Friday, August 01, 2025

La Fin de La Semaine Essay Question: Special "The Cinema is Truth 24 Frames-per-Second" Edition

Or so said pretentious frog auteur Jean-Luc Godard, but what the fuck did he know?

In any case, I bring it up because a certain Shady Dame and I have been bingeing on documentaries of late -- specifically, music/rock-and-roll documentaries. I can't remember all of them, but I do know that in the last two weeks we watched docs on The Cowsills (creepy and sad), The Hollies (lotsa fun), Led Zeppelin (a little dull) and Billy Joel (a must see, even if you're not particularly a fan of either the man or his music. Among other things, it's an amazing time capsule of the last 60 or so years of pop culture).

All of which leads us, inexorably, to the subject of the business at hand. To wit:

...and your favorite (or least favorite) non-bio-pic film about a post-Elvis pop/rock/folk/soul/r&b/country group or solo artist is...???

No arbitrary rules here; obviously, I'm talking about documentaries per se, but I understand that, for example, a lot of good music movies blur the distinction between docs and concert flick. So if that's what floats your boat, then go for it!

Anyway, in case you're wondering, my choice in the fave category is this one.

Great story, great music and a charismatic figure at the center of it -- what more could you want?

Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend, everybody!!!

30 comments:

  1. Gimme Shelter
    Mad Dogs & Englishmen - maybe more concert than doc but that suits me fine.

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  2. This is Spinal Tap, of course.

    The rules don't say it has to be non-fiction;>

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    Replies
    1. I can't wait to see the sequel.

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    2. If they're smart, they'll call it Spinal Tap 11 (as opposed to Spinal Tap II).
      C in California

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  3. David Byrne's American Utopia. The Last Waltz. And for actual documentaries, 20 Feet From Stardom (a little too much Darlene Love griping, but still good).

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  4. I haven't seen as many of these music docs as I should have but one I really enjoyed was the one on 60s writer-producer Bert Berns.

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  5. Breaking the rule(s) a bit, maybe, but the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" is absolute sheer genius. "Almost Famous" is not a biopic since the band is fictional but as a time capsule, it's absolute wonder. As for documentary, I still love "Woodstock."

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  6. The Procol Harum documentary on YouTube is good. I think it was done for Australian t v

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  7. Searching for Sugarman is excellent. Another that I enjoyed even more is Cure For Pain: The Mark Sandman Story. https://youtu.be/JeG-HeuyEgw

    - Paul in DK

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  8. Not to bypass today’s topic, but it doesn’t look good for Dave Edmunds 😢 https://parade.com/news/70s-rock-legend-dave-edmunds-suffers-serious-medical-emergency

    - Paul in DK

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  9. XTC- This Is Pop and the single greatest rock film ever- The Kids Are Alright.

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    Replies
    1. I can't disagree about the Kids.

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    2. I second Sal on both these movies.

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  10. Have a couple -
    Woodstock - as I only got to the front "gate" it showed me what I missed
    The Ballad of Mott the Hoople
    One of my favorite bands

    rob

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  11. I present ya'll the worst since since "Glen or Glenda" -
    The Monkees - Head
    Jack Nicholson must have been higher than Billy when he decided to support this movie


    rob

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    Replies
    1. Hey — I LOVE that movie.

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    2. Then you must have been higher than Billy 😉

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  12. "Beware of Mr. Baker" lived up to its title. Ginger was a menace.
    "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" the story of the one and only Rodney on the ROQ.

    Everyone should see "Bathtubs Over Broadway," one of those film that left my face hurting from so much smiling.

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    Replies
    1. A - Beware of Mr.Baker lived up to the sign on Gingers house. I will say he was a Curmudgeon

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  13. End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones and This Might Get Loud were both excellent.
    C in California
    Paul in DK -- Thanks for the tip on the Sandman movie, which I was completely unaware of. I loved Morphine and Treat Her Right.

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    Replies
    1. Rob B Mullen8/01/2025 7:10 PM

      A - I saw "Might Get Loud" somewhat overlooking Jack White in favor of the Edge & Page - JMO

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  14. Cocksucker Blues

    VR

    And Steve, I like "Head" too.

    But more seriously ...
    Gimme Shelter
    Sound City
    All Or Nothing
    Wrecking Crew
    Who is Harry Nilsson
    Might as include Muscle Shoals
    The Zeppelin film was a disappointing bore.

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    Replies
    1. Oh god, I'd forgotten the Harry Nilsson film -- it's fabulous.

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  15. I'll second VR's nomination of the Wrecking Crew doc

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  16. Getting into fiction films more than I should:
    That Thing You Do!
    A Hard Days Night
    Get Back
    Grace of My Heart (close to a biopic, but still fictional)
    I liked the Rush doc a lot

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  17. I saw this today on my cable channel and h ad completely forgotten it.
    " The Lif and Times of Rick James".
    Now remember that Rick was a part of Neil Young's early roots plus James Brown. Maybe it's better to burn out....was about Rick as well as Danny

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  18. The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart (up on YouTube) also 'Basically, Johnny Moped' which I caught on Netflix

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    1. And after a second cup of coffee I came up with:

      Blondie: One Way or Another - BBC Documentary
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHRelaAMK7Q

      Art Pepper: notes from a jazz survivor
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vtw3FTo6bc

      It's Bad You Know
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1oM3mQC630

      You See Me Laughin': The Last of the Hill Country Bluesmen (Full Documentary)
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiW3oPv1vZc

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  19. Sugar Man transcends typical music doc. I'm going with Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal. See a band from formation to inspirational ending. I became a fan of their music.

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