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gregcaw
Reviews
Mad Heidi (2022)
Don't Take It Seriously
I have to admit I had very low expectations going into this; all I knew was it had Casper Van Dien in it so that was enough for me to give it a chance.
I'm glad there is the little disclaimer at the start about how it is crowd-funded and independently made since it is definitely noticeable in terms of the visual fx, and I'm not sure I could notice a consistent accent throughout the film (with Van Dien's changing seemingly each scene), but there is a passion behind it that is noticeable above the flaws.
My one major critique would be there is far too long devoted to Heidi "becoming" Mad Heidi and not near enough time showing her revenge - it was fairly clear from a few minutes in what the ultimate arc of the character would be (however it came about), but to have to wait so long for her to start kickin' ass felt like it delayed the satisfaction too much.
Definitely one to watch on a lazy Sunday evening when you just want a mindless escapism, or, with a friend or two and some snacks and beers.
May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers (2017)
An intimate, heartfelt insight into the Avett Brothers' almost-unique process of writing and recording an album
I didn't know much about the Avett Brothers before seeing this - I had only heard a handful of their songs and knew incredibly little about the members or where they were even from, but I saw this documentary pop up on a lazy Sunday morning and decided to give it a try.
Two hours later I found myself wiping away some tears, adding a bunch of their music to my daily playlist, and having a massive appreciation for the intimate music that Scott and Seth have gifted to us.
At times I don't know how they are able to record songs which are so emotionally heavy they required a break after being recorded, but it is a testament to their process of using music to heal that they were able to record something so personal and raw.
I love documentaries about musicians and bands and it is so refreshing to watch one where there is no real conflict between members, substance abuse driving issues in the band, or anything besides 2 brothers and 5 musicians existing as a family united by their love of music, and life, and all the trials and tribulations that come with such an arrangement.
Thank you Seth and Scott, Rob, Judd and everyone else involved in making this.
10/10 would recommend.
This Is GWAR (2021)
Beautiful, intimate documentary of a fascinating band
I went into this knowing that GWAR were that band that ate Mark in Empire Records, and was what Beavis and Butthead watched a lot in their TV show, but absolutely no knowledge of them otherwise.
I finished it with tears streaming down my face and a new-found appreciation for the music.
A wonderful chronology of the bands' history told from the perspective of the myriad various members and collaborators that shaped their trajectory over the years, this feels like a very personal love-letter to the band as told by some fans and lot of the band members past and present.
Is it just me who got incredible Sid Barret vibes FROM Dave Brockie? An immense talent that was thankfully able to spend decades expressing his vision, and for that I am grateful.
Highly recommended.