The brand of “outlaw” can be tricky. As an outlaw film writer, it gets hazy as to whether I write about outlaw films or if I am an outlaw who writes about films. Also, what is outside the law at one time is perfectly legal further on. There is no better example of this than Willie Nelson. Back in the day, the outlaw movement in country music broke with the Nashville mainstream culturally and musically, similar to the Red Dirt country movement today. Now the Outlaws are remembered as the legends of their era, while the Nashville product that had dominated is now forgotten. It shares some parallels with the outlaw movement in rock with punk, a connection that Willie’s son Micah brings up. This is emphasized again when we see Willie wearing a t-shirt for the punk band X during an interview.
The outlaw moniker also includes marijuana, which Willie credits with saving him from being another music casualty. Willie was a weed icon back during the War on Nugs. Now that weed is legal and about as scary as a cup of coffee, it seems like another example of how Willie was always ahead of his time. Weed is ever-present in Willie’s world but not so much in this series, as it is understood once shown that it would play a part in everything to come. This lack of urgency to fixate on the weed angle here again shows once again how silly the previous century’s fuss over cannabis was. You can still get high on it, though. Obviously, some out there could flatten a burlap sack of Northern Lights while binging all four and a half hours. Strangely enough, I was so absorbed kept forgetting to roll another number for the road, which is impressive. Of course, you can party to it, but it is a lot of fun remembering what you see here.
“When you are there, you are in Luck. When you leave, you are out of Luck.”
A huge surprise in Willie Nelson & Family is how much Willie’s signature strain of country is influenced by jazz. His guitar god is Django Reinhardt, with Willies playing style modeled after Reinhardt’s unique method. However, the architect for Willie’s unusual vocal arrangements is none other than Sinatra. Willie credits Sinatra for opening his ears by being free to do phrasing outside the melody to make it stand out. It is aspects like this that make this series appeal wider than just the population of Willie Nation.
A great example is the section focusing on the Stardust album. Teaming up with the great Booker T. to make a selection of standards from “the American songbook” was another example of Willie doing something no one else thought would work. Yet, it ended up being his biggest-selling album. Anyone can appreciate this kind of story, where an outsider who can’t fit in does it their way and changes the outside to fit them.
By stepping out of every convention imposed on him, Willie helped create a counter-culture that has since become mainstream. It’s Willie’s picnic, and everyone is now welcome. This is everything you hoped it would be and more. Willie Nelson & Family is the definitive document of the world Willie made, and it is high time.
Willie Nelson & Family screened at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
"…it's Nelson's picnic, but everyone is welcome."
