Make It Funky! (2005)
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93% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
65% of users liked it
(288 ratings)
It's hard to overestimate the importance of the city of New Orleans in the history of American popular music; New Orleans was where jazz first took root, and the city's rich gumbo of musical influences (African, Caribbean, and French accents mingling with jazz, blues, gospel, and pop… More It's hard to overestimate the importance of the city of New Orleans in the history of American popular music; New Orleans was where jazz first took root, and the city's rich gumbo of musical influences (African, Caribbean, and French accents mingling with jazz, blues, gospel, and pop structures) helped to steep the creative melting pot that allowed rhythm and blues and rock & roll to grow. There's nothing like the sound of New Orleans jazz, funk, and R&B, and filmmaker Michael Murphy offers living proof in his documentary Make it Funky!, which examines the Crescent City's vibrant musical history while showing some of the city's greatest musicians on stage. Make it Funky! includes concert performances by Allen Toussaint, The Neville Brothers, Lloyd Price, The Meters, Snooks Eaglin, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, and many more. Bonnie Raitt and Keith Richards also make guest appearances and talk about how the New Orleans sound impacted their own music. Make it Funky! went into release in the fall of 2005, just as Hurricane Katrina was devastating New Orleans, making its portrait of the city all the more poignant. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Murphy
- Genres
- Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Sep 27, 2005 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 27, 2005
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle
The brilliant colors, the vibrant flavors and sultry, seductive rhythms of New Orleans music serve to remind us how unique, beautiful and valuable the city and its heritage are to all of us in this country.
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A.O. Scott, New York Times
Michael Murphy's documentary about the musical traditions of New Orleans can serve as an apt, wrenching elegy for the city's unique contribution to American culture.
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Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
A suddenly vital biography, Make It Funky, pays apt homage to the unique gifts New Orleans has given its country over the last century. Watching it ought to inspire anyone to return the favor.
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Kyle Smith, New York Post
The musicians swear this is dance music, but the beats are far too ponderous to get a rise out of the hip-hop generation.
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Eddie Cockrell, Variety
A big, easy overview of New Orleans' rich musical heritage.
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Cast
- John F. Cleary
- The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
- The Neville Brothers
- Ivan Neville
- Bonnie Raitt
- Keith Richards (II)
- Allen Toussaint
- Irma Thomas
- Lloyd Price
- Troy Andrews
- Big Sam's Funky Nation
- Earl Palmer
- Funky Meters
- George Porter Jr.
- Irvin Mayfield
- Kermit Ruffins
- Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indians
- Poppa Funky's Boys
- Snooks Eaglin
- Walter "Wolfman" Washington
- Steve Jordan
