This is not a movie that shows concerts, although you'll see clips from several of them. It's not a movie that interviews people who knew the late Mr. Zappa. It's not even about his (and the Mothers of Invention's) music. It's about Frank Zappa himself, as shown by interviews a great number of people did with him, illustrated by some of his music and performances.
With that in mind, it's a great documentary. It's roughly chronological, starting with the Steve Allen Show and ending with an interview shortly before he died. What you get is Frank Zappa in his own words, and he comes across as a brilliant person. His music never spoke to me; it doesn't speak to me now, whether it's his Mother's of Invention works or his more nearly classical compositions. But the guy impresses me as brilliant in every day life. He distinguished between music as a business, where decisions are based on return on investment, and music as an art, where decisions are based on artistic merit. He made enough money in the business to fund his art, as many actors do today.
I was impressed that he started out with considerable maturity and never really wavered from his path to music as an art, not a a business. Although he made money, he (he says, and I believe) never sold out and never made music that was commercial. His analysis of the business and of world affairs was spot on. He comes across in the film as a very thoughtful, analytical person. I've never understood his music, but I'd have loved to have a few conversations with him. He'd have been 76 this year if he'd lived, and I would greatly appreciate his take on the times.
With that in mind, it's a great documentary. It's roughly chronological, starting with the Steve Allen Show and ending with an interview shortly before he died. What you get is Frank Zappa in his own words, and he comes across as a brilliant person. His music never spoke to me; it doesn't speak to me now, whether it's his Mother's of Invention works or his more nearly classical compositions. But the guy impresses me as brilliant in every day life. He distinguished between music as a business, where decisions are based on return on investment, and music as an art, where decisions are based on artistic merit. He made enough money in the business to fund his art, as many actors do today.
I was impressed that he started out with considerable maturity and never really wavered from his path to music as an art, not a a business. Although he made money, he (he says, and I believe) never sold out and never made music that was commercial. His analysis of the business and of world affairs was spot on. He comes across in the film as a very thoughtful, analytical person. I've never understood his music, but I'd have loved to have a few conversations with him. He'd have been 76 this year if he'd lived, and I would greatly appreciate his take on the times.