rowankidman
Japanese fans are the best fans in the world. In all genres, Japanese fans are LOYAL. They are the best best fans. Yes it was a well manufactured part of the film but to see that one moment in Tokyo when the band stepped out onto the stage and to see the audience and reception that the band received......it was like the complete healing of all the band's wounds disappointments sustained over many years. That is the Japanese and that is the kindness that Japan can show to outsiders. And the music that showed those "deje vu" moments of the band brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it ans watch that portion of the film as I still await for the day that I also may return once again to one of the greatest places on earth.
afilmaday
The questionable quote by Picasso 'Every child is born an artist, the problem is to remain one once they grow up' is important and poignant for artists making that transition from childhood to adulthood. How far will an artist go to keep their dreams alive? What happens if things don't go to plan? How will they support themselves? These are important questions every aspiring artist, musician, actor, writer, filmmaker, animator, designer etc. must consider. Today's feature is a prime example, this is Anvil! The Story of Anvil.Plot: Canadian metal group Anvil are considered the inventors of thrash metal, with many bands citing them as a direct influence, such as Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax, and were a big act in '84, playing alongside Scorpions, Whitesnake and Bon Jovi. Unfortunately were never met with the success that others had and director Sacha Gervasi, self-proclaimed 'number one Anvil fan of Britain', documents the struggling band as they approach their 50s still chasing their dreams.Metal fans everywhere will view the movies introductory interviews with Lemmy, Lars Ulrich, Slash and many other megastars as a brief subjective history lesson. It introduces Anvil's significance to the genre and heavily glorifies the band. It then dramatically juxtaposes with the celebration of lead vocalist Lips' 50th birthday with the band playing in a bar in Canada emphasising the lack of commercial success they should have had. This contrast sets the tone of being a true underdog story and we are then presented with their ups & downs throughout.This documentary is not unflinching or gritty realistic that one might expect, but director Sacha Gervasi brilliantly sets the tone to match that of the band; Lips' natural optimism, drummer Robb Reiner's endless patience and newcomers' support for their dreams. He edits the movie in such a fashion that one is only aware of it upon reflection; their first gig at Sweden Rock festival, Lips interacts with those whom he admires including Michael Schenker and Tommy Aldridge, which makes Anvil relatable and much like regular fans. At the same festival, two Japanese fans approach them, one of them labelled as an 'original Anvil fan', a foreshadowing to the climatic gig in Japan, where it appears they have a very large fan base. During their European tour, it presents the issues of their passionate but poor manager Tiziana Arrigoni who gives the band empty venues, un-paying owners and poor accommodations; the first gig in Sweden went perfect, second gig in Prague was troublesome, with a lawyer in attendance telling them they are being conned by their "shit manager", and final gig in Transylvania, being told 5,000 people are to show and only 174 do so. It was a 34 day tour, yet presented in a typical 3-Act story structure. This is not an attack or a negative comment, but Gervasi made these creative choices to give them necessary exposure and admiration the band rightfully deserves. If he had made it fully realistic, then the tone would contrast to the tone of the band and appear like an attack or putdown.It has moments of sadness when Lips is presented almost as a victim, with a clearly unsupportive but tolerant family, and this presentation of victimisation manipulates the spectator into siding with Anvil. The constant rejections from record labels and some hope with old producer Chris Tsangarides all give perfect plot points to structure this brilliant true-life underdog story.Anvil! The Story of Anvil is accessible to everyone for it does not rely on its audiences' prior knowledge to the genre. Anyone involved with the arts must watch this portrayal of artists struggling to get by and do what they love. Yes, it is manipulative for structural purposes but the message is loud; doing what you love involves plenty of sacrifice and will not always end how you wanted it. High recommendation for anyone wanting a great underdog documentary.
Neddy Merrill
This documentary chronicling an old-fashioned Canadian heavy metal band is unexpectedly emotionally affective and rich in absurdist ?This is Spinal Tap? moments. Director Sacha Gervasi creates a loving portrait of the natural outcome of a teenage promise kept between band founders Steve ?Lips? Kudlow and Robb ?Robbo? Reiner to rock until they were old men. That day has come without the band graduating out of obscurity and the men must persist in trying to land gigs and a recording contract ? a mammoth challenge even if they were in their 20s and worked in a more contemporary genre. Our heroes persevere through their Spinal Tap moments including missed trains, getting lost in Prague and the ridicule of family members. However, it the fact that they do become the heroes of the piece that speaks to Gervasi?s editing skill and the way he frames the depth of the relationship between Lips and Robbo. So effective is Gervasi that when only 174 people attend an Anvil show in a 5,000 seat arena the audience?s response is not laughter but groaning. You wind up rooting for these guys and their final, again Spinal Tap-esque, triumph in Japan lets you leave the theater feeling virtual vindication. I'm pre-outraged that the academy didn't nominate this as best documentary. Find a theater that showing it ? you won?t be disappointed.
Jim Kobayashi
The most of people in the world probably put a priority on the safey when they choose the most important aspect in their lives. "The safety for the own future" That's the life all about, isn't it? We just give up the dreams such as be a musician, dancer, or painter, and get boring "but decent" jobs in order to spent happy life in the future.But what is the happiness anyway? Isn't it sarcastic too many people work hard and do some crappy jobs to get "happy life" and end up being "unhappy" because of their work. Isn't it better if you chase your dream and end up poor but have no regrets in your life. In this film, Anvil prove that's one of the way of living.Chasing their dream and giving their middle finger to the safety for the future. After I watched the film it got me thinking for a while. Maybe Lips and Robb didn't get a big house and enough pension for rest of their life, and they did'nt even succeed as a band. But they've been doing what they wanted through their entire life and that's the thing we call happiness, isn't it? Anyway, the movie is just great. Everybody can enjoy the movie without knowledge for Heavy Metal History.