  Maybe I should try and learn it.

Hey that's encouraging, but the site took forever to load  on my 28.8 at home. Here is Cameron's note for the movie, featuring the last line from Steam Engine in case anyone else was having trouble with that site.

(http://kentuckythings.com/mymorningjacket/images/crowe1.jpg)

That's just way cool!

I have a "funny" story that relates to "Freebird".  One of my friends has this theory that "Night Moves" by Bob Seger should be the next song that is generically screamed-out at concerts.  At first, he did this out of disgust of Bob Seger, but now the song has sorta grown on him--and me as well.  Right now, I would place "Night Moves" as my second favor Epic song--behind "Tiny Dancer."
   Anyways, last week we were at a VHS or Beta show in Lexington and he screamed out "Play Night Moves".  Craig, the band, then asked, "Did somebody say Night Moves?  We will never, ever play that song!"  And then, when they came back on for the encore, Craig announced that the band was going to start out by playing "Night Moves".  It probably wasn't that funny to everyone else--but it sure as hell made the drunken' idiot I am burst out laughing and fall to the floor.  And while they didn't end up playing the song, they promised that if we bring the song to Main Street on a night they are DJing--"Night Moves" will be played.  

I think this is also how "Free Bird" became the cult phenomenon.

I'm going to see them next week here in Knoxville, I'll be sure to put one in for Night Moves. ;)

I really dig that that note is on the leading page for Crowe's site, should be a curiosity raiser for fans of his that have yet to experience the zen that is MMJ

Has anyone tried to watch the (what I assume are) trailers/teasers?  My computer won't load them...  (Or, at least, it didn't earlier in the day...)

The trailers don't seem to work anymore. It wasn't really a trailer, just some behind the scenes stuff.

Night Moves!!

Quote"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me..."
and so forth.

If you ask me (which no one has), I would much rather hear Simple Man.

I heard that Neil and the Skynyrd boys were actually friendly, and that wrote "Southern Man" hoping he could convince Skynyrd to record it.

no, supposedly, Neil was to record Powderfinger with Ronnie Van Zandt, before he died. And sweet home alabama was supposedly one of Neils favorite songs.

listen to Drive By Truckers "Southern Rock Opera" and read the liner notes. inneresting stuff.

Just five months till the release, if the July 29 date holds true.

To whet your appetites, I've found a couple of nice web bits about the movie. I'm not sure how many weeks or months before a movie release they start cranking up the PR machine, but trailers and interviews cannot be too far off:

http://romanticmovies.about.com/od/elizabethtown/a/elizabeth110704.htm

http://romanticmovies.about.com/od/elizabethtown/

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040727a.php

http://cameron-crowe.entertainment-news.org/

I'm sure it's just irony at its finest.

Look at all these sharp-dressed moviestars! 8)

(http://img239.exs.cx/img239/4745/etown11sl.jpg)

(http://img239.exs.cx/img239/7153/etown26st.jpg)

(http://img239.exs.cx/img239/3213/etown36wr.jpg)

Oh god.  That makes my heart warm this morning.  :)

Yay!

:o This is hilarious! Gotta love the suits...
Some cool sunglasses on Jim too, hope he has some lines in the film, that would be worth watching.

(hey chills, where is your signature quote from?)

sharp dressers indeed ;D
is that cave hill? looks like it.

btw, just read the new release date is oct.14th.

That's from the Wilco tune 'Summer Teeth'. I've been listening to that album quite a lot lately, some fantastic lyrics shattered all around it...

But I'll change it into something more 'positive' soon  8)

Summer Teeth


Like a cloud his fingers explode
On the typewriter ribbon, the shadow grows
His heart's in a bowl behind the bank

And every evening when he get home
To make his supper and eat it alone
His black shirt cries while his shoes get cold

It's just a dream he keeps having
And it doesn't seem to mean anything
And it doesn't seem to mean anything

One summer, a suicide
Another autumn, a traveler's guide
He hits snooze twice before he dies

And every evening when he get home
To make his supper and eat it alone
His black shirt cries while his shoes get cold

It's just a dream he keeps having
And it doesn't seem to mean anything
It's just a dream he keeps having

He feels lucky to have you here
In his kitchen, in your chair
Sometimes he forgets that you're even there

It's just a dream he keeps having
And it doesn't seem to mean anything
It's just a dream he keeps having

It's just a dream
And it doesn't seem to mean anything

Wow.  Thanks for sharing that.  :)

Thanks for sharing the photos. They look like they're having fun.

