A thoroughly entertaining, low-budget, doc on the Manics. Nice to see on clearer footage of archive interviews in the first act.
Interview with fans and some overly candid footage of the trio eating wimpy burgers and wiping off sweat backstage, was more of a curiosity than a revelation.
My main gripe was how Richey was mentioned almost in passing during the film; and any insight into how band dynamics had changed over time - from Richey's position of (essentially being) band leader from Generation Terrorists to post-Holy Bible transition - was skipped over. This issue of a possible communication break-down and creative fall out was only hinted at briefly by Sean and left unexplored by the filmmakers. At the request of the band, I suppose.
Hopefully Withdrawn Traces will give fans a better insight into Richey's departure; when it's released next year.
No Manifesto: A Film About Manic Street Preachers
2015
Action / Documentary / Music
No Manifesto: A Film About Manic Street Preachers
2015
Action / Documentary / Music
Plot summary
In 1991, a band with the unlikely name of Manic Street Preachers came on to the British music scene proclaiming ambitions to make one album, sell 16 million copies of it, and then split up. A quarter century, multiple hit records and one missing member later, they are still here. Now this colourful and contentious band faces off with their equally colourful and contentious fans in a verité multimedia mash-up experiment that will turn the traditional rock'n'roll documentary upside-down and shake it until all the change falls out of its pockets. For the making of No Manifesto, the Manics provided unprecedented access. The film tells the story of the band's rise from mouthy punks to international renown, takes a fascinating look at the band's creative process, and joins them on tour. By combining footage shot at home and on the road with rare archival materials and fan interviews that provide commentary, lore, criticism and praise, No Manifesto gives a comprehensive look at a most unusual band.
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