Is The Way of Folk Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2016)

📖 The Core Premise

The Way of Folk returns to the screen in 2016, bringing a fresh narrative to the Documentary, Music genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "In this brand new featurette, executive producer T Bone Burnett and the Coen brothers discuss the history of some of the songs that heard in Inside Llywin Davies and possible origin of the stories they tells, the folk movement during the 1960s and the social and cultural ideas that it represented, the authenticity and the identity of folk music and the balance between the two, the future of folk music, etc. Included with the featurette are illustrations by Drew Christie. The featurette was created exclusively for Criterion in 2015."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. T Bone Burnett attempts to elevate the material, but the direction leaves them with little to work with. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Way of Folk worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary, Music films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Way of Folk misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 17 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.