One of the biggest pop culture moments of the 80s was when a large group of pop artists came together for a special one-time song dedicated to raising awareness and helping to end famine in Africa. That song, “We Are the World,” was amazingly stacked with talent, including Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Belafonte, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, and Huey Lewis. A documentary from Netflix recounts the story of how the song came together with The Greatest Night in Pop. The film is also scheduled to screen at the Sundance Film Festival this year, with Lionel Richie in tow.
Netflix’s description of the documentary reads,
“On January 25, 1985, dozens of the biggest names in music convened at a studio in Los Angeles, checked their egos at the door and recorded a song to benefit African famine relief that would alter global pop culture history.
Netflix’s description of the documentary reads,
“On January 25, 1985, dozens of the biggest names in music convened at a studio in Los Angeles, checked their egos at the door and recorded a song to benefit African famine relief that would alter global pop culture history.
- 1/9/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Picture: Netflix
What’s on Netflix exclusively learned on December 15th, 2023 that Netflix is set to release a new documentary covering the 1985 American Music Awards and the creation of the charity hit “We Are the World,” which became the eighth-best-selling physical single of all time. The documentary has now been confirmed by Netflix and is set to release on January 29th, following a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Award-winning director Bao Nguyen is behind the new feature documentary, and it serves as his Netflix debut. He has previously worked on documentaries and shorts for HBO, PBS, and The New York Times. His most known documentaries include Be Water and Live from New York!
Bao Nguyen – Picture: Getty Images
Per the description found on the British Council website, here’s what you can expect from the 1 hour and 42-minute documentary:
“On January 28th, 1985, the stage was set for the annual American Music Awards.
What’s on Netflix exclusively learned on December 15th, 2023 that Netflix is set to release a new documentary covering the 1985 American Music Awards and the creation of the charity hit “We Are the World,” which became the eighth-best-selling physical single of all time. The documentary has now been confirmed by Netflix and is set to release on January 29th, following a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Award-winning director Bao Nguyen is behind the new feature documentary, and it serves as his Netflix debut. He has previously worked on documentaries and shorts for HBO, PBS, and The New York Times. His most known documentaries include Be Water and Live from New York!
Bao Nguyen – Picture: Getty Images
Per the description found on the British Council website, here’s what you can expect from the 1 hour and 42-minute documentary:
“On January 28th, 1985, the stage was set for the annual American Music Awards.
- 1/9/2024
- by Kasey Moore
- Whats-on-Netflix
Exclusive: Netflix has set a January 29 streaming premiere date for The Greatest Night in Pop, a feature doc just announced as world premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on the 19th of this month.
Directed by award winner Bao Nguyen (Be Water), the film takes viewers back to January 25, 1985, when dozens of the biggest names in music convened at a Los Angeles studio and checked their egos at the door amidst the recording of a song to benefit African famine relief — one that would alter global pop culture history. Chronicled in the doc is the massive undertaking to assemble the world’s most impressive supergroup in a time before cell phones and email. That group of artists, led by the song’s co-writers and two of the most significant musicians of the 20th century — Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie — came from different worlds but united to record “We Are the World.
Directed by award winner Bao Nguyen (Be Water), the film takes viewers back to January 25, 1985, when dozens of the biggest names in music convened at a Los Angeles studio and checked their egos at the door amidst the recording of a song to benefit African famine relief — one that would alter global pop culture history. Chronicled in the doc is the massive undertaking to assemble the world’s most impressive supergroup in a time before cell phones and email. That group of artists, led by the song’s co-writers and two of the most significant musicians of the 20th century — Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie — came from different worlds but united to record “We Are the World.
- 1/5/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Sundance Institute announced the addition of the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop to the 2024 Sundance Film Festival film program and the lineup for the Festival’s Beyond Film programming.
In addition to the three annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — this year’s lineup also includes a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence and special 40th Edition Celebration events. With the exception of Power of Story, the sole ticketed event, all Beyond Film events are free and open to the public.
Supplementing the Festival experience, Beyond Film provides a community hub for Festivalgoers through artist conversations, talks with filmmakers and experts across the fields of art and science, and audience discourse. The events will take place in person from January 19–26, 2024, with select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25, 2024, to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform. The Festival will...
In addition to the three annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — this year’s lineup also includes a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence and special 40th Edition Celebration events. With the exception of Power of Story, the sole ticketed event, all Beyond Film events are free and open to the public.
Supplementing the Festival experience, Beyond Film provides a community hub for Festivalgoers through artist conversations, talks with filmmakers and experts across the fields of art and science, and audience discourse. The events will take place in person from January 19–26, 2024, with select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25, 2024, to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform. The Festival will...
- 1/5/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Honors were given out in more than 30 categories at Wednesday’s 12th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards, with singer-songwriters like Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Adam Levine and Rufus Wainwright being celebrated in the live webcast as well as composers including Hans Zimmer, Rachel Portman, Alberto Iglesias and Nicholas Britell.
The HMMAs reward songwriters, composers and even performers in fields that include not just film and TV work but everything from video games to commercials to theme park music.
Film nominations are given in multiple genres, which allows for a series of short lists that members of the Academy’s music branch may end up studying as they vote for the Oscars’ much, much shorter lists.
Best score for a feature film went to Britell for his work on Adam McKay’s satirical “Don’t Look Up.” Other score prizes went to Zimmer for “Dune” (sci-fi/fantasy film), Beltrami for “A Quiet Place II...
The HMMAs reward songwriters, composers and even performers in fields that include not just film and TV work but everything from video games to commercials to theme park music.
Film nominations are given in multiple genres, which allows for a series of short lists that members of the Academy’s music branch may end up studying as they vote for the Oscars’ much, much shorter lists.
Best score for a feature film went to Britell for his work on Adam McKay’s satirical “Don’t Look Up.” Other score prizes went to Zimmer for “Dune” (sci-fi/fantasy film), Beltrami for “A Quiet Place II...
- 11/19/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
The Sparks Brothers, a documentary about a cult band by a brand-name director in Edgar Wright hits big screens this weekend, a felicitous one as New York and LA drop most capacity restrictions in theaters. The film about musician brothers Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks premiered at Sundance this year, notching a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes — all of which could hopefully give the arthouse market some long-term traction through the summer
Roadside Attractions debuts another pedigreed documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It.
The Sparks Brothers, from MRC Non-Fiction, was produced by Wright, Nira Park, George Hencken, and Laura Richardson. It’s a musical odyssey through decades with the brothers and bandmates featuring passionate tributes from Beck, Flea, Jane Wiedlin, Jack Antonoff and Patton Oswalt. It opens on 543 screens in 200 markets.
“People asked to play it. They wanted to play it.
Roadside Attractions debuts another pedigreed documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided To Go For It.
The Sparks Brothers, from MRC Non-Fiction, was produced by Wright, Nira Park, George Hencken, and Laura Richardson. It’s a musical odyssey through decades with the brothers and bandmates featuring passionate tributes from Beck, Flea, Jane Wiedlin, Jack Antonoff and Patton Oswalt. It opens on 543 screens in 200 markets.
“People asked to play it. They wanted to play it.
- 6/18/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Sundance Film Festival: London has revealed that “Zola” and “Coda” will be among the 2021 lineup, when the festival returns to Picturehouse Central next month.
“Coda” — an acronym meaning “Child of Deaf Adults” — features Marlee Matlin (“The West Wing”) and 19-year-old Emilia Jones (“Locke & Key”) navigating their relationship, while “Zola” is based on a 148-tweet viral Twitter thread from 2015 by Aziah “Zola” Wells. It stars Taylor Paige (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) and Riley Keough (“Max Max: Fury Road”) and will close the 4-day festival.
Edgar Wright’s rockumentary “The Sparks Brothers,” described as a “musical odyssey,” opens the festival on July 29.
Other feature film offerings, which have been selected from the longer line-up shown at the Sundance Film Festival, include “The Nest,” starring Jude Law (“Sherlock Holmes”), animation “Cryptozoo,” which features Lake Bell (“BoJack Horseman”) and Michael Cera (“Arrested Development”), and documentary “Writing With Fire,” about a female-run Indian newspaper, which...
“Coda” — an acronym meaning “Child of Deaf Adults” — features Marlee Matlin (“The West Wing”) and 19-year-old Emilia Jones (“Locke & Key”) navigating their relationship, while “Zola” is based on a 148-tweet viral Twitter thread from 2015 by Aziah “Zola” Wells. It stars Taylor Paige (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) and Riley Keough (“Max Max: Fury Road”) and will close the 4-day festival.
Edgar Wright’s rockumentary “The Sparks Brothers,” described as a “musical odyssey,” opens the festival on July 29.
Other feature film offerings, which have been selected from the longer line-up shown at the Sundance Film Festival, include “The Nest,” starring Jude Law (“Sherlock Holmes”), animation “Cryptozoo,” which features Lake Bell (“BoJack Horseman”) and Michael Cera (“Arrested Development”), and documentary “Writing With Fire,” about a female-run Indian newspaper, which...
- 6/2/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Edgar Wright’s music documentary “The Sparks Brothers” will have its U.K. premiere as the opening film of Sundance Film Festival: London.
As the U.K. remains on track to open all indoor cinema screens from May 17, Sundance London (July 29-Aug. 1) will be an in-person event this year at the Picturehouse Central cinemas, after a virtual 2020 effort.
In partnership with Universal, consecutive screenings of the film will take place in multiple cinemas across the U.K. with a filmmaker Q&a simultaneously broadcast from Picturehouse Central on July 29.
The full program, which will be announced later, will include more than 12 features, panel discussions, Q&As and guest appearances.
Sundance Film Festival director Tabitha Jackson said: “We’re thrilled to return to London and expand across the U.K. with an exciting program of films that tell fresh, independent stories — stories which are essential as we endeavour to understand our...
As the U.K. remains on track to open all indoor cinema screens from May 17, Sundance London (July 29-Aug. 1) will be an in-person event this year at the Picturehouse Central cinemas, after a virtual 2020 effort.
In partnership with Universal, consecutive screenings of the film will take place in multiple cinemas across the U.K. with a filmmaker Q&a simultaneously broadcast from Picturehouse Central on July 29.
The full program, which will be announced later, will include more than 12 features, panel discussions, Q&As and guest appearances.
Sundance Film Festival director Tabitha Jackson said: “We’re thrilled to return to London and expand across the U.K. with an exciting program of films that tell fresh, independent stories — stories which are essential as we endeavour to understand our...
- 5/4/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has announced it will release Edgar Wright’s documentary feature debut The Sparks Brothers on Friday, June 18th, 2021 in theaters.
Check out the discussion on Twitter.
For @sxsw pass holders that missed it, it will be up on the site shortly x https://t.co/3zMbSisLzI
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) March 19, 2021
How can one rock band be successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time? Edgar Wright’s debut documentary The Sparks Brothers, which features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, Neil Gaiman, and more, takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers/bandmates Ron and Russell Mael celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band’s favorite band.
