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Reviews
Odesza: The Last Goodbye Cinematic Experience (2023)
Two good guys from a Bellingham basement
It's inspiring to see that two casual but committed musicians can make it big and bring their friends along on the journey. This film differs from other band documentaries in that it doesn't glorify the personalities and gives credit to the larger production team and dozen performers who make up the Odesza live experience. Like their music, the movie is crafted with love and attention to detail, showing the power of optimism and connection. While there's nothing like being at a live show, watching this feels like being there!
True to Odesza's work ethic, the production quality and sound clarity were top-notch. I'm glad I saw it in a cinema and can't wait to see them live! Thanks to Clay and Harrison for representing Seattle and the PNW well.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
Tons of fun for fans! Radcliffe knocks it out.
I'm a long-time fan of Weird Al and was reluctant to watch this. I doubted the casting of Daniel Radcliffe, but man, was I wrong! He (and the 20 other well-known actors) bring so much mirth to this light-hearted project that I found myself hitting rewind just to savor all the fun.
The storyline is wildly exaggerated and the tone is played straight-as-possible, given the subject. However, tongues are securely in-cheek. There are tons of inside jokes and easter eggs, but if you're not versed in Al's lore, you may not enjoy it as much.
Those younger viewers won't get all the 80's and 90's references, but this flick is really for us middle-aged folks. If you're in that demographic, fire it/one up and enjoy the laughs!
Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (2018)
A comprehensive, evocative bio-documentary.
This movie, well worth watching for M.I.A. fans, was years in the making. Almost entirely composed of archival footage, it comes across as a labor of love from her longtime friend, director Steve Loveridge. There are scenes of extreme violence from Sri Lanka which could equate to an R rating.
Maya herself opens up to the camera with her well-known charisma, beauty, musical talent, and sincerity.
I had a hard time with the non-linear narrative, and the film itself seemed to sputter out at the end. Much of the hand-held shaky camera shots were unwatchable on the big screen. A shame, because the subject matter was compelling.