I went in to this movie with a lot of concerns. How could you do a documentary about such an important band, that relatively few people ever heard of, without playing any of their music, showing any concert/video footage, or interviewing any of the band members? As a longtime fan, it bothered me that this documentary was being "wasted" like this.
But you know what? It works. I mean it REALLY WORKS. You come away with such a complete picture of who these 4 guys were, what made them tick, what made them great. Music be damned, the story here is how the band affected those around them, how the songs changed (and saved) people's lives.
And despite having spent a lifetime listening to these records, I found myself learning new things about the songs. Being reminded about what made them great - warts, flubs and all. Being reminded about the joyfulness in which they approached their craft -- they were out there to have fun, and however they got there didn't matter as much.
And I also liked how the last years of the band were told with such honesty and weren't glorified. How kicking out Bob, and then later Peter Jesperson, and then Chris, just decimated the band and it truly became a Paul solo act near the end.
All in all, I'm glad that such a daring approach was taken to this film about this band -- fittingly eccentric for such a perfectly imperfect band.
But you know what? It works. I mean it REALLY WORKS. You come away with such a complete picture of who these 4 guys were, what made them tick, what made them great. Music be damned, the story here is how the band affected those around them, how the songs changed (and saved) people's lives.
And despite having spent a lifetime listening to these records, I found myself learning new things about the songs. Being reminded about what made them great - warts, flubs and all. Being reminded about the joyfulness in which they approached their craft -- they were out there to have fun, and however they got there didn't matter as much.
And I also liked how the last years of the band were told with such honesty and weren't glorified. How kicking out Bob, and then later Peter Jesperson, and then Chris, just decimated the band and it truly became a Paul solo act near the end.
All in all, I'm glad that such a daring approach was taken to this film about this band -- fittingly eccentric for such a perfectly imperfect band.