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Post by Guest on Apr 27, 2019 9:15:16 GMT -5
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Post by memac62 on Apr 27, 2019 11:10:42 GMT -5
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Post by Richard W on Apr 27, 2019 13:43:08 GMT -5
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Post by erik on Apr 27, 2019 13:57:45 GMT -5
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 27, 2019 14:29:57 GMT -5
‘Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice’ Review: Grammy-Winning Trailblazer Gets Her Own Shallow DocTribeca: The multi-faceted and multi-talented American songbird that only skates over the surface of a remarkable career. www.indiewire.com/2019/04/linda-ronstadt-the-sound-of-my-voice-review-documentary-1202128055/ Kate Erbland Apr 26, 2019 10:30 pm @katerbland“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice”CNN FilmsLike many hopeful young singers, Linda Ronstadt arrived in Los Angeles in the early ’60s with big dreams of making it in the city’s burgeoning folk rock scene. The Arizona native was just 18 years old when she made the jump, leaving behind her beloved family in Tucson to join up with her old friend Bobby Kimmel and form the Stone Poneys alongside guitarist Kenny Edwards. Ronstadt would go on to have a massive career, becoming one of America’s first female solo pop stars, while also churning out folk and country hits, crafting the best-selling non-English-language album in American music history, and taking up opera in her late thirties. She is, in short, the kind of multi-talented star that is impossible to pigeonhole or slow down.
All of this information is delivered during the opening moments of Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” which serves as both a preview of what’s to come and an introductory session to some of the film’s many talking heads. And Ronstadt herself is there too, now in her seventies and long retired from singing, because of her own body stopped her when the industry couldn’t. To say there’s plenty of material to mine here — from Ronstadt’s wide-ranging career and prodigious talent to her current life with Parkinson’s — suggests that Ronstadt’s life doesn’t easily boil down to feature length.
From its own opening moments, “The Sound of My Voice” is intent on telling its audience just how much there is still left to cover, but even with that vague disclaimer, the movie is a maddeningly shallow look at Ronstadt’s remarkable life. While Epstein and Friedman have assembled an enviable assortment of talking heads to chat about Ronstadt — from Ry Cooder to Don Henley, Emmylou Harris to Dolly Parton — and enjoyed rare access to the singer herself, the result is still a truncated and glossed-over documentary that fails when it comes to issues large and small.
The film doesn’t build out a cohesive timeline — intertitles announce the time period just twice, so good luck figuring out even the year of events that fall in between — and it also doesn’t contextualize her impact on the industry at large. Instead, it leans on emotional interviews and a wealth of footage, which still can’t save the film from its shallow design and uninspired storytelling technique.
“The Sound of My Voice” does offer a handful of deeper explorations of Ronstadt’s life beyond zipping through the basics and setting them to her own songs (and it really is difficult to quantify her sheer talent as a singer). This includes an extended segment about Ronstadt’s family and their love of music, which ties back to itself during the film’s emotional final scenes. Exploring the early influences of an artist is an obvious enough ask for a film like “The Sound of My Voice” — and one that other recent and popular films about singers, including smash hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” have failed to do. Epstein and Friedman hit early high marks by getting deep with Ronstadt’s family. Later in the film, the filmmaking duo approach another important element of Ronstadt’s legacy that isn’t typically explored, moving into the film’s most illuminating section. Even during the height of her fame, Ronstadt was someone who tussled with her own self-confidence and feelings of inadequacy. As a woman starting out her career in a predominantly male-dominated industry, she had grown used to being the only woman around, and when other big time talents, including Harris, Parton, and Bonnie Raitt arrived, Ronstadt had to make a choice. In one of the film’s most lucid moments, the singer recalls seeing a young Harris performing and knowing she could either resent her skill or make it her business to help support the rising star. She opted for the latter, and the choice changed both singers’ lives for the better.
