Amazon.com
This made-for-cable documentary smacks of both dilettantism and TV magazine superficiality. Reporter Chantal Westerman (and just who the heck is she?) goes from the gospel tent of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to a Chicago church to a gathering of gospel artists who accompany themselves with pedal steel guitar, making a few shallow attempts at telling the history of contemporary gospel. But while the important names of gospel (Thomas Dorsey, "Mother" Willie Mae Ford, Mahalia Jackson) are mentioned, their voices are never heard. Instead, Westerman mouths inanities and tosses softball questions to mostly no-name gospel singers, all of whom offer the answer you'd expect: that the Lord flows through the spirit of their music. There aren't even any full-length performances that can be called uplifting; rather, song excerpts are tossed in as filler between Westerman's simple interviews and obvious observations. If you're looking for a film about gospel and gospel history, you're better off with
Say Amen, Somebody.
--Marshall Fine
Product Description
An in-depth look at the melodical world of gospel music featuring Albertina Walker, Jon Gibson, and The Campbell Brothers. 60 minutes.
