Music from the Big House (2010) User Reviews

Power of Music

[Hoopskid1 · 8/10 · 22 February 2012]

This film truly shows the lives of these inmates and how it can be a struggle every day through prison. The characters are introduced evenly and their stories are dread out throughout the documentary evenly a well, it has a nice flow to it. The overall theme of this movie, to me, is the power of music can save anyone. These inmates are either there for life, or have many years lefts in their sentences but what gets them through the day is music. It brings out the best in them and the director helps the audience see their story in the best way possible. With each new inmate that is presented, the camaraderie of the inmates becomes clear, even if they don't associate with each other normally, through the music that Rita Chiarelli offer them to play in a televised concert, through that they can connect together and we can connect with them better as an audience

Prison, Blues and Spirituality

[johnthomas789 · 9/10 · 8 September 2021]

This is the first time I have heard this song. I give 9 marks because I like it. This music has succeeded in highlighting the emotions of a human being. This music has taken my mind to another world. This song shows how to behave in a disaster.

Prison, Blues and Spirituality

[pcasstjake · 9/10 · 28 February 2013]

Music From the Big House was beautifully created to tell an impactful story in the form of a documentary. Unlike most documentaries that simply tell cold, hard facts about an issue through a monotonous narrative, MFTBH captures the mind and heart simultaneously through an image-driven journey. It follows renowned Blues artist, Rita Chiarelli in her quest through the Angola State Prison in Louisiana, were she attempts to both heal and reform inmates through experimentation with Blues music. Chiarelli deserves recognition for this spectacular film and all that she does. In our society, we tend to forget that prisoners are human too and despite their mistakes they have thoughts running through their minds and emotions coursing through their veins. She gives them a chance to prove themselves and make something of their lives, where most of us would not even dare. Throughout the documentary one develops a connections with several of the Angola Prison inmates that are interviewed. This film succeeds in helping the audience view prisoners for more than just their crimes. An unconventional feat, it is an inspiring story that attempts to progress societal views and reform the prison system. It is a must watch.

This movie speaks tons

[dylandawg87 · 10/10 · 15 May 2012]

Music from the Big House begins humbly enough, with a myriad of inmates telling their musical roots. Rita Chiarelli seeks to go back to the roots of the blues, Angola Prison Louisiana. This is where the magic happens. Taking the time to assemble 4 different bands, Rita masterfully guides the inmates learning their past, while teaching her own. Together they make nothing short of a masterpiece. Music from the Big House grants a beautiful look into the hearts and souls of these men. Introducing you to the new souls, the men of hope, looking out of their harrowing homes and into the heavens for salvation. Rita becomes their angel in garb, dealing out guitars, keyboards, and drums; making the blues resonate from the stonewalls of Angola Prison. I loved the simple black and white film, each shadowed grain only intensified emotions of the graveled voices. Chiarelli guides us humbly, granting us with an open-hearted look into the real men and their music.

Great Music, Great Story, what else do you want?

[brownkt3 · 9/10 · 27 July 2012]

I can only echo what has been stated by majority of reviews here. This movie takes a warm and engaging look at the blues and roots music coming from Angola Prison Louisiana while balancing that with the reality of the men that live behind bars. We don't learn a lot about why the men are doing time, but this adds an ability to empathize without being pushed to judge those same men. The cinematography is beautifully shot and the action paced well, interspersing forward movement with history and biography. Nor does the film avoid the gritty and dismal living conditions at the prison. The music for the men in Angola becomes a much need cathartic and creative outlet. And the music itself is great. Regardless of your musical preferences it would be hard not to find sympathetic joy from seeing the performances. Chirarelli's performances are great and it's apparent from the start that she genuinely cares about the men she performs with. Overall, Music from the Big House is a great story with great music, what else could you want?

Blues music in another element

[Jame-la-Ash · 10/10 · 17 July 2012]

I can't even begin to get into the inspiration this movie gives out. How a little women goes into the prison of Angola and gives prisoners the gift of blues music, this not only touched them but me too. I have a heavy appreciation for blues music but hearing it come from men who could have given up on life changed my feelings about music. Watching people evolve and come together strictly because of the music they share among each other is a rewarding experience. There are plenty behind the scenes documentaries that shed light on prison life. I will say that this particular film is nothing like a regular boring prison documentary in respects that it paints the inmate from another point of view. I never thought getting to know people I've never met would touch me the way these random inmates did. The ending is even more surprising, it set the tone for the whole purpose of the movie.

Not your typical garage band

[anastasia1053 · 10/10 · 18 July 2012]

Watching Music from the Big House is like diving into a world that society has long forgotten and chooses not to remember. The black and white exposure of the film gives it an interesting take, reminding the viewer that sometimes life is lived in the gray. It has a particular raw footage grounding effect in part due to its inspirational original music and camera work. It takes you on a journey as if you were seated shotgun during filming. While it's not a story of second chances or new beginnings it reminds us all that life is what you make of it and you must make due with what you have. The film does an extraordinary task of distracting you from the real nature of the individuals being documented, only then to bring you back to a sense of reality right before rolling the credits.