(I got a DVD of Wilco on HBO's Reverb the other day. Good stuff)

Was that in Cave Hill Cemetery?  Hopefully they show Colonel Sanders Headstone.  I wonder if that is where they play "Free Bird"?  

great pics Sal!  where'd ya find em?

Sal, Those are fantastic photos.  Almost missed 'em with the board heating up and the NCAA thingy going on.

QuoteWas that in Cave Hill Cemetery?  Hopefully they show Colonel Sanders Headstone.  I wonder if that is where they play "Free Bird"?  

Yep. That is correct.

Quote
Any truth to Two Tone and Kirsten hooking up?

Not true, she loves me and only me.
And cobwebs.

Mar 29th, 2005, 5:11pm, thebigbang wrote:

Any truth to Two Tone and Kirsten hooking up?


No Way? Really?  Where'd you hear that?

not true at all

QuoteMar 29th, 2005, 5:11pm, thebigbang wrote:

Any truth to Two Tone and Kirsten hooking up?
No Way? Really?  Where'd you hear that?

Wow, I really don't take celebrity gossip too seriously. That was just a joke comment, which I thought might be obvious, but obviously was not.

I've heard no rumors and have no facts. Which should make me an authority.

Just have to love Tommy's specs. :)

two tone already dates one of the coolest people on the planet...he doesn't need any dunst

Lots of reaction to the movie trailer and new poster release linked below, with lots of folks jazzed about the Jacket being movie stars (oh, and that Dunst person too):

(http://www.kentuckythings.com/mymorningjacket/images/poster_elizabethtown.jpg)
http://www.aintitcool.com/tb_display.cgi?id=20551#923680
http://www.comingsoon.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36787&page=2
http://inlandempirestrikesback.net/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?p=193&
http://thelocust.org/blog/
http://www.cinematical.com/2005/06/23/first-look-at-elizabethtown/
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/626/626248p1.html

Music notes:
http://mixonline.com/news/headline/elizabethtown-sennheiser-062205/

Cameron Crowe interview:

http://www.mtv.com/shared/movies/interviews/c/crowe_cameron_qa_050624/

He mentions a new My Morning Jacket song that will be in the movie called "Where To Begin"

Nice!
It's not listed as being on "Z".
So there's 11 new songs that we'll have for sure, plus whatever they release as B-sides!


(http://us.st8.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/wickedcoolstuff_1850_85514963)

I saw the them in the clip yesterday.  I can't wait for this movie to come out.

Anyone notice the Pearl Jam posters  :)

From the 'Heart' website:

the last photo is outside of a screening that Cameron and Jim did of Elisabethtown(only about 20 minutes of the film)  for a few people from CIMS)  pictured left to right are... Don Van Cleave(CIMS) Jill Wheeler(CIMS) Scott Register(CIMS)Jim James (My Morning Jacket)Andrea Paschal(CIMS)Melanie Nipper(CIMS) Jim Fahy(CIMS) Cameron, Nancy.- This was a photo from the presentation Cameron and Jim did for the group @ the Northwest Film Forum for his new movie Elizabethtown.

Jim James in the back with curly hair and beard, had just done an awesome solo acoustic set in the theater after the screening. He is the lead singer of the Kentucky based band My Morning Jacket who's songs show up in the movie. Jim and some of his band mates are also members of the fictitious Etown rock band RUCKUS who play a small part in the movie as well...a very funny small part.

(http://media.godashboard.com/heart/CIMS_NWFF_29144.jpg)

They're screening the movie these days and I've linked two reviews below.  Freebird does appear to be the MMJ performance.

After reading the reviews and having watched the internet preview with the Elton John song and the new trailer with the Tom Petty song, I have to say I am lowering my expectations for this film.

The internet preview featured MMJ in several scenes which was great, but if you pay attention to the movie plot and scenes revealed in the rest of it and the teaser, Elizabethtown may not be as entertaining as it seemed on paper.  Keeping my fingers crossed, but I get the feeling that the MMJ bit may be the only part that thrills me, along with any MMJ music that makes the soundtrack.

