Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

As a really lousy piano player I am in complete awe of musicians like these who can do almost anything with their instrument.Riveting subject matter but the structure of this documentary is a complete mess. Part of the problem is that the distance in time from when the film was made and the events being chronicled. It would have taken a lot more money and effort to really do this subject justice.Another problem is that none of the musicians they interviewed were articulate speakers and had little to say but this could be blamed on the filmmaker not asking the right questions. The one exception perhaps was his father, Tommy Tedesco who had a few funny and revealing bits in the film.

The Wrecking Crew! (2008) *** 1/2 (out of 4)What if I told you that there was a time when some of the biggest musical bands in rock and roll weren't really playing the music on their albums? THE WRECKING CREW documents a group of session musicians who appeared on some of the most beloved songs ever recorded and until recently they never got the credit they deserved.If you're a music buff then this documentary is going to be a must- see as long as you're willing to accept the truth. The truth being that a lot of great albums were done with these session musicians and not the people in the band who often got credit for it. I remember Steven Spielberg once saying he didn't want to do audio commentaries because he thought there was no point in revealing the secrets. Well, the secrets of the music business are certainly let out in this wonderful documentary.Of course, I guess some people would like to pretend that it was their favorite artists playing on the albums and if that's the case then you'll probably want to miss this. If you do then you're really missing an amazing group of musicians and denying them the credit they deserve. This documentary features interviews with many of the living musicians including the likes of Glen Campbell and Leon Russell. Also included are some of the artists they worked for including Cher, Brian Wilson, Micky Dolenz and Nancy Sinatra.The documentary does a great job at discussing the various albums and songs that the session folks worked on but we also get to learn more about them including the amazing highs that they were on and the lows that eventually came when the sessions were over. If you're a fan of music from this era then this is certainly a must see just to learn how many actual songs this group was apart of.

For those of us born in the 40s and 50s, grew up in the 60s and 70s, the background of our lives was a soundtrack these guys created. Every tune you ever hummed, sang or tapped your foot to, these guys played it. Did you like the Monkeys? The Association? The Beach Boys? Glen Campbell? Name your favorite 50s or early 60s group. It was the Wrecking Crew. If you love music, if you play music, if you want to play music...this film is a must see for the history alone. But it is also well filmed and edited. The first person accounts of the musicians are priceless. The stories of the value of hard work and riding the wave while it lasts. Yeah, it's good. Watch it, learn it, love it.

If you have ever heard "Happy Together" by the Turtles, The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Day Dream Believer" song by the Monkees, or "Close to You" by the Carpenters, you have heard the group of studio musicians called "The Wrecking Crew." They were regular contributors to hit songs in Los Angeles from about 1958 to 1965. The composition of the Crew varied, but if you lived in Los Angeles and needed bass, drums, guitar, horns or other instruments for your recording, you called on the in The Wrecking Crew. According to the film, the musicians got the name "Wrecking Crew" from jazz musicians who felt they were "wrecking" music with their rock and pop stylings. Whatever they case, this group of musicians were called if you wanted to record a hit song. The film features interviews with the players, old footage of them performing together and interviews with musical luminaries such as Cher and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Wilson used The Crew for most of the backing tracks on the seminal album, "Pet Sounds." The crew could read musical scales, take direction, and write parts for the songs if needed. They were flexible and served the client first even if they talked about them behind their back after the session and on camera during the film. And as the film implies, the Crew was responsible for more than one song becoming a hit. The footage and interviews in the film proves how important these musicians were to popular music of the late 50s and early 60s. In the 60s, bands such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Doors, and so forth, left the Wrecking Crew with fewer jobs, for they had the talent to play their own instruments. Some of the musicians from the Crew, notably father of the director, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, got jobs playing for film soundtracks other records after the studio jobs dried up. Other members went on to record their own records, some even becoming big stars on their own such as Leon Russell and Glen Campbell. Yes, those stars were part of the Crew. The film shares a unique time of music and a unique set of musicians with us. Watching the film gives us a view of the inner workings of one of the greatest groups of studio musicians in the history of popular music. And it entertains us all the way. The set and filming is nothing scream and shout about, but the music leaves us with Good Vibrations. Rating: Pay Full Price. People who play or like music will enjoy by this film.Peace, Tex Shelters