Russell and Ron Mael. Credit : Courtesy of Focus Features
Currently with a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film chronicles the decades-long career and influence...
Check out the discussion on Twitter.
For @sxsw pass holders that missed it, it will be up on the site shortly x https://t.co/3zMbSisLzI
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) March 19, 2021
How can one rock band be successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time? Edgar Wright’s debut documentary The Sparks Brothers, which features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, Neil Gaiman, and more, takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers/bandmates Ron and Russell Mael celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band’s favorite band.
Russell and Ron Mael. Credit : Courtesy of Focus Features
Currently with a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film chronicles the decades-long career and influence...
- 3/20/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Focus Features said Friday that it is releasing Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers, about the influential indie electronica pop band Sparks, on June 18, 2021 in North American theaters.
Focus acquired the pic, which marks Wright’s docu-directing debut, after its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. On Thursday, the pic made a stop at SXSW with a screening and virtual Q&a with Wright along with brothers and bandmates Ron and Russell Mael.
The Sparks Brothers details the five-decade journey of the influential but often overlooked group that you might say is your favorite band’s favorite band, still drawing influential crowds to their shows. The pic, born out of Wright’s first encounter with Sparks as a kid watching them on UK show Top of the Pops, features interviews with the L.A. duo as well as fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman and Neil Gaiman and others.
Focus acquired the pic, which marks Wright’s docu-directing debut, after its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. On Thursday, the pic made a stop at SXSW with a screening and virtual Q&a with Wright along with brothers and bandmates Ron and Russell Mael.
The Sparks Brothers details the five-decade journey of the influential but often overlooked group that you might say is your favorite band’s favorite band, still drawing influential crowds to their shows. The pic, born out of Wright’s first encounter with Sparks as a kid watching them on UK show Top of the Pops, features interviews with the L.A. duo as well as fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman and Neil Gaiman and others.
- 3/19/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Sparks Brothers,” Edgar Wright’s debut documentary film about the influential yet below-the-radar pop band Sparks, has set a release date for this summer.
Focus Features is releasing “The Sparks Brothers” domestically on June 18, 2021, following its world premiere at Sundance and its screening at SXSW this week. The film still sits with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sparks is comprised of brothers Russell and Ron Mael, who have released more than 20 albums over the last five decades. They’ve proven to be highly influential, dabbling in experimental ’70s pop and later synth and dance music that inspired artists across genres on the backs of albums like “Kimono My House,” “No. 1 in Heaven” and “Propaganda.”
Wright’s “The Sparks Brothers” dubs Sparks as “your favorite band’s favorite band,” arguing that the duo is criminally overlooked. To build that case, he speaks not only with the enigmas that are the Maelstrom,...
Focus Features is releasing “The Sparks Brothers” domestically on June 18, 2021, following its world premiere at Sundance and its screening at SXSW this week. The film still sits with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sparks is comprised of brothers Russell and Ron Mael, who have released more than 20 albums over the last five decades. They’ve proven to be highly influential, dabbling in experimental ’70s pop and later synth and dance music that inspired artists across genres on the backs of albums like “Kimono My House,” “No. 1 in Heaven” and “Propaganda.”
Wright’s “The Sparks Brothers” dubs Sparks as “your favorite band’s favorite band,” arguing that the duo is criminally overlooked. To build that case, he speaks not only with the enigmas that are the Maelstrom,...
- 3/19/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Focus Features is set to release Edgar Wright’s documentary directorial debut The Sparks Brothers on June 18, 2021.
The dating follows Wright’s film about the cult pop duo Sparks debuting at Sundance and screening at SXSW in Austin on March 19.
The documentary chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the Sparks and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Myers. MRC Non-Fiction is behind the documentary, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Reads The Hollywood Reporter’...
The dating follows Wright’s film about the cult pop duo Sparks debuting at Sundance and screening at SXSW in Austin on March 19.
The documentary chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the Sparks and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Myers. MRC Non-Fiction is behind the documentary, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Reads The Hollywood Reporter’...
- 3/19/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Focus Features is set to release Edgar Wright’s documentary directorial debut The Sparks Brothers on June 18, 2021.
The dating follows Wright’s film about the cult pop duo Sparks debuting at Sundance and screening at SXSW in Austin on March 19.
The documentary chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the Sparks and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Myers. MRC Non-Fiction is behind the documentary, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Reads The Hollywood Reporter’...
The dating follows Wright’s film about the cult pop duo Sparks debuting at Sundance and screening at SXSW in Austin on March 19.
The documentary chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the Sparks and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Myers. MRC Non-Fiction is behind the documentary, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Reads The Hollywood Reporter’...
- 3/19/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights to Edgar Wright’s documentary “The Sparks Brothers,” which premiered to rave reviews at Sundance Film Festival.
“The Sparks Brothers” takes a look at siblings Ron and Russell Mael, two halves of the enigmatic rock pop duo known as Sparks. Wright’s film, capturing their decades-long career and impact, features commentary from celebrity fans like Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman and Neil Gaiman.
The film, which argues the Sparks are at once hugely influential and criminally overlooked, reunites Wright with the studio that will distribute his next feature film, “Last Night in Soho.”
In addition to directing, Wright also produced the documentary with his partner Nira Park through their company Complete Fiction Pictures. George Hencken, and Complete Fiction’s Laura Richardson also produced the film. MRC Non-Fiction financed the film. Focus Features will distribute “The Sparks Brothers” in the U.S. and Canada,...
“The Sparks Brothers” takes a look at siblings Ron and Russell Mael, two halves of the enigmatic rock pop duo known as Sparks. Wright’s film, capturing their decades-long career and impact, features commentary from celebrity fans like Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman and Neil Gaiman.