Movie Reviews:
http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=20623

Links to the two trailers and discussion:
http://www.cinematical.com/2005/06/28/real-elizabethtown-trailer-online/

i went to see war of the worlds with my parents last night and we saw the trailer for Elizabethtown.  So i lean over and tell my dad that my favorite band is gonna be in the movie and stuff and he goes, "weird, i got the first speeding ticket of my life in Elizabethtown, KY."

yeah, the movie looks like crap to me. but im still going to see it for the freebird cover and the funeral scene and because some of it was shot is lewisville.

World premiere of the movie at Film Fest August 31 - September 10.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000999812

I hope the rumors about being bumped back again here in the states aren't true.

this is happy fun time.......


http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=151259&imageID=31269290&Mytoken=20050809141923

Quotethis is happy fun time.......


http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=151259&imageID=31269290&Mytoken=20050809141923

Thanks for showing some nuts and bolts of movie making.  I noticed that the band guys' status was listed as "R" and everyone else "H", except Orlando Bloom who was listed as "W".

Any idea what the status letters mean?

It might be a SAG thing (actor's union), or it might have something to do with their day length or their specific contract...

But yeah, I don't really know.

They're on the poster, one of them at least. They are on the right side. It's a huge pic, so I'll just put the link:
http://www.movieweb.com/movies/poster.php?id=2525&p=2&ps=elizabethtown

My wife just sent me a text message and said that she saw Jim on a poster at the movie theater. She said that there is a guitar in front of his face. I don't think this is the same one, but I'm trying to find it online.

"Elizabethtown" Gala screening at TIFF toronto international film festival september 10 sat. at roy thompson hall 9:30 pm.
so..... director/actors will be in attendance... red carpet etc.


off note...johnny cash film "walk the line" also in the festival....sept 13?

Very excited about Walk The Line. Johnny Cash was THE dude!

Quote"Elizabethtown" Gala screening at TIFF toronto international film festival september 10 sat. at roy thompson hall 9:30 pm.
so..... director/actors will be in attendance... red carpet etc.


off note...johnny cash film "walk the line" also in the festival....sept 13?

REALLY?!  At Roy Thompson Hall!!!!  Fuck, I can never get the damn tickets for the shows I want to see, except this year, one of the TIFF people is on one of our boards...  Holy crap.

I just spoke to our lady.  She said SHE can't even get tickets to the fancy screenings.

Ah well.  Tickets are probably $4000, anyhow.



 :-/

TIFF Gala tix only went on sale less than 24 hrs ago...sat aug 27. and they are only $31.78 + tax.
you can buy online or in person at advance ticket box office (Bay/Bloor) in advance.
If it is sold out, you can still get RUSH tix (for empty seats ie. no shows)at the theatre door if you line up early enough on the night of the show.

http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest/2005/boxOffice_tickets.asp

Wow, thanks slaa.  I'll look into that fer sure.  :)

whoops, double post.

Reviews are starting to come in:

Timeout:
http://www.timeout.com/film/news/624.html

Associated Press review appears all over the web:
http://www.canada.com/entertainment/story.html?id=3a909dd2-8a2b-45ca-92b6-7141d8c2bb4b

Financial Times (not so good) review:
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9c4b2158-1e72-11da-a470-00000e2511c8.html

This Saturday 3:00-5:00 will be two hours of film promotion, including live interviews with the stars, director and soundbytes from the Toronto film festival.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2005/06/c6359.html

so above post says Much Music special this sat from 4-5pm ET
with a warm up ( videos?) 3-4.... maybe MMJ videos?
plus it repeats ???

TIFF update

Elizabethtown is screening 3 times.

Fri sep 9 6:15 pm at Varsity cinema (press & Industry only)
Sat sep 10 9:30 pm at Roy Thompson Hall GALA PREMIERE
Sun sep 11 12 noon at Ryerson Theatre.

I am going to the Fri one and have spare vouchers that can get you into all 3...if you wanna line up.
any of ya can have them.
email me with notice...
lori_feb19@hotmail.com
Im not home much during TIFF.

Quote
Elizabethtown is screening 3 times.

Fri sep 9 6:15 pm at Varsity cinema (press & Industry only)
Sat sep 10 9:30 pm at Roy Thompson Hall GALA PREMIERE
Sun sep 11 12 noon at Ryerson Theatre.

I am going to the Fri one and have spare vouchers that can get you into all 3...if you wanna line up.
any of ya can have them.
email me with notice...
lori_feb19@hotmail.com
Im not home much during TIFF.

