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| Review by Joe Yezukevich |
There is inspired work and there is forced work.
Most people understand forced work as something that might hit a bit too
close to their daily schedules for comfort. Inspired work begs the
question of what was the inspiration that brought the passion, wit, or
just the soul to a project.
close to their daily schedules for comfort. Inspired work begs the
question of what was the inspiration that brought the passion, wit, or
just the soul to a project.
What Difference Does It Make attempts
to explore this heady topic as it follows several young musicians to
the Red Bull Academy of Music (weird, right?). Hip hop artists,
R&B, electronic and pop artists convene in New York City for a
seminar that also features Eryka Badu, Niles Rogers, Brian Eno, Bernie
Worrell and others discussing what they love about making music and art
in general. It is shot in an almost dreamlike way, interspersing
performances and interviews with random street shots of New York.
to explore this heady topic as it follows several young musicians to
the Red Bull Academy of Music (weird, right?). Hip hop artists,
R&B, electronic and pop artists convene in New York City for a
seminar that also features Eryka Badu, Niles Rogers, Brian Eno, Bernie
Worrell and others discussing what they love about making music and art
in general. It is shot in an almost dreamlike way, interspersing
performances and interviews with random street shots of New York.
Overall
I liked the movie, but frequently found myself drifting away due to the
almost confused structure.
The cinematography is gorgeous, but as a
result, it puts the narrative into the back seat, visually focusing on
the joyous effects that music and art can have on fans.
result, it puts the narrative into the back seat, visually focusing on
the joyous effects that music and art can have on fans.
It is fairly
inspiring at first, but gets a bit overwhelming after about an hour. I
found there are only so many times I can hear someone talk about music
as though they were an astronaut describing the view of earth from the
moon. I just find myself thinking that we get it. Music makes you feel
as if you have been left in rapture.
inspiring at first, but gets a bit overwhelming after about an hour. I
found there are only so many times I can hear someone talk about music
as though they were an astronaut describing the view of earth from the
moon. I just find myself thinking that we get it. Music makes you feel
as if you have been left in rapture.
Stop making me feel like a jaded
jerk.
jerk.
I
will say that Brian Eno has some inspired moments talking about pushing
boundaries, and Bernie Worrel and Rakim both have some fine points as
well.
But it is Lee “Scratch” Perry who ends the movie with a bit of a
song that is both funny and joyous while also feeling very off the
cuff.
I was glad I made it to the end for this, but wish the film
makers took a bit more inspiration from it.
What Difference Does It Make needs to remember that sometimes making great art can oftentimes come from a pretty simple place that just makes you smile.
What Difference Does It Make is streaming for free starting today at https://www.rbma15.com/
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