Prison Documentary

[joannefilm2014 · 8/10 · 12 July 2012]

Music from the Big House is really good. It's very interesting the way they deal with the inmates who all are such interesting thoughtful people. The music's really nice.

It seems that the inmates are people who have grown older and wiser during their time inside. They are really thoughtful and talk about redemption and forgiveness. They are spiritually sophisticated.

Documentaries can take the audience into places, lives, and situations we wouldn't otherwise be able to go. Narrative film does that to a certain extent, but only a documentary can go to a place like Angola Prison and show what it is really like to live there and how it's possible to end up there.

Raw emotion and music.

[ews091 · 10/10 · 16 May 2012]

I knew what Music From the Big House was going to be about, in a very general sense, and being a blues fan I was looking forward to it. I'd never heard of Rita Chiarelli but I became a fan very quickly; her passion for the blues and her own craft is genuine and contagious. As you learn the history of Angola Prison and the individual stories of the inmates you kind of lapse into feeling sorry for these men. The whole time I was trying to remind myself that these inmates were serving life terms for a reason, and without being told what crime they had each committed almost made it worse as I imagined every heinous crime in the book.

But as the movie went on, I became so engaged with these men's stories that the fact that they were imprisoned almost fell to the wayside. They were funny and gentle and seemed like normal people and the dynamic there between the people I was witnessing and the fact that they were convicted felons created a very real tension that kept me invested in the story. For any fan of the blues, watching the inmates perform with Chiarelli was incredibly raw and emotionally visceral. When these guys are belting out lyrics about death and loneliness and redemption, specifically on the Chiarelli-penned "Lay My Bones To Rest," you believe every word they sing. It feels real, feels so absolutely honest and heartfelt that you can't help but be enraptured by their performances and feel like a part of the experience. They croon like the condemned men they are, the shadows of their sentences hanging over their heads like vulture.

That kind of emotion can't be faked, can't be bought, but can only come from experience. They're doomed and they know it, and that raw, emotional,cathartic release is refreshing in a world of bubble-gum pop stars and flavor-of-the-month radio hits. It offers a constant gut check on the nature of forgiveness and who should be forgiven, and there's no way to leave the movie without conflicting emotions. These men have nowhere to go but up, and witnessing these seemingly changed men, men who seem absolutely peaceful and at peace with themselves, bear their souls and stories is beautifully haunting.

Music. For Live.

[robertpeck111 · 10/10 · 15 August 2012]

Music from the Big House left me with a different point of view of prison life and the inmates within the walls. Rita Chiarelli was fantastic performing the blues with the inmates of Angola Prison. This film was outstanding documentary! I have recently purchased the DVD and it was well worth it! It includes concert extras, bonus scenes, and these four walls stills video! I'm so glad I have the "these four walls" video, absolutely my favorite song in the film. I have never felt so close to people within a documentary. These bonus materials help complete the essence of the movie! I'm so glad I got the DVD for the extras!

Musical Talent from Angola

[nickorris67 · 10/10 · 16 May 2012]

Music From the Big House was an incredibly touching film that shows us an aspect of the prison system that is usually overlooked, the talent of the individuals within the prison. All of the individual inmates who get interviewed in the film are very musically gifted. Showing us several different bands that formed within the prison, the final concert that Rita Chiarelli put on with them has varied musical types: Country, Blues, Jazz, and Gospel. Rita acts as a guiding force or narrator as we follow her specific journey into Angola prison. Her unique viewpoint on the prisoners' situation makes any viewer question what is really going on inside these prisons. She makes a great point in saying that "we" on the outside feel like we are unaffected by what goes on inside the prisons, but the pain of those individuals trickles down through their families and friends. But Rita also is sure to keep in mind that there are victims out there who are suffering the loss that these men now hold the guilt for. She feels a strange moral quandary when working with group, for she begins to love them, they are good people. From the viewers perspective we pick up on this as well. With many interview bits jumping in- between the musical numbers, we get to know each character, each person relatively well. The film does a good job of putting us into the shoes an perspective of the Angola prisoners and how they deal with "the knowledge that they are going to die in there." For many men, coming to prison was actually a saving grace that allowed them to leave their foolish youth behind and accept a more compassionate and loving lifestyle through the church. Overall the film leaves you off feeling like, WoW, these are changed people, good people, talented and inspirational individuals living within Angola prison, but then the carpet is pulled out from under you as their violent and malicious crimes are revealed to you. It makes you question whether or not you can forgive people for such horrific crimes, whether people can actually change or not.

My thoughts on "Music from the Big House."

[whitehouse4219 · 10/10 · 15 May 2012]

"Music from the Big House" was a very astonishing look into life in prison and the role music plays. The inmates are all seeking a chance for redemption and appear to be in the middle of a spiritual journey. Music plays a major role for all of these men that is completely indescribable. The music they play or sing is simply raw emotion. It is their outlet or perhaps even an escape from their everyday life. Quite frankly, it means everything to them. Award winning recording artist, Rita Chiarelli, takes a trip to Angola Prison with every intention of putting on a concert for the inmates. She winds up playing alongside the inmates and creates an experience that transcends anything an audience member would expect. This experience is captured in "Music from the Big House," in a tale of music, emotion, and redemption.