The Greatest Showman #1185 - The Tide of the Times

Conversation is a fascinating thing. In just a few words, it can reveal a person's education, background, and thinking. The more professional someone is, the more their true thoughts and intentions can be seen in the finer details of their words.

At this moment, both Joel and Ethan could feel that Renly was the only one who truly grasped the essence of the entire script, perhaps even more deeply than their producers had. A glance was exchanged between them, a silent acknowledgment of their choice to cast Renly. They were thankful that they had found him.

In the folk music scene, it's rare to find an actor who can carry the dramatic weight of an entire film. Even Justin Timberlake and the Coen brothers knew not to entrust such a task to anyone else. Similarly, it is challenging to find a singer who can perform live while understanding and interpreting the historical context of an entire era. Oscar Isaac is talented, but he's not Renly Hall.

In that exchange of glances, the Coen brothers showed a hint of pride and relief.

"Tell me in detail," Ethan said, adopting an open stance, eager for Renly's insights.

All eyes turned to Renly.

In an instant, Renly became the center of attention, but this time, unlike before when his words might have seemed like distractions, his insights were met with deep, focused interest. Even John Goodman and the other actors were listening intently.

"First of all," Renly began, "we need to listen to the entire album, each song, and match it to the characters and the events in the script..." He shifted slightly in his chair, speaking with the confidence of someone who had the entire soundtrack imprinted on his mind.

It was clear that "Drunken Country Ballad" was one of Renly's personal favorite soundtracks.

By the way, the Coen brothers' musical taste is remarkable. The original soundtrack of Three Kings was incredible and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The album for Don Quixote also won the prestigious recognition in the past year—proving that their musical choices go beyond just movie scores.

The soundtrack for Drunken Country Ballad was carefully selected, fitting perfectly into the Coen brothers' vision for the film. After listening to the soundtrack and conducting a historical investigation, Renly discovered that the "master tape" was a collection of songs from folk musicians of the 1960s. This anthology reflected the essence of the era and aligned with the Coens' narrative.

In other words, the Coen brothers had crafted each character in the movie based on real-life musicians. These characters and their journeys were interwoven with the timeline of the 1960s folk music wave. This made every actor's role purposeful, including Renly, Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, and the others.

Before diving into the story of Drunken Town Ballad, it was essential to understand the character of Dave Van Ronk, the folk singer who served as the inspiration for Le Vern Davis.

In the 1960s folk scene, everyone knows Bob Dylan. He became the leader of a generation, blending music with politics, life, and literature. He left a lasting mark, even earning a Nobel Prize in Literature. No one can deny Dylan's brilliance. However, being a great singer doesn't automatically make someone a great person.

What many don't know is that Bob, in his pursuit of success, used those around him for knowledge, only to leave them behind once he had what he wanted. Bob would never return to those who helped him at the beginning of his journey, including friends and mentors.

Dave Van Ronk, on the other hand, was a folk musician whose style and contributions were ahead of his time. While Bob Dylan achieved fame and success, Dave remained largely unknown and impoverished.

In history, Dave is the true pioneer of folk music, creating his own distinct sound, while Dylan became the voice of a generation. This difference in their fates is a poignant and intriguing chapter in the story of the folk music era.

As the Coen brothers stated, Dave Van Ronk was the real-life prototype for Le Vern Davis. Their film, Drunken Country Ballad, is inspired by the struggles of folk musicians like Dave and their place in the cultural revolution of the 1960s. It explores themes of artistic creation and the larger societal forces at play during that time.

In 2013, when Drunken Country Ballads was released, it received widespread acclaim, particularly in Europe and on the East Coast of the U.S. It was hailed by critics as one of the best films of the year, even though it didn't win any major Oscars. Despite this, the film's cultural significance remained intact.

The film is celebrated not only for its portrayal of an era but also for its exploration of the artist's dilemma in a changing world. It addresses the ongoing question faced by many artists: Should they compromise their artistic vision for commercial success? And what does it mean to stay true to one's ideals in the face of reality?

The themes of Drunken Country Ballads remain relevant today, particularly in the 21st century, where entertainment and profit seem to come first.

The album "Don Quixote," which was initially doomed to fail, unexpectedly became a success. It even won Grammy recognition, and its success mirrored the fast-paced, profit-driven culture of today's world.

The audience saw Renly's three Grammy acceptance speeches, but did they understand the deeper meaning behind them? They were not just criticisms or jabs at the current state of the industry but a reflection from the perspective of an artist. The Coen brothers, through their own struggles, are questioning whether the times have changed, and if so, how should artists adapt?

The answer, they admit, lies in the hands of history and time.

In conclusion, the Coen brothers' soundtrack for Drunken Country Ballads captures not only the essence of the 1960s folk movement but also the broader currents of American society. Every song in the film connects to a real-life figure, projecting their struggles, talents, and ideas into the characters on screen. The Coen brothers' bold decision to make a film about such a topic, focusing on the lives of folk musicians, shows their deep commitment to exploring the socio-political realities of their time.

Drunken Country Ballads is not just about the past. It's about today, and perhaps even more so, the future of artistic creation in an ever-changing world.