The film, which argues the Sparks are at once hugely influential and criminally overlooked, reunites Wright with the studio that will distribute his next feature film, “Last Night in Soho.”
In addition to directing, Wright also produced the documentary with his partner Nira Park through their company Complete Fiction Pictures. George Hencken, and Complete Fiction’s Laura Richardson also produced the film. MRC Non-Fiction financed the film. Focus Features will distribute “The Sparks Brothers” in the U.S. and Canada,...
- 2/23/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features has acquired the global rights to Edgar Wright’s first documentary feature, The Sparks Brothers, about famed electronica pop duo Sparks.
The deal brings the Universal specialty label back in business with the filmmaker behind their upcoming Oct. 22 drama thriller Last Night in Soho. Universal will distribute the movie overseas.
The Sparks Brothers, from MRC Non-Fiction, made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year, notching a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film chronicles the decades-long career and influence of Sparks, Los Angeles musician brothers Ron and Russell Mael. One was the wavy haired singer with the soothing voice, and the other played instruments with a quirky look and a Hitler-type mustache on his face. Sparks became more of a sensation over in England than the U.S. though the guys did ultimately build out a fervent cult following here. Sparks had an absurdist style...
The deal brings the Universal specialty label back in business with the filmmaker behind their upcoming Oct. 22 drama thriller Last Night in Soho. Universal will distribute the movie overseas.
The Sparks Brothers, from MRC Non-Fiction, made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year, notching a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film chronicles the decades-long career and influence of Sparks, Los Angeles musician brothers Ron and Russell Mael. One was the wavy haired singer with the soothing voice, and the other played instruments with a quirky look and a Hitler-type mustache on his face. Sparks became more of a sensation over in England than the U.S. though the guys did ultimately build out a fervent cult following here. Sparks had an absurdist style...
- 2/23/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Focus Features has picked up the worldwide rights to “The Sparks Brothers,” the documentary from director Edgar Wright about the enigmatic and influential Los Angeles pop duo Sparks.
“The Sparks Brothers” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, landing a 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The acquisition reunites Focus Features with “Baby Driver” director Wright, who also directed the upcoming “Last Night in Soho” for the distributor. Universal Pictures is distributing the film internationally.
Sparks is comprised of brothers Russell and Ron Mael, who have released more than 20 albums over the decades. They have proven to be highly influential, as they’ve dabbled in experimental ’70s pop and later synth dance music that has inspired artists across genres on the backs of albums like “Kimono My House,” “No. 1 in Heaven” and “Propaganda.”
And yet Wright’s “The Sparks Brothers,” his documentary debut, posits that this rock band...
“The Sparks Brothers” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, landing a 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The acquisition reunites Focus Features with “Baby Driver” director Wright, who also directed the upcoming “Last Night in Soho” for the distributor. Universal Pictures is distributing the film internationally.
Sparks is comprised of brothers Russell and Ron Mael, who have released more than 20 albums over the decades. They have proven to be highly influential, as they’ve dabbled in experimental ’70s pop and later synth dance music that has inspired artists across genres on the backs of albums like “Kimono My House,” “No. 1 in Heaven” and “Propaganda.”
And yet Wright’s “The Sparks Brothers,” his documentary debut, posits that this rock band...
- 2/23/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Film charts five-decade career of pop duo Sparks Aka Ron and Russell Mael.
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights from MRC Non-Fiction to Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers following its world premiere at 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
The film charts the five-decade career of pop duo Sparks Aka Ron and Russell Mael, and features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, and Neil Gaiman, among others.
Wright produced the documentary with his producing partner Nira Park though their Complete Fiction Pictures, alongside George Hencken and Complete Fiction’s Laura Richardson. MRC Non-Fiction financed the feature.
Focus...
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights from MRC Non-Fiction to Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers following its world premiere at 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
The film charts the five-decade career of pop duo Sparks Aka Ron and Russell Mael, and features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, and Neil Gaiman, among others.
Wright produced the documentary with his producing partner Nira Park though their Complete Fiction Pictures, alongside George Hencken and Complete Fiction’s Laura Richardson. MRC Non-Fiction financed the feature.
Focus...
- 2/23/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Focus Features has picked up the worldwide rights to The Sparks Brothers, the documentary debut from director Edgar Wright.
The doc, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the cult pop duo Sparks, and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Meyers.
MRC Non-Fiction is behind the doc, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Focus, which will distribute the picture domestically with Universal handling international, is set to release Wright’s next ...
The doc, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the cult pop duo Sparks, and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Meyers.
MRC Non-Fiction is behind the doc, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Focus, which will distribute the picture domestically with Universal handling international, is set to release Wright’s next ...
- 2/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Focus Features has picked up the worldwide rights to The Sparks Brothers, the documentary debut from director Edgar Wright.
The doc, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the cult pop duo Sparks, and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Meyers.
MRC Non-Fiction is behind the doc, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Focus, which will distribute the picture domestically with Universal handling international, is set to release Wright’s next ...
The doc, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the decades-long career and influence of the cult pop duo Sparks, and features archival footage as well as interviews with fans that include Beck, Flea, Neil Gaiman and Mike Meyers.
MRC Non-Fiction is behind the doc, which Wright produced with Nira Park under their company Complete Fiction Pictures, along with Laura Richardson and George Hencken.
Focus, which will distribute the picture domestically with Universal handling international, is set to release Wright’s next ...
