Franklin Avenue

Living 'Cold Mountain'
Maria and I headed to Westwood Monday night -- yes, our second trip there in as many weeks (including our visit to see "Sugar Plum Fairy") -- to witness "The Words and Music of Cold Mountain" from the audience inside UCLA's Royce Hall.

Event was wrapped around the upcoming Civil War/Nicole Kidman (together at last! Nothin' sez the Civil War like Nicole... OK, you get the drift) film "Cold Mountain." Screenwriter/director Anthony Minghella was on hand to discuss the feature and how he adapted it from the book by author Charles Frazier. Kidman and co-star Jude Law were also on stage, reading passages from Minghella's screenplay and Frazier's book.

But while the "Words" were compelling, it was the "Music" that made the event worth attending. Alison Krauss, Sting and Jack White -- under the direction of T Bone Burnett -- performed music from the film, much of it similar to the bluegrass-oriented sounds Burnett produced for the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (in which he also enlisted the voice of Krauss).

Night as a whole was slightly disjointed. Nothing was quite explained until half way through, when Minghella, about to read a passage from the book, thankfully gave a quick overview of what everything meant.

But that said, the show was excellent. Minghella is an incredible interview, as he sat on stage answering questions about the origins of the film. Krauss has an incredible voice -- even Sting stood back and let her shine when the two shared the stage. (Too bad she showed a little attitude when she refused to adjust her microphone, making a stagehand walk across to fix it.) Watching Jack White perform old-time southern mountain music, rather than his White Stripes fare, was nothing short of stunning. The Alabama sacred harp choir, which closed the show, was powerful. And the movie looks fascinating.

Thanks to Jeff for getting Maria and me in.