As a VU fan, I was so excited to see this! But considering how many cool interviews, photos, and films, they had access to, the final product is disappointing. They spend the first 60 minutes with background material on avant-garde sound and film, on John Cale and Lou Reed's childhoods (focusing more on Cale). The spend only a few minutes of the documentary on the third and fourth albums. No mention of the Rock Hall Of Fame induction. No mention of their reunion shows in Paris (although a picture is flashed briefly). There are too many people on the periphery of the band talking, instead of the band members themselves. Many important insights about the band that we all have read about over the years were never mentioned. In the end, the film makers were more interested in making an cool avant-garde film for a cool avant-garde band, than they were in telling the true story of The Velvet Underground or giving any insights to their story. John Cale is way over represented with the screen time they give him, while Sterling Morrison and Doug Yule are under represented. The Velvet Underground were one of the most important bands in history and possibly the greatest American band of the 60's. They deserve better than this.
Review of The Velvet Underground
