GRACE, GENEROSITY AND GRATITUDE: a review of "The Union"

“THE UNION”
Directed by Cameron Crowe
**** (four stars)

I would easily gather that as we all venture forwards in our respective lives with our respective responsibilities, none of us have really taken stock of exactly what our individual places in the world mean to those around us. And to that end, as busy as we all are, perhaps we haven’t taken the time or have even had terribly many opportunities to ruminate over our lives and think about the people who all contributed to our personal evolutions. As I think about it now, I can remember two specific moments five years ago during my 20th high school reunion, where I happened to come in contact with two former teachers. In both of those moments, I took the chance to offer heartfelt words of gratitude in regards to two instances of educational “second chances” that did not have to be provided and overall assisted me in the successful completion of their courses. To them, I am more than certain that those moments concerning me were long forgotten. But the fact that those moments were not forgotten by me demanded that I offered the proper appreciation and thanks and I would like to think that those moments were not lost on either of them. And yet, those were only two people throughout the myriad of influences and guiding forces throughout my life. I cannot help but to ponder what life would be like if we could all find the ones who made us who we are and the ones we have influenced in turn could all find each other again and have even one spot in time to simply say, “Thank you.”

Those emotions provide the profoundly moving emotional core of Cameron Crowe’s “The Union,” a documentary detailing the writing, recording and release concert performance of the album of the same name as composed and performed by none other than Elton John and Leon Russell. As collected with his other 2011 releases “Pearl Jam Twenty” and “We Bought A Zoo,” Cameron Crowe’s “The Union” is the very best of his three films. Beyond his artistic triumph, Crowe has made a towering achievement by completely fulfilling his objective of “placing some joy into the world,” as he once described during an interview with Charlie Rose. “The Union” is a brisk yet voluminously beautiful experience that transcends the music documentary, creating an experience that is nothing less than a tribute to the act of giving thanks.

As “The Union” opens, Elton John, in a honest and personable narration openly questions what he should pursue next as an artist. As he sees himself as being too young to retire and too old to spend his time creating “crap,” he was struck by an act of serendipitous inspiration while on holiday with his partner. Listening to his partner’s I-pod, John stumbled across the music of Leon Russell, an artist who provided John with his deepest source of inspiration and influence when he was an up and coming singer/songwriter/pianist/performer. It was in that moment, that Elton John decided that the twosome should collaborate on an album but John has plans even greater than music on his mind.

Beginning in November 2009 and lasting for several months thereafter, Crowe and his crew give us access to the full writing and recording process of the album as well as John and Russell’s long awaited reunion, as they seemingly have not been in contact for the better part of 40 years. At first, Russell seems tentative and perhaps even a tad withdrawn, as John has already arrived at the sessions with boundless energy and five songs already composed with his longtime writing partner/lyricist Bernie Taupin and even legendary producer T-Bone Burnett. Early into the recording, Russell suffered a health scare, which led to a five-hour brain surgery operation. While fears that the project may not be able to continue, Leon Russell surprised everyone with his return to the studio 10 scant days after his operation. It was at this point in “The Union” for me, that I began to wonder if there was much more to Leon Russell than at first seemed. Man, I had no idea…

Mostly, “The Union” is a film that illustrates how deeply entrenched John’s admiration for this man happens to be. Throughout the entirety of the film Elton John functions as coach and cheerleader for Leon Russell, always professing his appreciation and love, giving him encouragement with endless fervor and passion. Just at the point when a more cynical person may ponder if John’s behavior is all for the cameras, I would seriously dare that person to ask that question after a supremely touching sequence that takes place shortly after Russell’s return from his surgery. Leon Russell performs a rough version of a brand new song entitled, “In The Hands Of Angels,” a track he may have jokingly said was written under the effects of Ambien. As Russell sings and plays, John marvels at the song and quickly remarks to Burnett how this track must be placed upon the full album. As the song plays onwards, John is continuously moved by his hero’s gifts beginning to return and suddenly, he is stricken with emotion and quietly leaves the studio console in tears. This is the point when I feel that we can truly see that this album is no mere recording project for Elton John. It is even beyond existing as a labor of love. Elton John mentions at one point in the film that his piano playing was influence by perhaps 50-60 different players but it was the work of Leon Russell that stands tallest. In fact, when you hear Elton John play the piano, with his grasp and ability to merge classical, country, gospel, rock and soul music so magically, you are in fact hearing the touch of Leon Russell. “The Union” is Elton John’s testament and tribute to the man who served as his greatest influence and inspiration and the album and film serve as a means for the entire world to hear and understand what John has known for his entire professional life.

