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Post by Dave on May 31, 2013 2:14:44 GMT
Thought I would create this thread where people can talk freely about anything in the film.
Even though it's not your usual narrative film, I'm sure there are plenty of people who will appreciate being able to avoid any information about the film's content before they see it themselves
I see a couple of personal reviews have appeared in another thread... so if you want to copy and paste the same text into this thread then that's fine by me.
Anyway... What did I make of the film?
I really enjoyed the first 30 minutes or so, and found it all quite interesting, but at a certain point, the film switched up another gear for me. Not sure when exactly, but once the the Warrington Parr Hall stuff began I realised I was fully taken by the film.
Now, I am acquainted with the Stone Roses to a certain degree, but there's no way I can claim to be a full-on fan by any stretch of the imagination... and this is where the film somehow pulls a master stroke. On one-level that I really connected with, it doesn't even matter that it's about the Stone Roses because for me it was often more overwhemingly about what it is to be a music fan... and I mean fan in the proper sense.. fanatic.
This is the bit where I admit to nearly blubbing... which is quite a mean feat for the film to pull off considering I am not hugely invested in the Stone Roses themselves. It was the bit during the Warrington Parr Hall bit where we get the shot of the fans that didn't get in as they listen from outside which then cuts back into the gig and Waterfall starting up. What a moment. Something there hit me really strongly, and at the time I wasn't even sure why.
I think it was just how it was a perfect display of fandom and how the looks on the glum faces of those stuck outside and the euphoric faces inside the gig were expressing the same thing, just from emotionally opposite positions.
So overall, it left me more impressed with the music of the Stone Roses (Shane was right when he was saying they were better than ever after reforoming)...and amazed that a film captured the essence of what it is to be a music fan rather than someone who just enjoys listening to music.
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Post by jill on May 31, 2013 10:18:18 GMT
Thought I would create this thread where people can talk freely about anything in the film. Even though it's not your usual narrative film, I'm sure there are plenty of people who will appreciate being able to avoid any information about the film's content before they see it themselves I see a couple of personal reviews have appeared in another thread... so if you want to copy and paste the same text into this thread then that's fine by me. ... I admit to nearly blubbing... which is quite a mean feat for the film to pull off considering I am not hugely invested in the Stone Roses themselves. It was the bit during the Warrington Parr Hall bit where we get the shot of the fans that didn't get in as they listen from outside which then cuts back into the gig and Waterfall starting up. What a moment......amazed that a film captured the essence of what it is to be a music fan rather than someone who just enjoys listening to music. Completely agree about that bit-was so poignant. Agree about the fandom thing as well. That's what I meant(below) about the fans maybe feeling they own it..it completely captured the passion and love the fans have for the music/band-which translate to any band people feel passionately about. Think that's also what I meant (I was tired last night)about it feeling like a Shane Meadows Film even as it was a big scale, big budget project-same empathy and emotion woven seemlessly right through it. A film made by somebody who gives a f*ck. To be honest, I can't say much more about the film right now. I was too caught up in the moment to really think about how it was crafted. Was surprised when Shane said afterwards that there were more cuts in Fools Gold than the whole of This is England! Loved the split screen stuff-was kind of Beatlesish-and, as Thegooddoctor said, captured the intimacy of those small moments and looks. I'm going to have to watch it again... I've re-posted my little review from last night below, although it's spoiler free. Post by jill on 10 hours ago10 hours ago thegooddoctor said: Well, that was pretty fucking wonderful wasn't it? Couldn't have put it better Absolutely loved it..There was laughing and clapping in the cinema I watched it in! I don't really get those (few, to be fair) reviewers who are bemoaning the fact that Shane didn't poke and prod at the wound..Why? People can read between the lines on that kind of stuff can't they? And I really didn't want some NME type 'serious' dissection either. Thought it was warm and celebratory and quite beautiful really....a film that I think Stone Roses fans wil not only enjoy, but sort of feel they own, if that makes sense. Not going to say much about it as a film. Going to watch it again next week when it's on general release. Just to say, when I heard about the big budget and 100s of cameras..and cinematographers and so on, I was still excited to see it, but was wondering whether this was really going to look and feel like a Shane Meadows Film. If anybody reading this has had the same thoughts and hasn't seen it yet-you've got nothing to worry about PS. Mick Jones being interviewed on the red carpet was another little highlight for me too |
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Post by Bill Edwards on May 31, 2013 11:23:35 GMT
Epic is the word that describes this film. A beautiful and touching love letter to a perfectly formed collection of songs, the band that performs them and their loyal followers.
