Films

Looking for recommended documentaries or films about musicians or bands please. Something where there's a clever angle on the story and not simply a chronological look at their career?

I enjoyed Moonage Daydream recently.

AFAIK Pinhead is a cis female here

Jamie Clayton is a trans woman

I was only being sarcastic about the princess bit. I have no idea why they don't have the distribution rights for it in the UK.

Doesn't answer your question / fit your requirements, but Beastie Boys Story is great.
Same with Anvil! The story of Anvil.

Both had me in tears.

Obvious one, but have you seen Get Back?

Dig! (Dandy Warhols meteoric rise offset against Anton Newcombe/Brian Jonestown Massacre jealousy/spiral into madness. Don't have to be a fan of either band, superb)

As mentioned above, Beastie Boys Story

The Velvet Underground film is pretty good, rare footage etc

Oil City Confidential. The Dr Feelgood documentary

The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson. Brilliant and poignant for obvious reasons

Searching for Sugarman.

These are great: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Albums

Ah right, I didn't know! Not that big into following actors.

I thought it was yet another backstory with some ejits losing it cos of more diversity in acting/roles.

Licensing for movies can be surprisingly hard, sometimes music licensing missing in one part of the world can hold up a release.

Awesome, keep them coming. Trying to brainstorm a film idea for work but want to avoid the obvious 'career overview and talking heads' format.

@DethBeard I have seen Anvil!, brilliant but slightly tragic. Not seen the Beastie's film which is a massive oversight, I will this weekend.

@Pifko Yep, that's an amazing insight.

@EB Great suggestions, I'm a fan of all those artists but haven't watched the films. On the list.

@Black_Rainbow_Project I have seen that, very good.

@J0nathan I have watch a fair few of those, very thorough but it's a more cinematic vibe we're trying to pitch. Ta.

I'm a fan of The National so it appealed anyway, but Mistaken for Strangers is great.

Keyboard Fantasies too... Directed by a former forum member. 😁

Nah me either really, the guy who cuts my hair is bang into horror films, and LGBTQ+ rights, so was hyped when she got the role.

Dig! Is great. Some Kind of Monster, the Metallica documentary is another great depiction of a total car crash of a band. It probably helps if you DON'T like the band for that one. I second the Anvil doc as well, that's a belter.
Come Worry With Us, the Thee Silver Mt Zion documentary is worth a watch as well, as is Breadcrumb Trail, the Slint doc.

beastie boys

Ah man, I just watched the trailer and welled up. RIP MCA

@ltc Didn't know there was a Slint doc, massive fan of Spiderland. Cheers

Summer of Soul is meant to be excellent. Haven't got round to it myself yet.

Going to do Dig! next - sounds up my street.

Slade in Flame.

Has anyone got an opinion on the Wu-Tang Netflix series? I've only seen trailers but I feel it misses the mark a bit. Maybe because the members are so familiar I struggle to see past the actors.

Summer of Soul is well worth a watch, some absolutely amazing performances

Seconding the velvet underground doc

That hip hop series on Netflix had some highs and lows

Long Hot Summers
Story of the The Style Council. I'm a bit of a fan, and of their age, but you don't need to be. It reflects a certain time in history with good memories for me.
Think I caught it on Sky Arts.

Yeah this is good as is About the Young Idea, The Jam documentary

Crock of Gold, Shane MacGowan/ Pogues doc by Julian Temple. Really enjoyed it am a Pogues fan. Temple's creative solutions to MacGowan's resistance to be intervewed if fun. Learnt a lot from it.

Saw Blackbird last night, an absolute hoot from start to finish; honestly so bad it very (unintentionally) funny. Totally rich blokes wank fantasy writ large on the silver screen. Amazin work a solid golden turd that just keeps it up.

Essential Christmas Day viewing

https://youtu.be/mXpSrT7jVb0

Who killed the KLF is decent too.