In case you are wondering what the deal is with the light grey font, that is Matthew’s take on this awesome film. The normal font is my attempt to persuade you to watch this movie to the best of my ability.
See Anvil! The Story of Anvil. I say again, see Anvil! The Story of Anvil. I’m aware it’s awkward to start a review off like that but this flick deserves it. It’s a real joy to know that these guys are going to get some real success with this film because after viewing the movie, they’ve deserved it for far too long. I’d never heard of them until this film started sweeping up festivals and really superb reviews. Sacha Gervasi has crafted a film that is touching, uplifting, and will have you cheering with glee once the final frame comes up. Phil has hit this right on the head, by no means what so ever have I ever heard of Anvil. I even thought at the beginning this was a mockumentary! The film was crafted by a great hand that kept drawing me into the lives of these old headbangers.
Anvil Rocks!!
The film’s message is to never give up, even when it seems darkest. Gervasi opens with various people including Slash and Lars Ulrich talking about what an influence Anvil had over them as we see Robb Reiner and Steve “Lips” Kudlow rocking out at a festival in Japan. True, it feels like a mockumentary and as the film goes along you kind of wish it was. But no these are real people who had a band that never achieved the fame Metallica, AC/DC, Twisted Sister, and a host of other metal bands of the time did. Kudlow and Reiner don’t have the luxury of living off the millions they’ve made and instead have to barely keep up at their nine-to-five jobs to pursue their dreams. Gervasi follows Anvil as they’re just beginning their first European tour and it gives us an insight to the darker side of rock n’roll. They aren’t met by dozens of adoring fans rather a handful of people who haven’t so much as heard of them. The life that other rock bands of the same time have had, Anvil has not, they are itching for it, passionate about it. It’s a tragedy it didn’t for them. We then transition over later to a stadium that can seat 10,000 and only 179 show up to see Anvil. It’s heartbreaking to watch this unfold when clearly Robb and Lips are passionate about the music they produce. This film is something that moves your heart to a place some may not like, its called “life”. What Rob and Lips have gone through up until now and may even go through in the future is a tragedy. While I am not a fan of any of the above said bands, Anvil is something special. They have a story to tell us, and boy was I listening by the end.
This also leads to one of the big ironies of the film. While most of squabbles these two have over their music and where they’re headed in life are to be played for laughs, however I found myself not laughing rather than feeling sympathy. The fights were personal, they were attacks on ones character and about self preservation. Rob was physically and emotionally abused by Lips, all over small misunderstandings. Out of Love for one another. Perhaps the sympathy is because I have the same dreams and fears as these guys do when it comes to breaking into film. But this film takes its time to show how passionate these guys are. While the obscenities the two yell at the other over creative differences are a riot, one feels bad for these two as they’ve been through so much and this is all but their last hurrah. Last huraah really hits it on the head, this is almost a farewell tour with out ever arriving to the party. This is a last ditch effort to make what they have had in the hearts for so long really hit home for others. We’re taken through their lives and see that most, if not all their family has given up on them but no one has the heart to tell them they need to give it up. The film even suggests Robb is more talented than Lips and could have made it on his own, and even tells Lips himself the same. While the relationship is the center of this film, you can’t help but wonder what else is going on behind the scenes. This film really gives us a great view as to two friends with the same goals, trying their hardest to make it happen. Opening to a bar of 7 people has to be excruciating to your dreams!
It is such a joy to see them enter that stage at the end to thousands and thousands awaiting to cheer them on. After seeing all the trials and tribulations these two go through, it really brings a smile to one’s face that the film ends on such an uplifting note and delivers the message, it doesn’t matter when you make it, as long as you do. That also applies to the success of this documentary. The boys are finally making a turn on the festival circuit and have earned every bit of it. As a film, Anvil: The Story of Anvil one of the best films of the year and absolutely deserves all of your attention. It’s playing in limited release so keep that in mind when you look for it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to rock out with “This is Thirteen”. Make sure you see this film, help the band in anyway that you can. Buy their album, watch the film, help them out. It’s not a plea to be sorry for them, they just want to be loved for who they are..Anvil!
Rating: 
Make sure you come back for our Anvil autogrpahed poster we will have up on the site later this week hopefully!! Check out the below sites if you have the time!!
Film website:
Additional sites:
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Anvil
Twitter www.twitter.com/anvilmovie
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/anvilmovie
YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/AnvilTheMovie
[...] movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Make sure you check out Phil and I’s collaboration on the movie review that was posted here yesterday. As the poster below states, this film was “Hilarious and achingly [...]
[...] This goes to a little move that could. A great heartfelt movie that really was something special. Anvil: The Story of Anvil was a fantastic look at dreams that wouldn’t die, and the men who refused to give up on them. [...]