Release Date:
Friday, April 10, 2009
Directed by: Sacha Gervasi
The Skinny: This documentary follows the career of Canadian metal band Anvil, fronted by lifelong friends Steve "Lips" Kudlow andwe shit you notRobb Reiner. In their 20s, they seemed poised for stardom, their proto-thrash metal being the acknowledged influence on huge acts like Metallica and Anthrax. The only problem was, stardom failed to show up. Now in their 50s, they're still trying to live the dream
The Good: About ten minutes into Anvil!, you'll swear you're being set up. You'll think, "No way this is real. This is some Borat shit." Nope. It's all true. Anvil are the real life Spinal Tap, only rather than being clueless Brits they are down-to-earth, almost painfully polite Canucks. You'll laugh, you'll cry as you watch Steve and Robb struggle with day jobs, in-fighting, the worst European tour in recorded history, and the ever-present spectre that their time has past. Great, great stuff.
The Bad: There are a few questions left lingeringlike, why didn't these big time bands that shamelessly ripped Anvil off come back and lend them a hand? What exactly was it that kept them from breaking out?but nothing that'll ruin your enjoyment of this amazing doc.
Buy It Now: See? Not a joke.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? Do what you have to do to find a theater playing this.
The Skinny: This documentary follows the career of Canadian metal band Anvil, fronted by lifelong friends Steve "Lips" Kudlow andwe shit you notRobb Reiner. In their 20s, they seemed poised for stardom, their proto-thrash metal being the acknowledged influence on huge acts like Metallica and Anthrax. The only problem was, stardom failed to show up. Now in their 50s, they're still trying to live the dream
The Good: About ten minutes into Anvil!, you'll swear you're being set up. You'll think, "No way this is real. This is some Borat shit." Nope. It's all true. Anvil are the real life Spinal Tap, only rather than being clueless Brits they are down-to-earth, almost painfully polite Canucks. You'll laugh, you'll cry as you watch Steve and Robb struggle with day jobs, in-fighting, the worst European tour in recorded history, and the ever-present spectre that their time has past. Great, great stuff.
The Bad: There are a few questions left lingeringlike, why didn't these big time bands that shamelessly ripped Anvil off come back and lend them a hand? What exactly was it that kept them from breaking out?but nothing that'll ruin your enjoyment of this amazing doc.
Buy It Now: See? Not a joke.
Theater, DVD, or TNT in Five Years? Do what you have to do to find a theater playing this.