There may be a better documentary about this film’s documentarians.
It took me so long to finally watch this movie – mainly because it was initially only recommended to me by friends who thought I should see it “as a musician”. It was sold to me as yet another “See? It all worked out in the end” story – one kind of story i have a big problem with.
When I finally was convinced to see it, it was by friends who completely rejected that interpretation of the story. And, after seeing it, I agree: it’s not an Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2011)-type doco about the struggling musician who finally makes good. The film doesn’t laugh at its subject – if anything, it lauds him, perhaps a little too much.
And yes, it is an interesting story in part – funnily enough, the part without Rodriguez in it. The effect of Rodriguez is far more inspiring than the man – which is fair enough – but maybe there’s a better movie in that: a documentary about the documentarians, specifically about the power of fandom and mythologising to swell, perhaps distort, but in very real ways affect lives.
Further Viewing
Speaking of autobiographical movies about music fandom: