Nothing fits the music documentary format quite so compellingly as a life cut tragically short. In addition to the ready-made dramatic arc, a subject who leaves this mortal coil before their time usually also leaves a certain amount of mystery in their wake, providing ample grist for filmmakers (and the folks they interview) to chew on.
Even when the hows and whys of an artist's tragic exit are a matter of uncontroversial record, questions of "What might have been?" inevitably linger over their prematurely truncated discography — in itself a far...
Even when the hows and whys of an artist's tragic exit are a matter of uncontroversial record, questions of "What might have been?" inevitably linger over their prematurely truncated discography — in itself a far...
- 12/31/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Mushroom Pictures is staging event screenings this month of a documentary on Us singer/songwriter Elliott Smith who died in 2003, aged 34.
Directed by Nickolas Rossi, Heaven Adores You is the first comprehensive film about the prolific musician, featuring more than 30 interviews with Smith.s closest friends and collaborators.
It.s also the first film that was allowed to use Smith.s catalogue . including 20 previously unreleased pieces of music.
The ex-Heatmiser guitarist made his solo name with 1994.s acoustic debut Roman Candle, released via Kill Rock Stars.
Living in Portland, he quickly rose to mainstream prominence when his song Miss Misery . included in the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting --. was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1998 Oscars.
Through his career Smith struggled with depression and drug use, eventually committing suicide in Los Angeles from two stab wounds to the chest. The film focuses on Elliott.s life and music.
Directed by Nickolas Rossi, Heaven Adores You is the first comprehensive film about the prolific musician, featuring more than 30 interviews with Smith.s closest friends and collaborators.
It.s also the first film that was allowed to use Smith.s catalogue . including 20 previously unreleased pieces of music.
The ex-Heatmiser guitarist made his solo name with 1994.s acoustic debut Roman Candle, released via Kill Rock Stars.
Living in Portland, he quickly rose to mainstream prominence when his song Miss Misery . included in the soundtrack for the film Good Will Hunting --. was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1998 Oscars.
Through his career Smith struggled with depression and drug use, eventually committing suicide in Los Angeles from two stab wounds to the chest. The film focuses on Elliott.s life and music.
- 11/10/2015
- by Staff writer
- IF.com.au
Sold-out screenings for Amy Winehouse documentary and Cobain: Montage of Heck.
Sweden’s Way Out West music festival ran its film programme for the fifth year, and selections included a strong mix of music-related docs (Amy, Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead), Heaven Adores You and features (Eden, Love & Mercy) as well as indie films (Ex Machina, The Falling, Pervert Park) that might appeal to the trendy crowds attending Way Out West.
Films were screened in two cinemas in Goteborg, as well as in a tent on the larger festival site at Slottsskogen park.
The hundreds of musical acts at the main festival included Florence & The Machine, Fka Twigs, Alt-j, Beck, First Aid Kit, Patti Smith, Lauryn Hill, and the Pet Shop Boys.
The event draws 30,000 visitors per day, mostly for music but increasingly taking a look at the film offerings.
The sold-out screenings for film included Amy, Cobain:...
Sweden’s Way Out West music festival ran its film programme for the fifth year, and selections included a strong mix of music-related docs (Amy, Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead), Heaven Adores You and features (Eden, Love & Mercy) as well as indie films (Ex Machina, The Falling, Pervert Park) that might appeal to the trendy crowds attending Way Out West.
Films were screened in two cinemas in Goteborg, as well as in a tent on the larger festival site at Slottsskogen park.
The hundreds of musical acts at the main festival included Florence & The Machine, Fka Twigs, Alt-j, Beck, First Aid Kit, Patti Smith, Lauryn Hill, and the Pet Shop Boys.
The event draws 30,000 visitors per day, mostly for music but increasingly taking a look at the film offerings.
The sold-out screenings for film included Amy, Cobain:...
- 8/18/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Michael Gudinski.s Mushroom group is re-activating its theatrical distribution arm, kicking off with the documentaries Unity and Heaven Adores Us.
Writer-director Shaun Monsoon.s Unity explores the themes of love, tragedy and hope as it examines humanity.s impact on the world.
