Customer Reviews

Crossroads [VHS]

5 star:		(135)
4 star:		(53)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

CROSSROADS (Walter Hill's Blues film, NOT Britney Spears' self-indulgent 2002 fluff) is a terrific introduction to a uniquely American musical genre, with a remarkable cast and a dead-on southern 'atmosphere'. It has always astonished me that when released, critics were unable to look past Ralph Macchio's previous film work, and accept this gem on it's own merits, but it's subsequent status as a cult classic is certainly well-deserved, with films such as the Coens' O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? utilizing the Robert Johnson subplot and borrowing many of CROSSROAD's visual elements. Perhaps the film, with a magnificent Ry Cooder score, was just too far ahead of it's time, a strange criticism to apply to a Blues movie!

The tale involves young Long Island guitar prodigy Eugene 'Lightning Boy' Martone (Macchio), a rebel at the Julliard School with his passion for the Blues ("Primitive music," one professor sneers), on a quest to recover legendary guitarist Johnson's fabled "30th Song" of 1938. His research leads him to a NYC nursing home, where fabled harmonica player Willie Brown (the late actor/singer/songwriter Joe Seneca), a friend and collaborator of Johnson's, is confined. Promising to 'give' the song to the youngster if he can be "busted out" and returned to his Mississippi home, the pair are soon on a cross-country odyssey, with Martone learning about discrimination, the darker side of humanity, and love's loss (through a brief encounter with Jami Gertz, who was never lovelier), providing him with the core of sadness Brown says is essential to truly play the Blues.

The climax of the film is legendary; arriving home, Brown, who had 'sold his soul' to the Devil at the 'Crossroads' as a young man (just as his friend, Johnson, had), attempts to get 'Scratch' (skeletal Robert Judd) to tear up the contract. The Devil informs him that he will, only if Martone can defeat his Champion in a 'Guitar Duel'. If the youngster loses, his soul, as well as Brown's, will be lost, forever. Martone rashly agrees ("I don't believe any of this s*** anyway!"), and he and Brown find themselves in a broken-down church converted into a dance hall, with demons and lost souls cavorting to the rock strains of insanely talented Jack Butler (Frank Zappa guitarist/composer Steve Vai). With only his love of the Blues, Julliard training, and Brown's 'ju-ju' to aid him, the humbled Martone must play for far more than his life, in a 'Duel' (with the amazing Vai actually playing both guitar parts) that is so fabulous that it is unbelievable that it was NOT included in the soundtrack album of the film!

Walter Hill was no stranger to music-themed fantasies (he also directed another 'ahead of it's time' cult film, STREETS OF FIRE), and with CROSSROADS, he took a simple storyline, and turned it into an unforgettable musical cinematic experience.

That the film is FINALLY on DVD is a MAJOR cause for celebration...now, let's hope an expanded "Special Edition" with added bonus features, will follow!

Crossroads have long held a special significance in occult lore. They are places where there's no North or South, no East or West. They are stillpoints in the fabric of time where "things happen." Things usually associated with the darkside of the spiritual spectrum. In otherwords, places to encounter the Devil.

Just such a crossroads happens to be the ultimate destination of Eugene Martone (Ralph Macchio) a young and gifted classical guitarist attending the Julliard School of the Arts. Though classically trained, Eugene is obsessed with the music of the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. He is also quite familiar with the superstitious beliefs associated with the engimatic Johnson. Some say he sold his soul to the Devil at some unspecified Mississippi crossroads in return for musical talent. Eugene dismisses such tales as nothing more than urban legend. However one tale he doesn't dismiss is the belief that Robert Johnson had one more song that was never recorded. Eugene is determined to find that lost song.

In hopes of locating it Eugene enlists the help of Willie Brown (Joe Seneca), an old blues musician and probably the last living friend of Robert Johnson. Willie, now confined to a convalescent home in New York, promises to lead Eugene to the missing song if he helps him escape from the home and accompanies him back to Mississippi. Sneaking away at the first opportunity they spend the few dollars they have between them for tickets on a southbound bus. Thus the adventure begins.

As they walk and hitchhike their way across the rural southern landscape, Willie begins to teach Eugene the essentials that must be experienced firsthand by anyone aspiring to be a true bluesman, such as; the hardships of life on the road and the loss of first love (love interest played by Jami Gertz). However the most important lesson turns out to be one Eugene would have never suspected. It's the truth concerning the crossroads. The story of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the Devil at the crossroads turns out to be fact, not fiction. It also turns out to be true for poor old Willie Brown.

The real reason for Willie's desire to return to Mississippi is to attempt to win back his soul before it's too late. A feat that can only be accomplished with the help of Eugene and his guitar. Now Eugene must defeat the Devil's chosen guitarist Jack Butler (Steve Vai) in a musical challenge, or Willie and Eugene's souls will be lost forever.

This is one of those movies you can watch over and over again. Ralph Macchio gives a strong performance but the real stars are Joe Seneca and Steve Vai. The final competition between Macchio and Vai still gives me goosebumps everytime I watch it!

The film "Crossroads" was a major influence on me. Of course we all heard rock music based on blues music but this was my introduction to searching back and finding the roots of music. I also began to play guitar after seeing the film, it is a most inspiring movie. I disagree with the Amazon/Matlin reviews that pan the movie due to Ralph Macchio (who i feel played a fine role) or the plot (its obvious Matlin isnt even aware of the actual Robert Johnson)

I anxiously await a DVD release, my VHS is so worn....

