Big Easy Express (2012)

Director:

Emmett Malloy

Genre:

Documentary | Musical

Plot:

Folk rock and bluegrass musicians Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes travel together by train from San Francisco to New Orleans in the spring of 2011. |

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Ted Dwane	...	Himself
Ben Lovett	...	Himself
'Country' Winston Marshall	...	Himself (as Winston Marshall)
Marcus Mumford	...	Himself
Aaron Embry	...	Himself
Alex Ebert	...	Himself
Christian Letts	...	Himself
Jade Castrinos	...	Herself
Josh Collazo	...	Himself
Nico Aglietti	...	Himself
Nora Kirkpatrick	...	Herself
Orpheo McCord	...	Himself
Stewart Cole	...	Himself
Walker Teret	...	Himself
Ketch Secor	...	Himself
Kevin Hayes	...	Himself
Morgan Jahnig	...	Himself
Gill Landry	...	Himself
Willie Watson	...	Himself
Cory Younts	...	Himself
Critter Fuqua

Directed by
Emmett Malloy

Produced by
Michael Cohl	....	executive producer
Tim Lynch	....	producer

Cinematography by
Giles Dunning

Film Editing by
Matt Murphy

Editorial Department
Jon Pehlke	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros	....	music by
Mumford & Sons	....	music by
Old Crow Medicine Show	....	music by

Other crew
Syd Garon	....	title design
Karol Martesko	....	production executive

Production Companies

• S2BN Films
• Woodshed Films Inc.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

S2BN Films

Quotes:

Alex Ebert:Quickly, before the mirage dissipates, when we wake up. Or worse - grow up whom the children believed that a train could come to the aid of any of these quests. I do. And I will. Always. And goodbye.

A truly great film which stays true to the music, the performers and their performances.

Acting half as a musical documentary and half as a series of live music videos, Big Easy Express shows the tour of Old Crow Medicine Show, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zero's and Mumford & Sons journey across the US on a train in which they have all to themselves. To say that the film is shot beautifully would be an understatement, candid as if the members of the bands don't even realize they are there at all. Director Emmet Malloy use of black and white, coffee stained filters, and scenes of the classically beautiful American mid west landscape and the old rusty train and contrasts them with the various modern cities they visit, perfectly encapsulates the contemporary folk sound of each of the bands.

Perhaps the films only flaw, if you can even call it that, is that there's too much music. By that I mean in the one hour length of the movie there are probably more than a dozen songs played. What I'm getting at is that there is far too little interviews and insight into the musicians themselves, and when it is done it feels kinda forced. Although as I continue to think about the movie, that's what also makes the movie great and unique in a way. As the movie goes on each of the members grow on you, you begin to realize that they are actually very different types of people but always smile as they play a song and it seems like they have been playing with each other for decades. The insights which are lost in the lack of interviews are gained in a much more definite and poignant way through the minute details you pick up as you practically live the journey with them.

More than anything the film is a showcase of some of the best contemporary folk/bluegrass/acoustic music of our time. Whether its Alex Ebert's voice, Marcus Mumford's charm or Jade Castrinos quirkiness, this is a truly great film which stays true to the music, the performers and their performances.