- 2/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Nothing fits the music documentary format quite so compellingly as a life cut tragically short. In addition to the ready-made dramatic arc, a subject who leaves this mortal coil before their time usually also leaves a certain amount of mystery in their wake, providing ample grist for filmmakers (and the folks they interview) to chew on.
Even when the hows and whys of an artist's tragic exit are a matter of uncontroversial record, questions of "What might have been?" inevitably linger over their prematurely truncated discography — in itself a far...
Even when the hows and whys of an artist's tragic exit are a matter of uncontroversial record, questions of "What might have been?" inevitably linger over their prematurely truncated discography — in itself a far...
- 12/31/2015
- Rollingstone.com
At the dawn of the 1980s, a group of five working class London boys called Spandau Ballet, set out to brighten up the dark days of punk-era Britain with far-out, futuristic fashion, a love of Studio 54 disco and German synthpop. Their danceable hooks topped the charts, with classics like "True," "Gold," "Instinction" and "Chant No. 1," while their cover boy looks graced every teen magazine. After a twenty-year breakup, that included a famously ugly courthouse battle, the men, now in middle age, remembered what they loved about playing in the first place and began a reunion tour, but there was still much that needed sorting. Director George Hencken's Soul Boys Of The Western World charts the band's rise, breakup, and reunion.To Cut a Long...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 5/5/2015
- Screen Anarchy
The rise of the New Romantics and other flamboyant music camps in early-Eighties British pop led Paul Weller (the Jam, Style Council) to carp that it was "like punk never happened." The fantastic documentary Soul Boys of the Western World blurs cultural lines and complicates the politics (and dismissiveness) of Weller's comment. Director George Hencken charts the rise, fall, and rebirth of Spandau Ballet, first of the New Romantic superstars. Early in the film there's footage of a young Gary Kemp, Spandau's songwriter and lead guitarist, noting middle-class blokes' disdain of glamour and the appearance of success, while working-class folks like him and the rest of the band happily embraced them. Through superb editing of stock footage, home movies, new and vinta...
- 4/29/2015
- Village Voice
Sundance Selects has acquired Us rights to George Hencken’s Soul Boys Of The Western World ahead of this weekend’s screening at Doc NYC.
Soul Boys Of The Western World premiered earlier this year at SXSW and tells of the New Romantic band’s rise and features previously unseen footage from the band’s personal archives and interviews with all five members.
The film will open theatrically and on VOD in 2015.
Steve Dagger and Scott Millaney produced the Wellingmax documentary. Search Engine Films has acquired Canadian rights.
Senior vp of acquisitions Arianna Bocco and manager of acquisitions Sean Berney negotiated the deal with Josh Braun and Ben Braun of Submarine Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers.
Soul Boys Of The Western World premiered earlier this year at SXSW and tells of the New Romantic band’s rise and features previously unseen footage from the band’s personal archives and interviews with all five members.
The film will open theatrically and on VOD in 2015.
Steve Dagger and Scott Millaney produced the Wellingmax documentary. Search Engine Films has acquired Canadian rights.
Senior vp of acquisitions Arianna Bocco and manager of acquisitions Sean Berney negotiated the deal with Josh Braun and Ben Braun of Submarine Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 11/14/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Buyers launch Metro International doc.
Metro International Entertainment continues to close deals on Spandau Ballet doc Soul Boys of the Western World.
Recently launched campaigns include Madman in Australia/New Zealand, Nexo and Feltrinelli in Italy and September Films (formally Wild Bunch) in Benelux.
McF has boarded rights for ex-Yugoslavia while negotiations are underway in Middle East, Scandinavia, Spain, Germany and France.
Submarine handles Us rights.
Director George Hencken’s music biopic charts the rise, fall and reunion of the iconic ‘80s band through newsreel footage and new video content from the band’s personal archives.
The doc next heads to Docs NYC and Cph:dox in Copenhagen later this month.
Metrodome released in the UK.
Also on Metro’s slate for Afm is Destroyer, The Hurricanes and Kajaki.
Metro International Entertainment continues to close deals on Spandau Ballet doc Soul Boys of the Western World.
Recently launched campaigns include Madman in Australia/New Zealand, Nexo and Feltrinelli in Italy and September Films (formally Wild Bunch) in Benelux.
McF has boarded rights for ex-Yugoslavia while negotiations are underway in Middle East, Scandinavia, Spain, Germany and France.
Submarine handles Us rights.
Director George Hencken’s music biopic charts the rise, fall and reunion of the iconic ‘80s band through newsreel footage and new video content from the band’s personal archives.
The doc next heads to Docs NYC and Cph:dox in Copenhagen later this month.
Metrodome released in the UK.
Also on Metro’s slate for Afm is Destroyer, The Hurricanes and Kajaki.
- 11/7/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Buyers launch Metro International doc.
Metro International Entertainment continues to close deals on Spandau Ballet doc Soul Boys of the Western World.
Recently launched campaigns include Madman in Australia/New Zealand, Nexo and Feltrinelli in Italy and September Films (formally Wild Bunch) in Benelux.
McF has boarded rights for ex-Yugoslavia while negotiations are underway in Middle East, Scandinavia, Spain, Germany and France.
Submarine handles Us rights.
Director George Hencken’s music biopic charts the rise, fall and reunion of the iconic ‘80s band through newsreel footage and new video content from the band’s personal archives.
The doc next heads to Docs NYC and Cph:dox in Copenhagen later this month.
Metrodome released in the UK.
Also on Metro’s slate for Afm is Destroyer, The Hurricanes and Kajaki.
Metro International Entertainment continues to close deals on Spandau Ballet doc Soul Boys of the Western World.
