Crossroads

Crossroads. 1986 Columbia Pictures.
Starring: Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Joe Morton
Music: Ry Cooder, Steve Vai
Director: Walter Hill
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The Karate Kid gets the blues.

While researching the great blues guitarist Robert Johnson (portrayed by Tim Russ) and the legends surrounding him, Eugene Marton (Macchio) uncovers evidence that Johnson recorded a "missing song" which was supposedly lost and never made it to record. Martone, through old newspaper archives, finds out that Johnson's longtime friend Willie Brown (Seneca) is alive, and a guest of a minimum security hospital, and he goes to see him. Brown only admits who he is after hearing Eugene playing blues, but noting that he "plays with no soul". He also admits that he knows about the "missing" Johnson song, but refuses to give it to Eugene unless he gets him out of the hospital and takes him to Mississippi. Eugene agrees, and they head south, where they "hobo" it from Memphis to rural Mississippi.

Eugene and Willie experience the blues legacy of Johnson firsthand, and they find themselves jamming at a roadhouse where Eugene is given the nickname "Lightning" for his guitar skills. Frances (Gertz) soon joins the two men, but leaves them behind, leaving Eugene saddened, but now with a true feeling for the blues. They soon reach the "crossroads" in Mississippi, where Willie reveals several secrets: there is no missing Robert Johnson song, and Willie's skills on harmonica (along with Johnson's abilities) were the results of a deal with the devil at that location. The devil, called "Scratch" (Robert Judd) appears before them pointing out that the contract for Willie's soul is still valid. Eugene intervenes, and Scratch offers a challenge for him: win a guitar battle with Jack Butler (Steve Vai), and Eugene gets his soul back. If Eugene loses, he loses his own soul.

A very good movie with some great music involved. I just felt it was a little hard to believe Ralph Macchio with his thick Brooklyn accent as a blues freak, but he still did a great job. Highly recommended.