Rating: NNN
You have to admire Samuel L. Jackson for taking his role in Craig “Hustle & Flow” Brewer’s Black Snake Moan seriously enough to try to learn to sing and play guitar in the style of a modern Mississippi hill country bluesman – and he doesn’t do a terrible job of it on screen. But as with other soundtrack recordings made by actors in character, such as Kevin Spacey or Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, you have to wonder why anyone would want to listen to a facsimile of Bobby Darin or Johnny and June Carter Cash – or, in this case, a stand-in for R.L. Burnside – when the definitive recordings made by these exceptional artists are readily available. Producer Scott Bomar must’ve realized this and wisely padded the disc with a few authentic roadhouse blues tunes from Burnside, Jessie Mae Hemphill and Bobby Rush. But do yourself a favour and buy a Burnside recording instead.
