Jeanskynebu
the audience applauded
Dorathen
Better Late Then Never
Lidia Draper
Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.
paul2001sw-1
Blur were a pop band, influential in the "Britpop" movement celebrated by the press, and briefly the most famous band in Britain. Eclipsed by Oasis, they descended into turmoil and drugs, but continued to make interesting music; I was never a fan, but can acknowledge their interest in musical experimentation. After eventually splitting up, they reunited to play some widely acclaimed comeback gigs last year, and this documentary follows this tour while recalling the band's history. And it's actually a fascinating story; not too self-aggrandising, it's a tale of four mates who became inadvertently famous, and an insight into how people deal, or don't deal, with such a transformation. At one point, one of the band members refers to a documentary about the band Metallica, which revealed it's members to be self-obsessed, business-oriented and utterly unappealing; by contrast, Blur all seem very human, even front-man Damon Albarn. But it's shy guitarist Graham Coxon who steals the show, he seems the unlikeliest of pop stars, which explains a lot of why he found his fame so hard to deal with. I'm still don't like the music that much; but having seen this film, I kind of like the band.
Framescourer
Covering the comeback gigs of 2009, No Distance Left To Run also looks back at the story of Blur. The tale is told with some fairly candid up-to- date interviews with all four of the band and with a certain amount of honesty although the film strikes me as vaguely hagiographic - the band have obviously sanctioned the film as well and take the opportunity to get things off their chest and wax sentimental.I would have liked to have seen more contemporaneous footage from the first half of the 1990s. It would also have been to this film's benefit if we'd been able to see more backstage, fly-on-the-wall cuts from the 'comeback' concerts, instead of the arty, wistfully slo-mo accounts of the gigs. Still, that's the film and will appeal to those who count themselves fans of the band. Additionally, I loved the use of Vaughan- Williams (Serenade to Music and Lark Ascending) as it seemed entirely in keeping with not only the sentimentality of the film but the story of the temporary English cultural renaissance which characterized the band's golden period. 5/10
debfez
'No Distance Left to Run' is a sentimental journey through Blur's beginnings, success, disillusionment, re-invention, arguments, break-ups and the emotional reunion and gigs of summer 2009.This documentary is fantastically shot, with intertwined footage from the band's 1990's Brit- pop haze. The interviews with the band, although not altogether open and revealing, do illustrate somewhat the band's dynamics and demons they each faced.Blur have always been a special band for me, a band which defined and re-defined the 1990s and early 2000s. This documentary is a superb representation of their chameleon-type talent: a band who were not afraid to take risks. Unlike their old adversaries, Oasis.The film illustrates Blur as an utterly original band, whom I am sure, will be remembered in many years to come, as one of the most influential bands to come out of England of the last thirty years
colin_coyne
Just been to a preview of the new Blur documentary "NO DISTANCE LEFT TO RUN" ... and I must say that I was pretty impressed with it ...The film directed by Dylan Southern & Will Lovelace traces Blur's history – through their own words. It's a warts and all look at the dynamics of the band, relationships, gigs, successes and failures - right from their very early days up to when they split up and then their triumphant reunion in 2009 when they headlined at Glastonbury.The Blur band members (Damon Albarn - Singer/Guitar, Graham Coxon · Guitar, Alex James - Bass, and Dave Rowntree - Drums) give exceedingly honest accounts of their feelings towards each other, their emotions, their ambitions, the stories behind the songs / albums, their personal lives, the split-up and the reunion ... all interlaced with great gig footage and behind the scenes "never seen before" footage that really draws you into the inner circle of the make-up of the band The advent of "Britpop" (which Blur started) is also covered very well as well as the Blur vs. Oasis much media-hyped "Battle of the Bands" This is a very interesting film - and it's great to get an inner perspective of what motivates / drives bands such as Blur in this "fly on the wall" way - as well as getting the real take on what the creative influences were behind many of their songs / albums This film is a "must see" event for any Blur fans ..."NO DISTANCE LEFT TO RUN" comes out on 19th January 2010