The cast of 100 narrators includes Ellen DeGeneres, Geoffrey Rush, Jennifer Aniston, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Spacey, Helen Mirren, Amanda Seyfried, Rose Byrne, Minnie Driver, Missy Higgins, Moby, Olivia Wilde, Phil Donahue, Portia de Rossi and Susan Sarandon.
Mushroom Distribution has booked 21 cinemas and the limited season begins on August 12 in a simultaneous worldwide release.
The venues include the Jam Factory, Cinema Nova and Rivoli in Melbourne; Event Cinemas George Street, Palace Cinemas Leichardt and the Chauvel in Sydney; Palace Centro in Brisbane; Palace East End in Adelaide; and Cinema Paradiso in Perth. A New Zealand season will follow.
Mushroom.s Kate Gudinski decided to buy the rights for...
Writer-director Shaun Monsoon.s Unity explores the themes of love, tragedy and hope as it examines humanity.s impact on the world.
The cast of 100 narrators includes Ellen DeGeneres, Geoffrey Rush, Jennifer Aniston, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Spacey, Helen Mirren, Amanda Seyfried, Rose Byrne, Minnie Driver, Missy Higgins, Moby, Olivia Wilde, Phil Donahue, Portia de Rossi and Susan Sarandon.
Mushroom Distribution has booked 21 cinemas and the limited season begins on August 12 in a simultaneous worldwide release.
The venues include the Jam Factory, Cinema Nova and Rivoli in Melbourne; Event Cinemas George Street, Palace Cinemas Leichardt and the Chauvel in Sydney; Palace Centro in Brisbane; Palace East End in Adelaide; and Cinema Paradiso in Perth. A New Zealand season will follow.
Mushroom.s Kate Gudinski decided to buy the rights for...
- 8/11/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Festival’s world premieres include Roxette Diaries, Taikon, Odödliga and Drottninglandet.Scroll down for full line-up
Sweden’s Way Out West Festival (Aug 13-15) will include the world premiere of Jonas Akerlund’s Roxette Diaries, about one of Sweden’s most popular bands.
“They are one of the biggest bands to come out of Sweden, and this film shows them in a new light. It was filmed during their tours from 1988 to 1995, and of course with Jonas Akerlund directing, it has a real art feel to it, he’s very brave with this material,” Svante Tidholm, Way Out West’s Head of Film Programming told Screen.
Another world premiere at the Gothenburg-based film and music festival will be Taikon, a documentary about civil rights activist and author Katarina Taikon. “She was one of the pioneers of human rights for the Romany community. It’s an amazing story and she’s an amazing character,” Tidholm added.
There...
Sweden’s Way Out West Festival (Aug 13-15) will include the world premiere of Jonas Akerlund’s Roxette Diaries, about one of Sweden’s most popular bands.
“They are one of the biggest bands to come out of Sweden, and this film shows them in a new light. It was filmed during their tours from 1988 to 1995, and of course with Jonas Akerlund directing, it has a real art feel to it, he’s very brave with this material,” Svante Tidholm, Way Out West’s Head of Film Programming told Screen.
Another world premiere at the Gothenburg-based film and music festival will be Taikon, a documentary about civil rights activist and author Katarina Taikon. “She was one of the pioneers of human rights for the Romany community. It’s an amazing story and she’s an amazing character,” Tidholm added.
There...
- 7/23/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
The 20th edition of the festival includes competition titles ’71 and Blind.
The Athens International Film Festival (Sept 17-28) kicks off its 20th edition today with 241 titles selected by artistic director Orestis Andreadakis.
The festival will open with Damian Szifron’s hit Wild Tales, which has proved a critical hit since its world premiere in competition at Cannes, and will close with David Fincher’s Us crime drama Gone Girl, marking its European premiere.
This year’s international competition includes Yann Demange’s Berlinale title, ’71, and Eskil Vogt’s Blind, which has picked up awards in Berlin and Sundance among others.
‘71, Yann Demange (UK)10,000 km, Carlos Marques-Marcet (Spa)Blind, Eskil Vogt (Nor)The Canal, Ivan Kavanagh (Irel)Manos Sucias, Josef Wladyka (Us-Col)The Mend, John Magary (Us)Natural Sciences, Matías Lucchesi (Arg)Thou Wast Mild and Lovely, Josephine Decker (Us)The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro (Bra)When Animals Dream, Jonas Alexander Arnby (De)
A five-member Youth Jury, comprised...
