Moonshine (2000)

Director: Kelly Riley

Writer: ???

Composer: (no score but various songs)

Starring: Jim Tom Hedrick, Gerald Hedrick, Gladys Hedrick, Pat S. Williams, Matt Williams, Gilford Williams, Randell, Red John and Linda

More info: IMDb

Plot: The legendary story of Jim Tom Hedrick and the process of distilling moonshine whiskey from corn mash. A taste of bootleg whiskey and Jesus, straight from the mountains of North Carolina.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? No.

I was in the mood for some Hicksploitation last night and this documentary, and the follow-up STILL MAKING MOONSHINE (2007), felt like a good warm up to some backwoods 70s picture I still hadn't decided on.  Jim Tom is a colorful character.  There's no doubt about that.  This film is only about twenty minutes long so you don't get much time to spend with Jim Tom and his kin, friends, etc but it's enough to whet your appetite for more.  It's an interesting introduction but it's not necessary to see this one before STILL MAKING MOONSHINE because enough of this footage ends up in the other that you wouldn't be missing much.