Anvil! The Story of Anvil! (documentary) (2008) (1 hr 30 mins)
Okay, the idea of a documentary film about a little-known Canadian heavy metal band may not sound captivating (unless you’re a headbanger) but in fact this film is completely captivating and one you really ought to see. Don’t take my word for it – The Times called it ‘possibly the greatest film yet made about rock and roll’ and it has a 98% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website. It also won Audience Awards at the 2008 Sydney Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival and Galway International Film Festival.
The film
begins with the band’s appearance at a major rock festival in Japan in 1984.
Anvil played alongside bands like Whitesnake and Bon Jovi, who went on to fame
and success. For some reason Anvil never made the breakthrough. Twenty years
on, they are still dreaming of making the big time. Singer and lead guitarist,
Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow drives a delivery van. Drummer Robb Reiner works in construction. Do they still have a chance of a breakthrough
or have they missed the boat?
We follow
them on an eventful and haphazard European tour, the recording of a new album
in England, through fallings out and reconciliations and, ultimately, a successful
return to Japan to play at a rock festival.
The band
have a small but devoted group of fans who are bemused why the rest of us have
failed to recognise the genius of Anvil. When the band close their European
tour at the Monsters of Transylvania rock concert at a 10,000 seat venue, only
174 people turn up.
The film was
directed by Sacha Gervasi who manages to perfectly capture the poignancy of
their situation. You can’t help but admire their passion for their music and hope
they get a break. Since the film was released, the band have in fact enjoyed a
new wave of popularity, including TV and festival appearances and a US tour.
Rating: 10/10
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