A movie that covers all bases, and covers them well. The Mississippi Delta blues legends are explored against a backdrop of fantastic music and a good "road trip" narrative.

The guitar duel sequence in the last ten minutes of the film is the finest moment of all movies ever.

It is unbelievable that this classic (a thousand times better than "Karate Kid" and certainly far less dated today) hasn't been released as a DVD packed with special features, documentaries about the Blues and Robert Johnson etc etc. Simply a treat, especially if you play guitar yourself. You'll find yourself telling people that they "got no mileage", or that there are "no goodbyes on the road" for years after you see this.

I saw this movie when it came out on VHS format and just loved it. I really enjoyed the music, even though the plot was a little weak, it picked up the pace with the different styles of blues musicians. I particuarly loved the ending and Steve Vai. Ry Cooder... enough said. Just a stupendous display of musical prowess. Now the good news, I recently wrote a letter to Jeff Blake at the Columbia TriStar Home Videos and asked when they were going to put this movie on DVD. To my amazement, a letter back within a week from Michal Stadford, Vice President of DVD Programming and Content and he replied "release date of August 26th (2004). Wow. I am impressed. I hope the DVD comes out in 5.1 surround sound, because this is really going to rock the house. I think this will be worth the price to see in this media mode.

This is the first (and so far, ONLY) movie to successfully profile the history of Blues music, as well as the legend of Robert Johnson and his deal with the devil. The story has several underlying plots, including coming of age, facing hard times, and redemption.

While Ralph Macchio shows some slight mechanical flaws, he can (for the most part) successfully pull off guitar-playing abilities. Joe Senaca is great as an elderly Willie Brown, trying to deal with his own demons (although one can't help compare the character to Miyagi, given Macchio's presence).

The number one reason for watching this film, above anything else, is the music. It's Ry Cooder's guitar playing and the delta-blues soundtrack that makes this movie, even when the plot itself seems a bit slowed.

All in all, this is a GREAT movie!

Why do people buy this cool movie? The acting of Ralph Machio? No! They buy it for Steve Vai's bad ass duel scene. Therefore, why not stick Vai's face with his model-like cheek bones on the cover?

This movie, perhaps similar to other guitarists, was my Ed Sullivan moment. I just had to go out and buy a guitar and boogie like Steve!

Aside from the Steve Vai goodies, the story is an interesting one, with lots of southern and blues folklore.

I am not a big Karate Kid fan, but I love this movie. It speaks to me in that corner of my cynical self that wants to believe in Santa Claus and superheros. It is a Disney coming of age plot with a few "R" twists (The evening news deserves an "R" rating more than this movie does)
While not my favorite movie it has my favorite cinematic moment of all time...the guitar duel. It still gives me shivers even after at least a hundred viewings.
I WANT THIS ON DVD!!!!!!I have worn out 4 VHS copies of this movie. C'MON GIVE IT A DVD TREATMENT....SOMEBODY...PLEASE!!!!!!

A DVD release of this movie was long overdue. Having seen it again today on TMC, I decided to look for it on here one more time.

This movie is phenomenal! Anyone who considers themselves a true fan of music will love this movie. It has such a fine selection of music that it won't matter if you consider yourself to be a true fan of the blues or not. There's enough reviews on here to know the basic premise of the film so I won't get carried away with the details, but it simply explores the legend of the Crossroads and blues great Robert Johnson.

I remember it being shown in my 8th grade music class because it's such an entertaining history lesson of american music. To have a movie about one genre of music captivate an entire room of diverse teenagers amazes me still. Especially in a public school like the one I went to (movie time meant nap time or screw-off time). One just needs to look at how many of today's major acts list Robert Johnson as one of their main influences to understand the significance of the music, and this movie explores the legends and the music with equal vigor, succeeding handily on both ends.

While Macchio isn't always 100% believable as 'Lightning' (mostly due to his Karate Kid fame), he puts on a fair performance overall. I disagree with most critics who say he ruins the film however. Joe Seneca puts on a stellar performance as Willie Brown. While he is hard-nosed, he is also a teacher of sorts, and a very talented harmonica player. This movie can create a tough choice of what to pick up first, the guitar or the harmonica.

To end, this is simply one of 'those' movies. The kind that never received critical acclaim, yet achieved cult status because of the depth and quality it truly contains. It's amazing how many people don't 'get' this movie. Like I said before tho, any true fan of music would love this movie.

Oh yea, I also think Britney Spears should be sued (or worse) for contaminating the name of this movie with her waste of film that showcased her overall lack of talent (she can dance, but that's about it).

This movie probably won't appeal to the masses, but for guitarists, it is the holy grail of movies. While the overall plot isn't bad, the real gemstone of this movie is the guitar playing. Many movies feature "duels" between the protagonist and antagonist, but have actors that really don't know what the hell they are doing playing those parts.

If nothing else, the final duel makes this whole movie. Starting with Ry Cooder on the slide (visualised through Maccio) vs. Vai (Played by Vai) and finishing with Vai (again through Maccio) vs. Vai (as Vai), the duel sequence isn't somthing you are going to listen to and pshaw at pointing out how they really aren't that good. Because they are that good.

The rest of the movie is certainly worth watching, but the ending duel is really where it shines. I'm just glad it was a Charvel that hit the floor instead of a real Jackson - and what the heck is Vai doing without an Ibanez in his hands anyway? :)

Sadly, the duel isn't included on the Crossroads soundtrack, but Vai recently released it on his "Elusive Light & Sound 1" CD.