Anvil - The story of Anvil

splashthecash

When searching for a new copy of This is Spinal Tap a week ago, the assistant in HMV suggested I give this a watch. He said it is just like Spinal Tap but completely real. A hard rock band, once at the top of its game, fame, glory, top selling album, etc and then we are introduced years later to middle aged men, working menial jobs still playing together for the love of the music and the chance of making it once more.

I watched this and didn't find it as funny as Spinal, but I did think it was very real and shows the lengths that people should go to to follow their dream. It was heart-warming to see the two guys who started their band in their teens to still be very close (even though there are plenty of arguements) and loving playing together for very small crowds.

The film follows the two guys in their last attempt to make it. They go on an ill-fated European tour which includes cancelled gigs, getting lost, arguements and all that comes with such tours. They reunite with old friends to record their thirteenth album (appropriately titled "Thirteenth") and I won't say what happens, but I was really really rooting for these guys. They come across as really sound fellas who just want to follow their dream.

Marti Di Bergi put it well:

"I wanted to capture the sights, the sounds, the smells of a hard-working rock band on the road, and I got that....but I got more"

mikhail

I felt uncomfortable laughing at these guys. They were just too ernest. They've made a certain amount of fame off the back of the film and translated it into gigs, and I'm glad of that. If they hadn't, the whole thing would be too mean spirited for me.

johnny_ultimate

It is a pretty funny movie, but they really do seem like nice, determined guys which makes the whole thing oddly poignant. It's like they weren't satisfied with their five minutes of fame, and have spent decades trying to emulate it. They actually enjoyed quite the resurgence after the film, so maybe they finally had success in that regard. As I said, they seem like extremely determined people who just kept on getting knocked down (although their genre of choice probably didn't help!). The European tour is some of the most uncomfortable documentary footage I've seen, but I thought the grand finale seemed a bit over-exaggerated to provide a 'happy' ending. Good documentary on the whole though, absurd and yet endearing, much like Spinal Tap actually!

LoGiE

Watched this a few weeks back. Very enjoyable flick that I've since recommended to friends.

jeffreylebowski

I loved this film, I found it incredibly life-affirming.

Mikhail, I can totally see what you're saying but the director is actually a lifelong fan of theirs, and I thought it was a very affectionate portrait. He really wanted to show the world that these guys are older, they're not doing so well but they still have metal deep in their hearts and I think he succeeded.

tunguska

Saw this a couple of weeks ago and it was very entertaining stuff altogether. Felt very sorry for the two lads though. They were completely deluded, especially the lead singer. He was still convinced, after all this time, that Anvil would make it. But the sad and brutal fact about it all was that they just werent good enough. I like a bit of metal myself and I have to say, Anvil's songs were just plain weak. And thats why they never made it big like Metaliica et al, because when it came right down ot it, they just didnt have the talent. Nice guys though.

allanb49

Agree with tunguska, It does make you laugh and cry, and some of it is cringe worthy last year they played fibbers... not a great band musically but determined/delusional they put there blood and sweat into it all. reminded me of the wrestler

mrgardener

allanb49 wrote: »

Agree with tunguska, It does make you laugh and cry, and some of it is cringe worthy last year they played fibbers... not a great band musically but determined/delusional they put there blood and sweat into it all. reminded me of the wrestler

LOVED this documentary.
Friends of mine seen them last year in London and said they were great.