I loved how Cameron Crowe expertly found the story behind the music, as it were, making this film serve as so much more than what it seems to be on the surface. With the album and now this film, what John and Crowe have accomplished is to each create works that celebrate Leon Russell in such a way where the listener/viewer is enticed to discover MORE about this man. In Leon Russell, “The Union” just gives you the tip-top of a profoundly deep and solid iceberg in the history of rock music. This fact is depicted in a short and masterfully jaw dropping sequence where Crowe jams the screen with the sights and sounds of Russell’s work as a session musician. Trust me, you will be shocked to know how deeply entrenched Leon Russell actually is within the fabric of the music that has shaped all of our lives.

This fact of Leon Russell’s gift to music is referenced again and again throughout the film as Elton John seems to be conjuring up situations in the studio designed to embrace and re-inspire Russell to create at his fullest once again. Brian Wilson arrives to contribute harmony vocals to one track while Booker T. Jones provides his trademark organ work to other tracks and both men take the time to converse with Russell, each eliciting oceans of respect and fondness while not saying many words at all. Stevie Nicks also appears to speak with Russell about how he was a major influence upon herself and Lindsey Buckingham at the start of their music careers in 1970. Throughout it all is Elton John, majestically carrying Leon Russell upon his shoulders through the entire proceedings, and “The Union” grows more moving the more involved and excited Leon Russell becomes with the project and how that excitement transfers to Elton John himself. None moreso than the film climactic concert sequence, presented on the album’s release day in 2010, where the two pianos sound as one and the audience’s response seems to lift the reticent Leon Russell off of his feet. For Elton John, his mission has been accomplished: To have the moment to publicly say to Leon Russell “I love you” and for an audience of music fans to say the same words as well.

If “The Union” were to solely function wonderfully as a “fly-on-the-wall” look at the creative process, it would already be an excellent film. I especially loved being witness to Elton John’s sense of artistic motivation at his age of 65. how he is more than knowledgeable that his time in the sun has come and gone and that the level of success that he received in the 1970s will never come again. He will create what feels right to his spirit and he refuses to fall into the record company traps of making an artist of his age more relevant by creating an album of standards or even worse, Christmas carols.

The fact that “The Union” is so much more makes it a film to revisit, embrace, and remember for years to come. I know I keep returning to this point but the concept of Elton John’s rapturous appreciation and sublime celebration of Leon Russell truly hit an emotional pressure point for me. I really could not help but to think of the people that have all served to shape my life and I wondered how I could ever possibly find them to thank them all. As we all know and understand all too well, sometimes painfully, life happens and often gets in the way, forcing us to lose touch with people who at one time or another meant the world to us. In some ways, “The Union” could also feel like a film of atonement from Elton John towards Leon Russell due to their lack of contact for nearly 40 years during which John’s music career ascended to the top of the world and beyond while that level of meteoric success eluded Russell and landed him into relative music obscurity. Every moment of this film feels depicts Elton John’s steps to bring Leon Russell back into the spotlight, no matter how seemingly small any individual gesture seems to be. This was most notably a short debate about whether the album packaging should come with the CD plastic jewel case or the eco friendly digipak occurs only because Elton John wants Leon Russell’s image to be presented in the best possible light.

Unlike the more private members of Pearl Jam, Elton John is a completely engaging presence, very comfortable in front of the camera and surprisingly willing to allow cameras into certain sessions of his recording process that have otherwise been wholly private. He is quite conversational, gregarious and loquacious, again, for the glory of celebrating elevating Leon Russell into the firmament of public consciousness.

And what of Leon Russell himself? With his mane of past shoulder length white hair and impenetrable gaze, Leon Russell is a captivating and imposing figure. He certainly creates and emanates an imposing presence as he resembles a corpulent Gandalf, or a slightly more disheveled and even sinister Santa Claus. He is a man of few words and is indeed weakened by his health issues but he draw you in completely. You want to know more about this man especially as his face and spirit begins to light up and re-energize as the film progresses. For me, I have not even one stitch of music in my vast collection by Leon Russell and now, I feel compelled to go on a new musical hunt and education. This is precisely what Elton John wished to happen as a result of this project.

If you have an opportunity to see “The Union,” I urge you to take it and become enraptured with the creativity and talent on display of course. But, most of all, please allow this wonderful film to pierce your heart and return you to the ones who touched you during your past and the ones who influence you now. I truly believe that our places on this Earth do carry meaning and that even one person that is out of place will alter the courses of our lives even a little bit. It truly does only take a moment to say “Thank you” or “I love you,” and with “The Union,” we see one man’s generous gift to another while Cameron Crowe delivers another cinematic gift to all of us.

SAVAGE POSTSCRIPT:
How can you see “The Union”? Well…this will be tricky. The film premiered on HBO last month for its initial run and now it is currently out of the rotation. It is bound to make a return but for now, you cannot see it at all. Cameron Crowe’s official website The Uncool will make any announcements about any subsequent releases on DVD and Bu-Ray formats. But, as for now, if you happen to live near me in Madison, I do have a copy on VHS and would be more than willing to share if you wish!