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(More customer reviews)While I've got my order placed, I can reliably give this film a five star rating as I was lucky enough to have seen "The Fearless Freaks" February 26. This review was adapted from a post I placed the other day at flaminglips.com, a site well worth a visit if you dig the band.
I was looking forward to seeing this, but was not prepared for the emotional punch of this beautiful documentary by filmmaker Bradley Beesley. I felt as moved and joyful as I have after actual Lips concerts.
"The Fearless Freaks" was screened Saturday night at the Blue Note in Columbia (Mo). It was a nicely full house on hand to see director Beesley introduce the film as part of Columbia's annual "True/False Film Festival (documentaries).
(This was a special "secret screening", as more official "world premiere" screenings (3) will occur at the 2005 SXSW in Austin.)
Beesley was introduced, talked a bit about the film and his long association filming and working with the band. His cell phone has a speakerphone feature, which he put to use as he dialed Wayne Coyne at the Tarbox recording studio near Buffalo, NY. They talked a bit back and forth, Beesley holding the speaker to the microphone. The audience had lots of laughs during the five-minute chat. Wayne mentioned that he, Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins were recording new stuff and that it has snowed every day since they arrived that week. Wayne said that he believed that filming of "Christmas on Mars" movie would be completed this summer, but then they would need to do music for the feature. (It sounds like Christmas '06 is most realistic, but who knows, maybe '05 if the planets align.) "The Fearless Freaks" includes five minutes or so on the making of "Christmas on Mars". Fun.
The movie is a feast for the eyes, ears, mind and heart. You'll see the large Coyne family in vintage home movies from the 70's, the early days of the band, the path to now and the often moving story of the passage of time since the band's founding in the early 80's. About two-thirds into the film, one of those passages sweeps the movie to an emotional impact that vaults this film to a level that transcends any "traditional" music documentary.
As Beesley says at flaminglips.com, the many years of access and friendship with the band allowed him to produce something he hopes goes beyond just "another okay rockumentary and, together with the band, instead create an insightful and personal piece of cinema."
He succeeded.
This is a courageously honest band that has allowed Beesley to present truth that is raw and inspiring. Beesley has fashioned a fine film that ultimately owes its success to the goodness and open-heartedness of The Flaming Lips. The band has bared their souls and their humanity (un-self-consciously) that is completely congruent with the message of their recent music. ("The Soft Bulletin" and "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots", most particularly.)
I spoke with Beesley after the screening and told him how special I thought his movie is. As this is his first film (I believe) he was soft-spoken and a bit deprecating about his work to the degree that he might still have had concern about length or he saw this or that that might still need to be edited. (I did see more than a few put fingers to ears during some of the extended excerpts of live shows from their punk days. While exhilarating and an exciting document of shows that WERE tremendously loud, the sound levels of those sequences did seem a bit over modulated, though seeing it through the pa of a concert venue did allow for that music/noise to come through in all ear-splitting glory!)
While there might be a couple of minor tweaks *maybe* worth considering in the first half of the film, one must be careful because that beginning sets up the emotional power of the second half. Humbly offering my first impression after the show, I assured Beesley that what he DOES have is a film with something all too hard to successfully pull off - weight, depth of feeling, an emotional heart that bathes the audience with goodwill. I've seen lots of music documentaries over the years. Not till this one have tears come to my eyes. Of course, in The Flaming Lips, Bradley Beesley had subject matter that delivers the "goods". I applaud Beesley for bringing that "script" to Life. As fans of the band know, Wayne would be a star of any film. The man is an inspiring example of LIFE, of humanity most kind. Guile has been stripped from Wayne Coyne and he is nakedly human in a manner that makes me proud to be part of the species.
(I also hope that Beesley submits "The Fearless Freaks" for consideration of film festivals - I would think Cannes audiences would love this - and also the documentary division of the MPAA. Oscar in '06? This film is truly worthy. A scene with Steven is one of the most powerful moments I've ever seen - on film or "real" life, one of great humanity that touches the soul and moved some in the audience to tears. The ultimate triumph of Steven, the open-hearted humanity of the band and the inspiring music of The Flaming Lips - particularly since "The Soft Bulletin" - is a gift that should be shared with as many people as possible.)
To be clear, aside from all my talk of "feelings", this is a FUN film - laugh out loud at times, with lots of music and cool visuals.
That it is so much more is what makes this movie a joyous treat.
I will not spoil your enjoyment of this movie by revealing any further specifics. See it for yourself.
So, in the end, I certainly recommend that you purchase this when it becomes available. In the meantime, if you - or maybe a loved one - haven't already, order "The Soft Bulletin" and "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots". In that sequence, listen to each cd from beginning to end, reading the included printed lyrics. I think you'll be quite glad you did. Then you'll really be ready for the "Fearless Freaks"!
- Do You Realize? -
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The Wonderously Improbable Story Of The Flaming LipsThe 2-DVD set, The Fearless Freaks is an intimate look at one of today's most acclaimed alternative rock groups, the Flaming Lips. Filmmaker Bradley Beasley, the band's long-time friend and director of all of their music videos since 1992, gives us an insider's look at their 20-year transformation from Oklahoma outsiders to GRAMMY-winning elder statesmen. This fascinating documentary features revealing interviews with band members past and present, and includes amazing footage from their entire career-truly capturing the eccentric and inventive world of The Flaming Lips. The bonus disc adds over an hour of extras including deleted scences, outtakes, live clips and much more!
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