Recently launched campaigns include Madman in Australia/New Zealand, Nexo and Feltrinelli in Italy and September Films (formally Wild Bunch) in Benelux.
McF has boarded rights for ex-Yugoslavia while negotiations are underway in Middle East, Scandinavia, Spain, Germany and France.
Submarine handles Us rights.
Director George Hencken’s music biopic charts the rise, fall and reunion of the iconic ‘80s band through newsreel footage and new video content from the band’s personal archives.
The doc next heads to Docs NYC and Cph:dox in Copenhagen later this month.
Metrodome released in the UK.
Also on Metro’s slate for Afm is Destroyer, The Hurricanes and Kajaki.
- 11/7/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Spandau Ballet are in the middle of a renaissance. They recently marked the 35th anniversary with a Prs for Music Heritage Award, they will soon release brand new music, and will have a primetime ITV special later this year.
Kicking off the Spandau revival though, is Soul Boys of the Western World, a brand new documentary about the band from filmmaker George Hencken.
However, it isn't just your average music documentary with talking heads and hindsight views, as it is made almost entirely out of archive material. Spandau Ballet had been planning on making a movie about their time as a band for several years, and began work on such a project after reuniting for comeback shows in 2009.
However, the project stalled until it was offered to Hencken, who had previously worked with Julien Temple on 2012's London - The Modern Babylon.
"I suggested that perhaps it would be a...
Kicking off the Spandau revival though, is Soul Boys of the Western World, a brand new documentary about the band from filmmaker George Hencken.
However, it isn't just your average music documentary with talking heads and hindsight views, as it is made almost entirely out of archive material. Spandau Ballet had been planning on making a movie about their time as a band for several years, and began work on such a project after reuniting for comeback shows in 2009.
However, the project stalled until it was offered to Hencken, who had previously worked with Julien Temple on 2012's London - The Modern Babylon.
"I suggested that perhaps it would be a...
- 9/29/2014
- Digital Spy
Name and focus changes for every section, which are now all competitive, resulting in the festival’s structure being “slimmer’.
The ninth Rome Film Festival (Oct 16-25) has revealed a diverse line-up including the Italian premieres for potential awards contenders including David Fincher’s Gone Girl. the world premiere of Takashi Miike’s As the Gods Will and Burhan Qurbani’s We are Young, We are Strong and European premiere of Oren Moverman’s Time Out of Mind, Toronto hit Still Alice and Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.
This year for the first time the award-winners in each section of the programme will be decided by the audience on the basis of votes cast after the screenings.
Each section has changed name and focus for 2014 and are all competitive, resulting in the festival’s structure being “slimmer’.
Italian comedies Soap Opera and Andiamo a Quel Paese bookend the line-up.
Full line-up
Cinema D’Oggi
World premiere
• Angely...
The ninth Rome Film Festival (Oct 16-25) has revealed a diverse line-up including the Italian premieres for potential awards contenders including David Fincher’s Gone Girl. the world premiere of Takashi Miike’s As the Gods Will and Burhan Qurbani’s We are Young, We are Strong and European premiere of Oren Moverman’s Time Out of Mind, Toronto hit Still Alice and Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.
This year for the first time the award-winners in each section of the programme will be decided by the audience on the basis of votes cast after the screenings.
Each section has changed name and focus for 2014 and are all competitive, resulting in the festival’s structure being “slimmer’.
Italian comedies Soap Opera and Andiamo a Quel Paese bookend the line-up.
Full line-up
Cinema D’Oggi
World premiere
• Angely...
- 9/29/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Want to know what British films are coming out this month? Then look no further than our fabulous movie calendar...
Welcome to our new, regularly updated calendar of all the British movies due for release in UK cinemas over the coming months. So if you're keen to keep up-to-date on the latest in home grown cinema - from documentaries to dramas, and comedy horror to science fiction - this is the ideal post for you.
So here's what's coming up in the future.
12 September 2014
Pride
Director: Matthew Warchus
Cast: Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Andrew Scott
Details: A drama about a group of gay and lesbian activists donating to people in need during the 1984 miners' strike.
Jack To A King - The Swansea Story
Director: Marc Evans
Cast: Tbc
Details: A documentary about Swansea football fans.
19 September 2014
Night Will Fall
Director: Andre Singer
Cast: Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Bernstein
Details: A documentary...
Welcome to our new, regularly updated calendar of all the British movies due for release in UK cinemas over the coming months. So if you're keen to keep up-to-date on the latest in home grown cinema - from documentaries to dramas, and comedy horror to science fiction - this is the ideal post for you.
So here's what's coming up in the future.
12 September 2014
Pride
Director: Matthew Warchus
Cast: Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Andrew Scott
Details: A drama about a group of gay and lesbian activists donating to people in need during the 1984 miners' strike.
Jack To A King - The Swansea Story
Director: Marc Evans
Cast: Tbc
Details: A documentary about Swansea football fans.
19 September 2014
Night Will Fall
Director: Andre Singer
Cast: Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Bernstein
Details: A documentary...
- 9/12/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Spandau Ballet's film Soul Boys of the Western World will be broadcast live in a one-off satellite premiere screening.
The film will screen on September 30, before going on general release in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on October 3.
Following the premiere screening, Spandau Ballet will reunite on stage for the first time since 2010.
Lauren Laverne will host a question and answer session with the band and director George Hencken, before the group perform some of their classic anthems. The event will be broadcast to cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
Soul Boys of the Western World explores the band's journey through the 1980's and beyond, and looks at how one small gathering of outsiders helped to shape the entire world's view of music and fashion.
The film combines newsreel footage with never-before-seen video from the band's personal archive and candid interviews with the band members.