Epstein and Friedman — who just this year were nominated for an Oscar for their graceful short doc “End Game” — have an obvious affection for their subject, and the film ends in a stirring sequence that brings the narrative back around to Ronstadt and her journey. If only the notes that got us there were richer.
Grade: C+ “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. CNN Films will broadcast it later this year.
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Post by eddiejinnj on Apr 27, 2019 14:30:21 GMT -5
I hate to be cruel but Linda's star was not fading by the late 70's. Period We all here on this forum could state a million facts but it not necessary. eddieinnj
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 27, 2019 14:33:46 GMT -5
Linda Ronstadt: Sound of my Voice | Deadline Studio at Tribeca 2019
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Post by LindaFan5 on Apr 27, 2019 18:01:55 GMT -5
About the Movie. A FEW SMALL SPOILERS AHEAD. I attended the premiere of Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice. I was blown away by how great the documentary is. For long time fans there is a lot to adore. For starters, many many many photos and videos I had never seen before. Outtakes from photo sessions where I had mistakenly believed that everything had surfaced by now. Just because Linda herself worked very closely with these filmmakers does not mean it is too sanitized or unduly glowing. Her 1970s heyday is delved into... with the band’s concerns at the time that she was taking too many diet pills and refusing to eat. It’s made very clear in the movie how lonely she was at the peak of her popularity. How chaotic it was at that time explains what was seemingly an opposites attract romance between her and Jerry Brown. But what they obviously had in common included great intellect. The romance with JD Souther also gets more screen time than I expected. I just loved a lengthy section with Karla Bonoff includung almost all of Lose Again taken from both concert footage and studio stuff from the wonderland documentary. The sound editing is genius and there is a wild opening montage that dazzles. The reviews mention the closing sequence that will make you cry. But maybe not in the way that you expect as it is bittersweet and uplifting rather than crushingly sad. What shines through is how much people love Linda Ronstadt. The filmmaker said getting all the clearances for photos and videos and interviews was easier than expected because people will just do anything for her. Lots of little surprises in this film that is an absolute valentine to a sweetheart of a human being. I’m so glad this film was made.
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Post by Richard W on Apr 27, 2019 19:05:08 GMT -5
Erm...well, but Erik, page 3 was so long ago! Quote by Richard W: I posted that one last night (scroll back to Page 3).
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 27, 2019 19:35:40 GMT -5
Typically there are 4 or 5 original reviews that get re-tread under different websites. Gets confusing. Sounds like a great film. Brown and Souther are mentioned as relationship interests but what about George Lucas whom she was once engaged? and her brief romance with Jim Carrey? All heavyweights in the entertainment business. And what about the elusive "Rick" we talked so much about? (the one who looks a bit like Neil Diamond) That movie may have to wait until most of us, including Linda go off to college. For now though, this will do just fine.
Is CNN the same CNN that does news and the political shows? Or is that a different entity? I get all my news from yahoo and youtube so I am behind the times. If it isn't there it doesn't exist in my world.
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Post by Linda Fan 5 on Apr 27, 2019 19:54:27 GMT -5
It seems to me you can get Linda to talk about her past relationships with Jerry Brown, JD Souther, Pete Hamill, and even Lowell George. It’s harder to get her to discuss George Lucas, Jim Carrey and Albert Brooks even though those relationships are not in any dispute. She dated Steve Martin for a very brief period. It appears it was not hot and heavy and ended quick.
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Post by germancanadian on Apr 27, 2019 21:18:16 GMT -5
People magazine said she was engaged to festival producer Quint Davis in 1990, but other than that, there isn't much info about their relationship. I emailed CNN to ask when they would be airing the film, but didn't get a response.
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Post by erik on Apr 27, 2019 21:33:37 GMT -5
Quote by ronstadtfanaz:
Yes, CNN Films is associated with said Cable News Network (they also co-distributed the recent documentary feature APOLLO 11)
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Post by texasfan on Apr 28, 2019 11:05:07 GMT -5
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Post by erik on Apr 28, 2019 12:00:32 GMT -5
According to said Instagram post below.... http://instagr.am/p/BwyV-o8gHz2
...during the Q&A following last night's showing at Tribeca, directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman said that the film would be on CNN sometime next year, and hopefully, between now and then, there will be a wider theatrical release.
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 29, 2019 1:33:35 GMT -5
So I guess now we just sit tight and wait for word?
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 29, 2019 1:36:35 GMT -5
Just curious to know from anyone who saw the documentary. Was John Boylan mentioned? He has been so prominent in Linda's life and career one would hope he appears and is credited for his role.
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Post by LindaFan5 on Apr 29, 2019 9:18:16 GMT -5
I saw it. John Boylan is very prominent in it. You see him throughout. It’s nice that Waddy Wachtel, Karla Bonoff David Geffen and Kevin Kline plus Linda’sBrother contribute too, along with the more expected ones, JD, Emmylou (who chokes up) Dolly, Henley, Aaron Neville, Jackson. I’d say aside from Linda of course JD gets the most screen time. It’s great.
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Post by RobGNYC on Apr 29, 2019 10:04:13 GMT -5
Just curious to know from anyone who saw the documentary. Was John Boylan mentioned? He has been so prominent in Linda's life and career one would hope he appears and is credited for his role. Not only was Boylan mentioned but he was in the audience and stood up when the producers introduced him. For me the most moving moment was Emmylou speaking about their long friendship, how Linda supported her and helped keep her going after Gram died, and most of all, welling up when she said that there will never be another voice like Linda's.
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Post by germancanadian on Apr 29, 2019 11:22:42 GMT -5
Does anyone know if the film will be on Itunes or Google Play? Even if it gets a wider theatrical release, it probably won't come to my little town, and I don't want to wait a year or more for CNN to show it.
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Post by Another Guest on Apr 29, 2019 15:22:55 GMT -5
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 29, 2019 16:29:00 GMT -5
On occasion I have heard some of Linda's material incorporated into HipHop pieces so I am not surprised at this review. Very nice and thanks for sharing.
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Post by rumba on Apr 29, 2019 22:30:28 GMT -5
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Post by erik on Apr 29, 2019 22:57:06 GMT -5
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Post by the Scribe on Apr 29, 2019 23:33:58 GMT -5
No, I don't think it was. Probably the best one yet. I got a real feel for the documentary's approach. I am surprised her kids aren't included (and that they spelled her name wrong a few times). So this is a couple of times it was mentioned that the documentary was based on her musical autobiography. Now she can tour, show the movie and do questions and answers afterwards :} No futzing with av equipment needed.
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Post by eddiejinnj on Apr 30, 2019 8:28:56 GMT -5
How do you think that would work re: pricing? I mean, of course, I would love to see Linda right after seeing the movie but not sure how they would price it since in my experience the Q&A is not a long segment. Maybe since she wouldn't be speaking for 70-80 minutes, the Q & A could be longer. Have other artists done such a thing after their biopic was released? I guess then you would have to buy tickets though box office, venue online etc? eddiejinnj
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Post by erik on Apr 30, 2019 8:55:51 GMT -5
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Post by Dianna on Apr 30, 2019 16:54:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the link Erik...Very Good Information. I hope we don't have to wait until CNN airs the documentary.
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Post by erik on Apr 30, 2019 18:43:46 GMT -5
Quote by Dianna:
One hopes that the directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman are able to find someone who will be able to give it a legitimate theatrical release, before CNN gets it. This has apparently been one of the most talked-about films at the Tribeca Film Festival thus far, with Sheryl Crow doing Linda's songs in a very honorable way after the film's premiere there. The fans really want to see this movie, and it needs to be seen as everyone at Tribeca saw it: on a big screen.
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Latin from Manhattan
Guest
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Post by Latin from Manhattan on May 1, 2019 11:36:56 GMT -5
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