307. The Music Center Presents - Joni 75; movie review

THE MUSIC CENTER PRESENTS - JONI 75
Cert 12A
128 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language

Do you think in 50 years time, there will be celebrations akin to this for the likes of Adele or Taylor Swift?
It seems unlikely that they would be as revered as Joni Mitchell, doesn't it?
Anyway, I certainly won't be around to see it so I will have to settle for Martyn Atkins' recording of the tribute concert to one of the icons of the flower-power generation.
A selected group of peers and protégés performed songs spanning Mitchell's 19 studio albums at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.
These include the likes of Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris, Chaka Khan, Glen Hansard and Diana Krall.
The songs are of the highest quality, the presentation is very varied and both are rather overshadowed by the over-the-top eulogies to Mitchell, who is in the audience.
Why do all of those in the entertainment industry find the words: "I love you" so easy to utter?
I was most impressed by the contributions of Rufus Wainwright and James Taylor and an extra-special performance by Kris Kristofferson.
I have read criticism of Kristofferson's 'A Case Of You' duet with Brandi Carlile but this was him on the comeback trail after believing he had been suffering dementia.
It turns out that he had Lyme Disease and he looks as though he is genuinely delighted to have been given the chance to return to the stage.
Meanwhile, there are misfires. Seal has a brilliant voice but Both Sides Now needed to be sung with greater whimsy than he possesses.
Indeed, the truth is that all of these songs would have sounded an awful lot better if they had been performed by.... Joni Mitchell.

Reasons to watch: Some great songs
Reasons to avoid: The gushing luvvyness

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? Although one of Joni Mitchell's more popular songs is called "Woodstock," she was not present at the famous 1969 music festival.

Final word. Tom Hanks: "Every woman in my world lived and died by Joni Mitchell," Hanks said on the red carpet before the event. "So in a lot of ways, I enjoyed this great vicarious understanding of what her artistry was." CBC

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