Director: Morgan Neville.
Starring: Darlene Love, Judith Hill, Lisa Fischer, Cissy Houston, Mick Jagger, Sting, Stevie Wonder.
Running Time: 91 minutes.
Synopsis: A documentary that focuses on the world and lives of the back-up singers.
This Academy Award-winning documentary hits the UK with a lot of hype around it, but does it live up to its credentials? The answer is certainly mixed. Back-up singers are obviously the unsung heroes of the musical world, turning ‘OOOHS’ and ‘AAAAHS’ into an art form. However, what is most surprising is that a small minority have actually done so much. The film focuses on a select group of African American back-up singers from the past until present day, the history of the role, how it evolved during periods of rock and roll, how the industry treats such singers, and what kind of lives and dreams back-up singers have.
If that sounds like a lot of ground to cover, that’s because it is, and it’s one of the reasons the documentary doesn’t completely resonate. It does seem to be an issue of quantity over quality, although, like many documentaries, I’m sure there are hours of footage on the cutting room floor. Without a definite focus (such as choosing just one or two individuals to follow), the film at points seems like a trailer for a much longer documentary series. Although very involving for the entire length of the film, it can be frustrating when fascinating anecdotes are not elaborated on.
The sheer wealth of material also means that the emotional road is a bumpy one. We see success stories such as Luther Vandross juxtaposed with tales of women who essentially had their voices stolen for more well-known acts. The frustration is clear, but the editing – which does manage to create a fast pace – shuffles us onto the next story far too quickly.
Fortunately, with so much going on there is a lot to appreciate. Essentially we’re treated to multiple underdog stories with lovable characters who love what they do and never give up. The appreciation shown by big stars such as Mick Jagger and Sting is also infectious and any film shedding light on unsung heroes deserves to be seen. It’s a film where you know exactly the people you’ll want to recommend it to, as it’s clear performers and music fans will get a lot more from it than a viewer with little more than a casual interest.
Despite being frustrating by constantly moving forward, it’s certainly worth wondering what the DVD release will offer in terms of extra footage. This is an eye-opening experience, but perhaps had too many parts to show off in one go. Respectful and informative, it covers the basics, but this serves as more of an EP in the run up to the much-needed LP.
[usr=3] 20 FEET FROM STARDOM is released in UK cinemas on Friday 28th March 2014.
