Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Documentary on the quixotic pursuit of glory by a forgotten Canadian metal band.

Funny and painful and sad all at the same time. It's hard to root against these guys even though (because?) they alone are oblivious to the odds against them -- and the possibility that their music might actually suck.

It was brave of the filmmakers to do this, that's for sure, though ironically it will go down as the claim to fame the band so desperately seeks.

[soupcan]

I saw these guys on The Tonight Show last week after reading about the movie somewhere (NY Times maybe). They were very entertaining while talking to Conan and then they played. It was great. They seem like they deserve all the attention they are gettinng. This movie is in my queue.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It occurs to me how similar-- not just in subject matter or comedic beats, but the actual shape of the thing-- this doc is to a tragicomic "This is Spinal Tap." Hell, it makes a handful of direct references throughout. (Though, to be fair, there's hardly a movie with a rock tour in it-- save "Almost Famous"-- that doesn't have a "Hello Cleveland" or "None, none more black" sprinkled in there.)

Still dug it. I wonder, though, if it's better or worse if you haven't seen "TIST."