One of the reasons I love writing my blog is I never know whose creative work I will discover next. This time it is the creative work of Oscar Issac.
As the most loyal and knowledgable fans of this fandom will know from the movie Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe and his band of merry men Alan Doyle, Scott Grimes and Kevin Durand but also another talented actor as well as a talented musician and singer Oscar Issac. Oscar Issac played Prince John who became King John after King Richard was killed ransacking a castle at the Crusades.
But what I didn't know was that Oscar Issac is also one talented singer and musician. I first found this out after seeing a bootlegged video of him being invited to sing and play guitar at an Alan Doyle and The Beautiful, Beautiful Band concert in New York a couple of years ago singing 'Never Had'. What a song and what a performance !
Then recently I searched Oscar on YouTube and found the a whole bunch of amazing music videos of him singing and playing guitar some from a movie called Inside Llewyn Davis. I listened to and fell in love with music from the movie before I watched the movie.
Google describe the movie..." In 1961 New York City, folk singer Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is at a crossroads. Guitar in hand, he struggles against seemingly insurmountable obstacles to make a name for himself in the music world, but so far, success remains elusive. Relying on the kindness of both friends and strangers, Llewyn embarks on an odyssey that takes him from the streets of Greenwich Village to a Chicago club, where awaits a music mogul who could give him the big break that he desperately needs."
I have included some comments from reviewers about the music...
'Mecancholy Odyssey Through the Folk Scene' by A.O. Scott published in the New York Times on 5 December, 2013
"...The musical performances do more than enrich the movie; they complete it. Two in particular deliver on the promise of the title, illuminating the strange way that borrowed words and chords can tap into reservoirs of otherwise inaccessible feeling. When Llewyn sings “The Death of Queen Jane” at an audition and “Shoals of Herring” in his father’s room at a rest home for retired seamen, you feel the full weight of his humanity, even though he is really just doing his job..."'
'Inside Llewyn Davis' by Peter Travers published in Rollingstone Magazine on 5 December, 2013.
"...Accusations that the Coens run low on emotion should fade away when the music fades in. The score is pure pleasure. That’s when you learn what’s Inside Llewyn Davis. The Juilliard-trained Isaac has authentic musical chops, performing whole songs, not snippets. You feel the sting in Llewyn’s audition for a club impresario, played with a fine severity by F. Murray Abraham. Is Llewyn the real deal or just kidding himself? One thing’s for sure about this raw provocation from the Coens: Like the music, the pain runs deep and true. You’ll laugh till it hurts..."
'Mecancholy Odyssey Through the Folk Scene' by A.O. Scott published in the New York Times on 5 December, 2013
"...The musical performances do more than enrich the movie; they complete it. Two in particular deliver on the promise of the title, illuminating the strange way that borrowed words and chords can tap into reservoirs of otherwise inaccessible feeling. When Llewyn sings “The Death of Queen Jane” at an audition and “Shoals of Herring” in his father’s room at a rest home for retired seamen, you feel the full weight of his humanity, even though he is really just doing his job..."'
'Inside Llewyn Davis' by Peter Travers published in Rollingstone Magazine on 5 December, 2013.
"...Accusations that the Coens run low on emotion should fade away when the music fades in. The score is pure pleasure. That’s when you learn what’s Inside Llewyn Davis. The Juilliard-trained Isaac has authentic musical chops, performing whole songs, not snippets. You feel the sting in Llewyn’s audition for a club impresario, played with a fine severity by F. Murray Abraham. Is Llewyn the real deal or just kidding himself? One thing’s for sure about this raw provocation from the Coens: Like the music, the pain runs deep and true. You’ll laugh till it hurts..."
