I Saw the Light

[ericadawn16]

So, first of all, Tom Hiddleston was amazing as always. Elizabeth Olsen held her own against him which vindicated the talent I thought I saw in her way back in 2012. He had scenes with Bradley Whitford and David Krumholtz who have been longterm favorites of mine and I love when that happens!

But...

I'm not stupid when it comes to music history, definitely not country music. Actually, I'm an Alan Jackson girl, raised before that on The Highwaymen, Johnny Cash on his own and a cassette, Songs for Children with Ralph Emery & Shotgun Red which had Roy Acuff singing The Wabash Cannonball.

Dixie Chicks and Brad Paisley are about as pop as I want from country music and Paisley is pushing it usually. This is also why I don't listen to country music anymore either...although I enjoy Kacey Musgraves and a few others.

My favorite radio show in middle school was Country Gold Saturday night where playing singles from 1989 was about as new as they would get, but they would go all the way back to the Carter Family with singles. I LOVED it! It had Hank Williams, "Teddy bear", "A Boy Named Sue", "Mama Tried", and just...everything.

So, with this in mind...I Saw the Light wasn't actually written for me. Even my mom had a little too much knowledge because she noticed the same thing...

You know how in Jurassic Park, they get told all these names and they want to see them but...it keeps not happening?
That's what it felt like. Aside from Fred Rose and Ray Price, no one else is really in it. How can you have a film with Fred Rose and never once have Roy Acuff even talk? Minnie Pearl was reduced to an off-screen, "Howdy!" I wanted a film that felt more like he was connected to everything else...or at least acknowledged they were there. This felt like a country music film for those who either think they hate country music or know nothing.

But the music was nice when we got it...most weren't the full versions...and Tom Hiddleston did a great job. I'm glad we always stay through the credits which closed with Jambalaya.

And it was still better than the George Hamilton one...ick.

Comments

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

George Hamiltion, aka Love at First Bite, played Hank Williams? :o :o :o
That does seem really wrong to have so little of all the other Country Stars from that era. :o
Hugs, Jon

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

That's disappointing. I saw Tom on The Colbert Show and was excited for this movie. Oh, well.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Tom is still awesome, just have lowered expectations for it. I also find myself with the songs stuck in my head all day, lol.

[manoah.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it was a licensing thing...I'm not saying this right...needing to get too much permission for estates etc. to use actual people/songs?

I used to listen to country as well. I wouldn't know any of the "newer" stars anymore. Was appalled to see Katy Perry sing with Dolly. Ack!

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

I can't remember the last time I watched the ACMs. Alan Jackson never wins anything anymore so I basically don't care.

I did think about watching this time because of Tom Hiddleston but I had to work so whatever.

How was the Katy Perry duet?

[manoah.livejournal.com]

Oh I didn't watch, I just saw a blip on the news or some such. I haven't watched any award shows in years!

Just....Katy Perry? And Dolly? The mind boggles.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Huh, that is pretty disappointing.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Glad it was at least not awful.


Gabrielle