I can't take you up on the offer of tix for tonight's showing, but please post a review of the movie after you've seen it.

I didn't get a chance to see any of the showings this weekend, but that movie and the people involved with it are everywhere in the papers today.  Well, have been all weekend, I guess.

I read an interview with Orlando Bloom this morning.  I don't know why, but I was all set to not like him.  But I was wrong.  The dude said some interesting things.  And Cameron Crowe had some really nice things to say about him.

Every time I read something Cameron Crowe has said, I just think that guy must be a good fellow.  I haven't seen any reviews, though...  (but I guess I haven't really been looking)

slaa, did you go?

Toronto is pretty crazy right now.  Walking around at night, EVERYBODY is dressed up, and on their cell phones, and lining up outside of fancy clubs trying to get in.  Everybody's looking at every person they see trying to decide if they're famous.  There are security guards all over the city.  Limos everywhere.  Swanktown.

QuoteI am going to the Fri one

Hey slaa, forget the review.  If you saw the movie, tell us what you thought of the real stars, MMJ.

How much of the band's music gets some exposure (we know it sounds great) and how much screen time did they end up with?

Your impression of the Freebird scene?  From the trailers, it looks like it ought to be the best part of the whole movie.

For you Louisville folks...
the premiere of Elizabethtown is Friday 7pm at the Preston Pointe Cinema Deluxe 16.  I hear that tickets are pretty hard to come by though.

New Trailer online, no Jacket:

http://movies.aol.com/movie_exclusive_elizabethtown_clip

Down here in Nashville, this bit of info was included in the latest newsletter from Grimey's.  Even if you don't live here, you should sign up for this record shop's weekly e-mail to get all the latest.  They know good music.
http://www.grimeys.com/

Anyways, enough with the plug, check it out:


"Greetings From Grimey's

We have a very exciting announcement to make today.  Film director and former music journalist CAMERON CROWE will be appearing here at Grimey's this Sunday, September 18 at 1:00PM!  He's in town to promote his new film ELIZABETHTOWN, starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.  

We all know Cameron from his fantastic films Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, and Almost Famous.  He was also (famously) the youngest music journalist ever to hang with the likes of Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, the Allman Brothers and many other big rock stars at the age of 15 while a budding writer for Rolling Stone magazine.  And don't forget that he wrote the book and screenplay for Fast Times At Ridgemont High.  

So Cameron Crowe's accomplished a few things in his relatively short life.  Now he returns with his latest film set in the small Kentucky town Elizabethtown.  And he's coming to Nashville for one of only 2 Southern appearances (the other is in Louisville) to promote and screen the film.  As you may have read in "Brad About You", the star-studded screening is a V.I.P. only event and not open to the public.  So this appearance at Grimey's is your chance to meet this talented director and music nut.  He's bringing a new band with him that he's supporting strongly called I NINE, who appear on the soundtrack to Elizabethtown along with Ryan Adams, Patty Griffin, My Morning Jacket, Nancy Wilson (from Heart), Tom Petty and more.  Cameron is known for paying close attention to the music in his movies and Elizabethtown is no exception.

I Nine will perform live in the store followed by Cameron Crowe signing copies of the Elizabethtown soundtrack CD.  I have it on good authority that there will likely be some additional special guests but that is not yet confirmed as we go to "press" here today.  If I find out any more details on appearances, you'll be the first to know!"  

 

Sounds like the boys are going to be at the premier of "Elizabethtown"Saturday night at the Cinema Deluxe 16 on Preston Highway here in Louisville.I know Cameron Crowe and Orlando Bloom are coming to town also.I know they're having another premier tonight in E-town.Wish we had tickets.

What's up? Saw this new clip with Crowe talking about the music in Elizabethtown and mentioning My Morning Jacket but now I forgot the link. Suck.

Found it!
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/elizabethtown/music_large.html

Check it out.

That's a great clip - thanks for posting! :)

There is something about Cameron Crowe.  I don't know what it is.  I want to go to his house and see his record collection and talk to him.

As much as I love Almost Famous I think my fav CC movie-music moment would have to be Free-Falling from Jerry Maguire.

i hate tom cruise, but i enjoyed parts of vanilla sky because cameron brought a cool touch to them - such as tom and penelope cruz as the freewheelin' bob dylan cover. hope elizabethtown is good. if it's good, i'll cry.

