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jaloeb
Reviews
Who Is Lydia Loveless? (2016)
Excellent look at what it means to be an artist today
I caught this movie as part of the Boston Independent a Film Festival this year (2016). There are documentaries that make you think about the subject for the few hours after you see it, there are documentaries that are well done but don't inspire discussion, and then there are documentaries that force you to immerse yourself in the subject at hand. Gorman Bechard's latest rock doc falls into the last category. At least once a day I find myself thinking back to some part of this movie.
The story focuses on the lifeblood of a working musician-recording and touring. Excellent interviews with Lydia and her band throughout give us the answer to this question. Like most subjects there is not just one answer you will come away from the movie with an appreciation for the challenges it takes to be an artist in a world which appears to put less value on art.
A Dog Named Gucci (2015)
Excellent documentary!
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with Gorman Bechard's first non-rock doc.I walked away moved, outraged, but with a lot of hope.
'A Dog Named Gucci' focuses on the stories of a handful of abused animals, and where the movie excels is in describing how people were able to channel their outrage to make things better for all of us-human and animal. Each of the animals profiled is a star in their own right. The acts that these animals suffer is unconscionable but the way that people game together to enact change is uplifting.
This is an excellent movie for everyone as it is a social justice story that gives hope.
What Did You Expect? The Archers of Loaf Live at Cat's Cradle (2012)
the next best thing to seeing the band live
Concert films can be very hit or miss...sometimes it's the band (and the director) going through the motions to capture an experience, other times it can transport you to the show.
I first saw this movie at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge and after the first song (Audiowhore) I had to stop myself from clapping as I forgot I wasn't actually at the rock show.
The shots of the band and the shots of the crowd really give you the sense of what it's like to see this band and to see them in the Cat's Cradle (one of the greatest rock clubs in America). The sound (courtesy of Brian Paulson) is out of this world and Merge Records should seriously consider releasing this as a live album.
The interviews in between songs are a great insight into the band and each member's personality. The story of the name is great.
Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements (2011)
for lovers of music
If I told you to go see a documentary about the greatest American Rock and Roll band ever, but then added that the band nor their music was ever in the movie, you'd probably think I'm crazy. However, if you don't go to see this movie then you are doing yourself a disservice.
This movie is the story of America's greatest band told through the eyes of the fans, fellow musicians, and other associates.
Gorman Bechard does a great job distilling the essence of what made this band so great, beyond their amazing music. Some of the more well-known stories are in the film but there are stories even the most die-hard fan will hear for the first time.
The best music documentary I have seen.