A Life in the Death of Joe Meek reviews
Review by on 26 Sep 2008
I thought this was a great film, but I thought it could have done with a few more interviews with more recent critically acclaimed artists / producers giving their views on how he had influenced modern music and studio production techniques. Otherwise, rather than seeing his legacy as continuing into the music of today, we risk just seeing his legacy as being a number of quirky, unusual and challenging records of the 50's and 60's.
I thought this was a great film, but I thought it could have done with a few more interviews with more recent critically acclaimed artists / producers giving their views on how he had influenced modern music and studio production techniques. Otherwise, rather than seeing his legacy as continuing into the music of today, we risk just seeing his legacy as being a number of quirky, unusual and challenging records of the 50's and 60's.
Review by on 26 Sep 2008
I'm rating this a 5 because I wanted to see this, but the website I heard about this on said it would be at the Arts Picturehouse. When I arrived and asked for a ticket, I was told it wasn't showing there!But now I see it was shown at the Junction! Is this available anywhere else?
I'm rating this a 5 because I wanted to see this, but the website I heard about this on said it would be at the Arts Picturehouse. When I arrived and asked for a ticket, I was told it wasn't showing there!But now I see it was shown at the Junction! Is this available anywhere else?
Review by on 26 Sep 2008
A lovely, heartfelt tribute to a man obviously doomed and damned to be ahead of his time. While simultaneously terribly sad and wonderfully funny it is also a massive, impeccably succinct epic and a vibrant entertainment as well. Not at all what I was expecting. I'm glad I was told about this because I overlooked this in the catalogue.
A lovely, heartfelt tribute to a man obviously doomed and damned to be ahead of his time. While simultaneously terribly sad and wonderfully funny it is also a massive, impeccably succinct epic and a vibrant entertainment as well. Not at all what I was expecting. I'm glad I was told about this because I overlooked this in the catalogue.
Review by on 26 Sep 2008
‘Joe wanted to do something with sound’ exclaims one Meek enthusiast involved in this enlightening documentary. And so this suggestion of a ‘something’ resonates throughout Berger and Stahman’s film: Meek’s character never becomes fully discernable, while his music hovers precariously between the outrageously nonsensical and the revolutionary.
A LIFE…traces Meek’s roots, from childhood to his untimely, tragic death in 1967. Through the eyes of his family, recording artists and Meek enthusiasts, the film explores the highs and lows of an extraordinary career. One might expect such a topic to be overly sentimental, yet this film’s quirky style is subtle in its poignancy.
What the film manages to concisely capture is the chaos that once surged from Meek’s studio. Shown in quick succession are the opinions of all those participating, consistently clashing, playing out against the phantom echoes of splicing, tuning and reverb. Then a gasp of unity. All contributors speak in perfect harmony - the record has been cut and sold.
With a running time of 122-minutes, this is certainly a lot of Joe Meek. While the film’s pace is never slow, it does stagnate at points, dwelling on some aspects more than others. There are parts of the story that need further exposition – the build up to Meek’s death is short, while the seemingly tragic fate of his one-time favourite Heinz is glossed over too quickly.
As the end credits roll, any viewer must ultimately come back to the same conclusion: there is definitely something about Joe Meek.
Lucy Adams, Festival Daily
‘Joe wanted to do something with sound’ exclaims one Meek enthusiast involved in this enlightening documentary. And so this suggestion of a ‘something’ resonates throughout Berger and Stahman’s film: Meek’s character never becomes fully discernable, while his music hovers precariously between the outrageously nonsensical and the revolutionary.A LIFE…traces Meek’s roots, from childhood to his untimely, tragic death in 1967. Through the eyes of his family, recording artists and Meek enthusiasts, the film explores the highs and lows of an extraordinary career. One might expect such a topic to be overly sentimental, yet this film’s quirky style is subtle in its poignancy.
What the film manages to concisely capture is the chaos that once surged from Meek’s studio. Shown in quick succession are the opinions of all those participating, consistently clashing, playing out against the phantom echoes of splicing, tuning and reverb. Then a gasp of unity. All contributors speak in perfect harmony - the record has been cut and sold.
With a running time of 122-minutes, this is certainly a lot of Joe Meek. While the film’s pace is never slow, it does stagnate at points, dwelling on some aspects more than others. There are parts of the story that need further exposition – the build up to Meek’s death is short, while the seemingly tragic fate of his one-time favourite Heinz is glossed over too quickly.
As the end credits roll, any viewer must ultimately come back to the same conclusion: there is definitely something about Joe Meek.
Lucy Adams, Festival Daily
Film details
A Life in the Death of Joe Meek
MUSIC AT THE MOVIES
Director: Howard S. Berger
Director: Susan Stahman
Director: Susan Stahman
USA, 2008.
118 mins. English.
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