The Bob Dylan cover was very cool but overall I was real disappointed with Vanila Sky.
Anybody see the original? Supposed to be WAY better.

QuoteThe Bob Dylan cover was very cool but overall I was real disappointed with Vanila Sky.
Anybody see the original? Supposed to be WAY better.

I saw the second half of the original.  It was before I saw the newer one, so I couldn't compare at the time.  But it looked pretty decent.  I'll have to to a full way run through sometime.

QuoteThere is something about Cameron Crowe.  I don't know what it is.  I want to go to his house and see his record collection and talk to him.

You ain't shittin' there girl.  I also have decided to collect all of his movies.  I just recently got the chance to watch Jerry McGuire in it entirety (somehow I never sat through the whole thing) and found myself liking every musical choice he made for the soundtrack.  I think Almost Famous will remain my fav tho because of its association with his own experience getting hired to write for Rolling Stone as a young man and rolling around the States with Zeppelin--what a dream that must have been!  Sorry--gushing there :-[

QuoteFound it!
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/elizabethtown/music_large.html

Check it out.

That was sweet. What a wonderful man!

Finally it's here. So what do you think about the MMJ part?

In one of the reviews after the Toronto film festival, the reviewer suggested one of first scenes Crowe should cut was the Freebird bit. Ouch!   Good to hear that he didn't take off the Jacket.

p.s. I'm taking my wife to see the movie on her birthday next Tuesday. We'll post our reviews then.

Unlike some folks, I like long threads that keep a topic in one place instead of stepping through a half-dozen threads to keep up. A great thing about a forum like this is we get to choose our own path. So I'm keeping my review here.

As stated previously, I went to see the movie on Tuesday hoping to get a decent dose of onscreen MMJ.  Unfortunately, Crowe was under a lot of pressure to edit many minutes out of the movie to get it into a more studio friendly release, and it appears the band's screen time took a hit.

In fact, you might get more and better shots of the band in the Internet preview and trailers.  I think the band's experience playing in the rain served them well for the Freebird scene and playing with the sprinklers on.  Jim's speaking part at the funeral was cut, and the strutting around to Freebird was noticeably clipped. What a pity. Maybe the DVD version will yet immortalize the guys on film. I certainly hope we get much more of the Jacket in the disc version.

The bands original music was used to good effect in the movie, even better than many of the other songs that were used.  Despite Crowe's reputation for placing music perfectly for his movies, I think a lot of the other songs did not fair as well as the MMJ tunes.  On the other hand, Nancy Wilson's incidental music was a surprising good fit for the various scenes for which it was employed. I enjoyed it greatly.

The Ruckus poster with the MMJ portraits was fun to see, but one of many implausible timelines in the movie.  The guys playing live hadn't aged a bit from the photos on the ancient poster!

About the rest of the movie:

Rarely do I agree with movie critics, but I could readily see where so many aspects of the criticism were deserved.  The movie had too many stories to tell and too many scenes begging for time to play out than could reasonably be expected in less than two hours.

And every part of the film felt rushed, probably due to squeezing out 20 second bits all over the place to keep the time down.

I'm guessing the star power of Baldwin and Sarandon kept their roles from being trimmed too much or axed entirely once they were under contract, but those parts could have been greatly reduced to no ill affect.

The movie would have been better served using more time showing Drew grappling with his father's family and his feelings about lost opportunities with his father, and developing his and Claire's relationship.

Crowe seemed intent on putting his road trip in there, but it seemed completely inconsequential to the movie.

Finally, while I can imagine many actors getting the audience more involved in Drew's emotional ups and downs than Orlando Bloom, his performance didn't deter the success of the movie in my mind.  But, wow, Dunst's performance as Claire seems to be way over the top.  I've read several interviews where Crowe and others have said she is old beyond her 23 years.  But to me, she did not have the depth or range to make the character believeable.

Recommendation:
If you are a My Morning Jacket fan, you'll probably want to see this on DVD more than on the big screen, as you are likely to see more of the band there.

If you are a movie fan or Crowe fan, you will likely be a bit let down, but the various scenes play out amiably enough that it won't feel like a complete waste of time.  The most irritating thing about this movie is one can't help but think of how easily one or two story lines could have been developed into a trully compelling movie experience. Elizabethtown is a missed great opportunity, much as Drew missed his opportunity with his father and relatives.