It did feel like a Shane Meadows film too. His empathetic touches were there – especially in the many vox pops with the fans. Funny and moving.
Like Jill I loved the Waterfall rehearsal sequence with the split-screen giving it a grand epic quality. It also reminded me of mid-sixties Beatles footage.
A real film about a feeling. Always an natural ability that Shane has. A beautiful feeling about how music can touch you when you're young and live with you forever. Their first album has a primal quality and this film captures that quality beautifully.
Fools Gold was my entry into The Stone Roses so I was chuffed that the film ended with a massive wig-out version of it at Heaton Park. Stunningly filmed.
And there lies the problem with this film for me. It ended. I really did want to go on for a lot lot longer. But Shane Meadows is the master of less is more and I was left wanting much much more. I will be seeing it again. I might have to go and see them live...
The atmosphere at QUAD was great with the auditorium packed with Roses fans and the live link-up created a great sense of occasion.
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Post by thegooddoctor on May 31, 2013 11:54:49 GMT
Yeah, if I have one complaint it was the "occasion-ness" of it all. The footage of John and Ian being monosyllabic in interview is so great (Herbert says it made him want to be in a band- me too) that the whole fawning sleb bollocks seemed redundant. (Though seeing a pissed Turgoose was ace!) PRETTY much everyone in the screening I was in was hammered -set the tone for the Q&A  |
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Post by jill on May 31, 2013 12:43:49 GMT
the auditorium packed with Roses fans.... Wall to wall adidas  PRETTY much everyone in the screening I was in was hammered -set the tone for the Q&A Were you at the main event in Manchester by any chance? What was that woman on? Scary |
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Post by Dave on May 31, 2013 15:51:00 GMT
Haha.. yeah.. what a first person to get on the mic for questions!
What was the big cheer all about when Shane mentioned getting his iPhone out to record the first rehearsals? haha Was it an in joke of some sort, or just a kind of "Ooo get him!" kind of thing?
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Post by saffy on Jun 7, 2013 17:50:21 GMT
Well.
What can I say?
What a fantastic tribute Shane ... I loved it when you went to the door where you were supposed to be meeting them, and your eyes said it all .. "I'm meeting my heroes" .. a bit like mine were when I met you (and Pete McKee) ..
You even made Ian Brown look less of a knob than I remembered .. (sorry Shane), when he took the hate from the Amsterdam audience .. and as for the guitar solo at the end .. well, it won Mike over - one of the first things he said was, "I'll get the DVD just to hear and see that guitar solo again!"
I thought Shane captured the old times, the rehearsals, the getting together and I LOVED when they re united and just seemed to be enjoying it so much ..
I hope Mark and Shane do a voice over on the DVD .. that would be fantastic.
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Post by GR on Apr 27, 2014 4:21:14 GMT
I finally got the Region 1 DVD a few days ago, and just finished watching it. Having completely missed the band the first time around -- I'd never even heard of them until some time after they broke up -- it was a thrill to actually see the boys in action (and really enjoying themselves, to boot). The "Waterfall" rehearsal scene especially made me grin. Most intriguing DVD extra: Since I haven't had time to check out the commentary yet, I was most fascinated by the "Behind the Scenes: Warrington Parr Hall" 13-minute deleted sequence, which did a pretty fine job of explaining Shane's approach to this film. Oh, and I loved the full-length "She Bangs the Drums" performance! |
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