Truly Dreadful Film

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

If you like Radiohead, watch this movie.It's got awesome behind the scenes footage of the band, rare footage of early versions of songs, and some hilarious moments with fans. It was shot during their tour after OK Computer and before Kid A. Obviously this was a very pivotal moment for the band. Really cool to see them play some parts of songs that would come out much later. I wish there were more Radiohead documentaries and movies, but this is really the only legit one. As a result, I have seen it many times. Very dank stuff indeed. I'm going to continue to type because I need ten lines for my review, but if you aren't convinced by now I'm not sure what else could make you watch it!

It's a tough sell, this documentary. The band are very popular but their aesthetic is inhibited, possibly nihilistic and arguably whingy. The documentary, covering the period when they conquered the world following the release of the album OK Computer is technically rather well done and objectively very interesting (it shows the less glamorous, functional bits to world touring). But it is also soul-sapping in it's forensic examination of this dark side to celebrity, especially celebrity earned.On balance I found it a tough watch. The background noise, an unsympathetically uniform paste of noises on and off echoes Thom Yorke's own analysis of a line from his own Karma Police: 'it buzzes like a fridge'. I understand that Grant Gee (and Radiohead) are trying to make a point but I got it listening to the songs prior to watching the doc at all. For a much more slick, engaging but no less 'real' documentary of life on the modern alt-rock-indie road I recommend Please Leave Quietly (Maria Mochnaz, 2006) above this. 5/10

Yes I indeed enjoyed this movie...I only bought this for one reason...RADIOHEAD! Probably one of the greastest bands of all time and my favorite. This movie actually got me to know how Radiohead is when there not recording music and selling records.

This is a wonderful thought provoking film. It is not easy to watch and it does not focus on gaining insight into the band in conventional ways. Instead you are more of a companion feeling the alienation and isolation that the band seems to be feeling. Because it deals with alienation in both its subject manner and how it is filmed it isn't easy to swallow. For that the film is much more affecting than other rockumentaries that merely focus on the glitz, glamour, and the roudy but slick production that goes into a major band. Perhaps people don't like to think about how all jobs have their downsides but I think the way Gee juxtaposes the sterility and monotony of the countless environments the band is faced with the human fatigue, frustration, and disconnect the band feels from the world and eachother is fascinating and affecting. The title itself sums up the film well with its ironic and perhaps sarcastic comment on the accessibility of artists with their audience. The film also offers a beautiful selection of very personal moments of the band doing their job and shows how deeply the band feels about their music, not in their talking about it, but in their playing, especially the moments outside of the concerts themselves. It shows both the pain that comes with the peculiar kind of hard work the band is faced with and the moments of happiness and excitement that are possible because of that hard work which makes it all worth it. The almost nightmare environment that the film conveys, for me, humanized these men who have been heralded by so many as music messiahs in an industry that keeps getting more slick and more scary. Stunning.