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All Access. Front Row. Backstage. Live!: Review

ALL ACCESS. FRONT ROW. BACKSTAGE. LIVE!
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Here's a film that, among other interesting things, asks the question, "Can anything truly rock-and-roll be presented by Certs?" Director Martyn Atkins's IMAX concert flick doesn't necessarily answer that question, but it is — at least in part — a spectacular and generally entertaining attempt to make stadium rock shows look even more like TRIUMPH OF THE WILL than they actually do. The film's format is simplicity itself, and rather touchingly familiar; backstage footage and de rigeur scenes of roadies moving amplifiers are periodically intercut with one-song-per-act performances from a fairly eclectic bunch of musicians. The non-musical material is inevitably reminiscent of THIS IS SPINAL TAP, which has permanently tainted the conventions of rockumentary with a hint of the absurd, no matter how seriously they're presented. But the performances, with the possible exception of a rather languid turn by electronica kingpin Moby, are exciting and well-shot, although Atkins does overuse one vaguely psychedelic effect that's particularly disturbing when applied to Kid Rock's drummer (when you see it, you'll understand). Deciding the pick of the artistic litter is, obviously, a matter of taste; for our money, Sheryl Crow — glimpsed mostly in tight close-up during a solo, acoustic version of "If It Makes You Happy" — absolutely steals the film. For others it might be Al Green's riveting run-through of "Take Me to the River" with an obviously delighted Dave Matthews, or the old-fashioned Memphis-soul grit Macy Gray displays in "I Can't Wait to Meetchu." The energy rarely flags, and Atkins has the good sense to let his camera linger mostly on the younger performers; if you've ever seen the Rolling Stones' IMAX concert film, you know exactly how terrifying facial wrinkles can be when projected on a Brobdingnagian screen. leave a comment --Steve Simels
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