Spandau Ballet sold...
The film will screen on September 30, before going on general release in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on October 3.
Following the premiere screening, Spandau Ballet will reunite on stage for the first time since 2010.
Lauren Laverne will host a question and answer session with the band and director George Hencken, before the group perform some of their classic anthems. The event will be broadcast to cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
Soul Boys of the Western World explores the band's journey through the 1980's and beyond, and looks at how one small gathering of outsiders helped to shape the entire world's view of music and fashion.
The film combines newsreel footage with never-before-seen video from the band's personal archive and candid interviews with the band members.
Spandau Ballet sold...
- 8/18/2014
- Digital Spy
Spandau Ballet members Tony Hadley, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman tell Henry Barnes at the 2014 Cannes film festival about walking the line between art and fame, and how Thatcher-era politics influenced their band. Meanwhile director George Hencken explains why she wanted to make Soul Boys of the Western World, a documentary about the 80s new romantic band, despite never being a fan of their music Continue reading...
- 5/19/2014
- by Guardian Staff
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: UK distributor nabs music doc from Metro International.
UK distributor Metrodome Distribution has picked up Spandau Ballet doc Soul Boys of the Western World from Metro International.
The SXSW title, which documents the story of the iconic ‘80s band through newsreel footage and new video content from the band’s personal archives, is directed by George Hencken.
The deal was negotiated by Metro International head of sales Natalie Brenner on behalf of the producers Scott Millaney and Steve Dagger.
Band members Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Steve Norman and Martin Kemp are in Cannes for a marche screening of the film on Friday.
The film is scheduled for an October 2014 theatrical release in the UK.
Managing director of Metrodome, Jezz Vernon, commented: “It would have been enough to have drawn together the career beats of Spandau Ballet, but George Hencken has made a genuinely special piece of film making, which pushes the medium and transports you back...
UK distributor Metrodome Distribution has picked up Spandau Ballet doc Soul Boys of the Western World from Metro International.
The SXSW title, which documents the story of the iconic ‘80s band through newsreel footage and new video content from the band’s personal archives, is directed by George Hencken.
The deal was negotiated by Metro International head of sales Natalie Brenner on behalf of the producers Scott Millaney and Steve Dagger.
Band members Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Steve Norman and Martin Kemp are in Cannes for a marche screening of the film on Friday.
The film is scheduled for an October 2014 theatrical release in the UK.
Managing director of Metrodome, Jezz Vernon, commented: “It would have been enough to have drawn together the career beats of Spandau Ballet, but George Hencken has made a genuinely special piece of film making, which pushes the medium and transports you back...
- 5/15/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Metro International to screen documentary about 80s band to buyers.
Soul Boys of the Western World, a documentary about 1980s group Spandau Ballet that proved a hit at SXSW in March, is to be screened to buyers at the Cannes Marché next month, handled by UK sales company Metro International.
Members of the band, which had more than 20 hit singles such as True and Gold, are expected to make an appearance on the Croisette, five years after launching the project at the film festival.
They will be joined by first-time director George Hencken to screen the film and launch international sales, ahead of a theatrical release later this year.
The film charts the rise of the band, which formed in the late 70s and went on to sell more than 25 million records around the world. The archive-only feature tells how band members Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble came together, broke...
Soul Boys of the Western World, a documentary about 1980s group Spandau Ballet that proved a hit at SXSW in March, is to be screened to buyers at the Cannes Marché next month, handled by UK sales company Metro International.
Members of the band, which had more than 20 hit singles such as True and Gold, are expected to make an appearance on the Croisette, five years after launching the project at the film festival.
They will be joined by first-time director George Hencken to screen the film and launch international sales, ahead of a theatrical release later this year.
The film charts the rise of the band, which formed in the late 70s and went on to sell more than 25 million records around the world. The archive-only feature tells how band members Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble came together, broke...
- 4/28/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: UK sales outfit boards SXSW-bound doc about iconic 80s band.
Metro International has boarded sales on documentary Soul Boys of the Western World about iconic 1980s band Spandau Ballet, which is set to premiere at SXSW in March.
The archive film charts the rise, fall and reunion of the New Romantic group, comprising Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, John Keeble and Martin Kemp, which sold an estimated 20 million records worldwide.
The documentary, which debuts in SXSW’s 24 Beats Section, is directed by long-term Julien Temple collaborator George Hencken. Producers are Steve Dagger and Scott Millaney.
Metro International partner and head of sales Natalie Brenner told Screen: “We are very excited to have George Hencken’s entertaining and beautifully crafted documentary on our slate.
“It’s going to thrill the hordes of Spandau fans around the world but also delight anyone who harbors nostalgia for the 1980s music, fashion and culture.”
Brenner and Metro...
Metro International has boarded sales on documentary Soul Boys of the Western World about iconic 1980s band Spandau Ballet, which is set to premiere at SXSW in March.
The archive film charts the rise, fall and reunion of the New Romantic group, comprising Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, John Keeble and Martin Kemp, which sold an estimated 20 million records worldwide.
The documentary, which debuts in SXSW’s 24 Beats Section, is directed by long-term Julien Temple collaborator George Hencken. Producers are Steve Dagger and Scott Millaney.
Metro International partner and head of sales Natalie Brenner told Screen: “We are very excited to have George Hencken’s entertaining and beautifully crafted documentary on our slate.
“It’s going to thrill the hordes of Spandau fans around the world but also delight anyone who harbors nostalgia for the 1980s music, fashion and culture.”
Brenner and Metro...