The Athens International Film Festival (Sept 17-28) kicks off its 20th edition today with 241 titles selected by artistic director Orestis Andreadakis.
The festival will open with Damian Szifron’s hit Wild Tales, which has proved a critical hit since its world premiere in competition at Cannes, and will close with David Fincher’s Us crime drama Gone Girl, marking its European premiere.
This year’s international competition includes Yann Demange’s Berlinale title, ’71, and Eskil Vogt’s Blind, which has picked up awards in Berlin and Sundance among others.
‘71, Yann Demange (UK)10,000 km, Carlos Marques-Marcet (Spa)Blind, Eskil Vogt (Nor)The Canal, Ivan Kavanagh (Irel)Manos Sucias, Josef Wladyka (Us-Col)The Mend, John Magary (Us)Natural Sciences, Matías Lucchesi (Arg)Thou Wast Mild and Lovely, Josephine Decker (Us)The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro (Bra)When Animals Dream, Jonas Alexander Arnby (De)
A five-member Youth Jury, comprised...
- 9/17/2014
- by alexisgrivas@yahoo.com (Alexis Grivas)
- ScreenDaily
When Elliott Smith sang "Miss Misery" at the Academy Awards in 1998, that gentle whisper of melancholy indie folk felt almost as if it had been included by mistake among the power anthems, perky Disney tunes and syrupy romantic ballads that usually populate the best original song field. Heaven Adores You, Nickolas Rossi's deeply respectful documentary tribute to the late singer-songwriter, shows an artist who was as much an uncomfortable anomaly in the pantheon of rock stars as he was on that stage surrounded by all the glitter of Hollywood. Financed via Kickstarter, and filled with commentary from friends,
read more...
read more...
- 8/5/2014
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When Elliott Smith’s song, “Miss Misery,” from “Good Will Hunting,” received a Best Original Song Oscar nomination in 1998, the acclaim catapulted the Portland, Ore., musician into the mainstream. The world learned about a shy singer-songwriter with the unique, sweet delivery and beautiful song sense. And then, in 2003, he was gone from self-inflicted stab wounds. The story of Smith’s musical life is told in “Heaven Adores You,” a documentary, which debuts at the San Francisco International Film Festival next week. A trailer for the Kickstarter-funded film, directed by Nikolas Rossi, debuted today and it’s appropriately ethereal and somewhat indecipherable. The clip opens with Smith’s voice talking about how he doesn’t want people to try to pigeonhole him: “I like music, you know. That’s the thing. It’s very uncomplicated.” “Heaven Adores You” marks the first time Smith’s estate has allowed his music to be allowed in such a project,...
- 5/1/2014
- Hitfix
A sweet, tortured soul blessed with a beautiful voice and gifted songwriting chops, Elliott Smith burned brightly in the time he was with us. His sudden death ten years ago sent shock waves through the music world, and even a decade on, it's hard to believe he's gone, with no more music to share with us. But there's plenty to celebrate with the life and tunes he left behind and director Nickolas Rossi's upcoming documentary, "Heaven Adores You," will endeavor to do just that. A new teaser trailer has dropped for the crowd-funded film that will premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Indeed, it's a sensitive look at the musician from those that orbited his world. Those taking part include bandmates, producers, family and friends, including Jon Brion, Larry Crane, Rob Schnapf, Kill Rock Stars label owner Slim Moon, and many more. "Heaven Adores You" premieres on Monday,...
- 4/30/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
It's just over ten years since the world lost Elliott Smith, a remarkably talented singer/songwriter who struggled with addiction and various other demons, all while releasing a catalog of music that continues to inspire to this day. Vulnerable and bracingly raw, his songs, even at their most produced and polished, were still imbued with deep feeling and an honesty that connected immediately with his fans. While much has been written and spoken about the performer, he'll be getting the big screen treatment in "Heaven Adores You." Directed by Nickolas Rossi, and featuring the participation of Joanna Bolme, Jon Brion, Neil Gust, Larry Crane, Rob Schnapf, and more, the documentary will feature unheard music and unseen footage of Smith, promising an in depth and respectful look at the late musician. Here's the official synopsis: Heaven Adores You is an intimate, meditative inquiry into the life and music of Elliott Smith...
- 4/2/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
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