Crossroads

Undoubtedly, one of the best films of the 80s, with a great casting, a great soundtrack and a great moral, had a rather captivating and interesting story. At first, I was not expecting much, but this movie was really good. Highly recommend.

I believe that Crossroads is one of director, Walter Hill's, best films. It was very well done and I loved the score to this movie. Ralph Macchio is solid in the lead and Joe Seneca is a pleasant surprise. Great fun for blues fans and movie fans alike.

If there is one movie about Blues, then there is the one. I remember watching it for the first time in 1992 0r 1993, and since that time I am hooked! The theme, the deep South, the music, the cast - all is thrilling and the long, slow blues tracks by Ry Cooder are simply mesmerizing. The very trip done by Willy Brown and his young accolade to the South in search of the lost 30th Robert Johnson is so well done that you almost feel the smell of corn and whiskey. And then there is young Steve Vai who utters not a word in the sequence of duel but does a marvelous work as an actor and solo guitarist. That breathtaking Jackson / Telecaster, Metal / Blues, Shred / Slide duel is a highlight of the whole film. Man, ain't it cool!

Here in Australia at the moment we have a series on the Blues and last week they were talking about going down to the Crossroads and making a pact with the devil. All of a sudden I needed to find my old video tape of the movie 'Crossroads', taped from television when I first saw it in 1986. The movie is one of my all time favourites and I can watch it time and time again. Ralph Macchio plays the role of a young teenager, finding the blues and wanting to be a blues player instead of classical guitarist that he is training for. Joe Seneca plays the role of Willie Brown and he lives that role as though he really is Willie Brown. The music played in the scene at the end where Eugene gets Scratch to tear up the contract for Willie's soul is magic and brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. Maybe there is a place for both blues and classical.

This still remains the guitar fan go to movie, this soundtrack is unsurpassed. It has it all, classical & blues acoustic, then R&B / rock electric. This is from a time people argued whose the best guitarist or drummer. Sadly now music challenges are who can rhyme most insults. Yes I think rap should be spelt with a c, and DJ sampling is nothing other than theft. There'll never be great musicians again apart from niche listening.

This movie starts slow and begins moving quickly as we see an outstanding modern version of faust (more like the Devil went down to Georgia). The end is a spectacular show down between Ralph Machio on a classic guitar vs. A rock & roll demon.