- 2/5/2014
- ScreenDaily
Sundance just ended, and we are already preparing for the next big film festival, South By Southwest. Not too long ago, the festival announced a few of the films premiering this year, but now they’ve announced the main slate. The midnight selections and some inevitable late-breaking additions are still to be announced, but this should be more than enough to get you excited. Along with many World Premieres, and Sundance favorites like Richard Linklater’s Boyhood and Gareth Evans’ The Raid 2, the line up also includes an anniversary screening of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and an extended Q&A screening of The Grand Budapest Hotel with Wes Anderson. SXSW 2014 runs March 7 through 15 in Austin, Texas. Check out the line up after the jump.
****
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,324 films submitted to SXSW 2014. Films screening in Narrative...
****
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,324 films submitted to SXSW 2014. Films screening in Narrative...
- 1/31/2014
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Today the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced a diverse features lineup for this year’s Festival, the 21st edition and running March 7 – 15, 2014 in Austin, Texas. The 2014 program expands on SXSW tradition of embracing a range of genres and span of budgets, featuring a wealth of vision from experienced and developing filmmakers alike.
For more information visit http://sxsw.com/film.
Listed in the announcement are 115 of the features that will screen over the course of nine days at SXSW 2014. The lineup below includes 68 films from first-time filmmakers, and consists of 76 World Premieres, 10 North American Premieres and 7 U.S. Premieres. These films were selected from a record 2,215 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,540 U.S. and 675 international feature-length films. With a record number of 6,482 submissions total, the overall increase was 14% over 2013. The Midnighters feature section and the Short Film program will be announced on February 5, with the complete...
For more information visit http://sxsw.com/film.
Listed in the announcement are 115 of the features that will screen over the course of nine days at SXSW 2014. The lineup below includes 68 films from first-time filmmakers, and consists of 76 World Premieres, 10 North American Premieres and 7 U.S. Premieres. These films were selected from a record 2,215 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,540 U.S. and 675 international feature-length films. With a record number of 6,482 submissions total, the overall increase was 14% over 2013. The Midnighters feature section and the Short Film program will be announced on February 5, with the complete...
- 1/31/2014
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After announcing earlier this month that Jon Favreau’s Chef and the Veronica Mars movie will be making their world debuts at SXSW this year, the festival has revealed its full line-up, including further very promising world premieres, alongside appearances from some of the year’s most high-profile films.
The Midnight programme will be announced early next month, along with the Shorts line-up, and the complete Conference slate a little later as well.
Led by Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, Nicholas Stoller’s anticipated R-rated comedy, Neighbors, will be making its world debut at the festival, notably marked out as a ‘work-in-progress’ ahead of its theatrical release in May.
David Gordon Green’s acclaimed Joe will make its Us premiere, having bowed at Venice and then Toronto last year. Early reviews have Nicolas Cage giving one of the finest performances of his career, with Tye Sheridan (Mud) excellent alongside him.
The Midnight programme will be announced early next month, along with the Shorts line-up, and the complete Conference slate a little later as well.
Led by Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, Nicholas Stoller’s anticipated R-rated comedy, Neighbors, will be making its world debut at the festival, notably marked out as a ‘work-in-progress’ ahead of its theatrical release in May.
David Gordon Green’s acclaimed Joe will make its Us premiere, having bowed at Venice and then Toronto last year. Early reviews have Nicolas Cage giving one of the finest performances of his career, with Tye Sheridan (Mud) excellent alongside him.
- 1/30/2014
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Not sure if there is a Short Term 12 equivalent in this year’s Narrative Feature Comp, but on paper SXSW programmers are serving up a mean (and the usual lean group of 8 out of a whopping 1,324 film entries) for the upcoming competitiuon of eight which includes notable entries (that we’ve been tracking for a good time now) such as Zachary Wigon’s The Heart Machine, John Magary’s The Mend, Leah Meyerhoff’s I Believe in Unicorns and Lawrence Michael Levine’s Wild Canaries. Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated docs of the year, on the non-fiction side we find Margaret Brown’s The Great Invisible. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the other sections (notable world preems in We’ll Never Have Paris and Faults (see Mary Elizabeth Winstead above), some Sundance items with Texan connections and other nuggets.
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight...
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight...
- 1/30/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Detroit is a city in terminal decline. When film director Julien Temple arrived in town, he was shocked by what he found – but he also uncovered reasons for hope
When the film- maker Roger Graef approached me last year to make a film about the rise and fall of Detroit I had very few preconceptions about the place. Like everyone else, I knew it as the Motor City, one of the great epicentres of 20th-century music, and home of the American automobile. Only when I arrived in the city itself did the full-frontal cultural car crash that is 21st-century Detroit became blindingly apparent.
Leaving behind the gift shops of the "Big Three" car manufacturers, the Motown merchandise and the bizarre ejaculating fountains of the now-notorious international airport, things become stranger and stranger. The drive along eerily empty ghost freeways into the ruins of inner-city Detroit is an Alice-like journey into a severely dystopian future.
When the film- maker Roger Graef approached me last year to make a film about the rise and fall of Detroit I had very few preconceptions about the place. Like everyone else, I knew it as the Motor City, one of the great epicentres of 20th-century music, and home of the American automobile. Only when I arrived in the city itself did the full-frontal cultural car crash that is 21st-century Detroit became blindingly apparent.
Leaving behind the gift shops of the "Big Three" car manufacturers, the Motown merchandise and the bizarre ejaculating fountains of the now-notorious international airport, things become stranger and stranger. The drive along eerily empty ghost freeways into the ruins of inner-city Detroit is an Alice-like journey into a severely dystopian future.
- 3/10/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
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