Review of Festival Express (2003) by John B — 27 Dec 2005

I was a poor 17-yr old boy in Alberta when this concert express hit Calgary. I couldn't afford it, and I was resentful. This film reminds me of how much mediocre music there was around then, and how good the good performers (especially Janis Joplin) were.

Best scene is J.J. looking bemused and shy during a "spontaneous" jam session on the train, with people some of whom were a lot more ignorant and less talented than she. The movie also reminds us of a pre-MTV, pre-Madonna moment, when musical performers were not judged on their physical beauty or their ability to pose as beautiful.