Live Forever (2003)

Director:

John Dower

Writer:

John Dower (writer)

Release Date:

7 March 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

Hilarous documentary about the Britpop music scene in the Nineties, featuring all the main bands of the scene exposing the truth behind the myths. |

Cast

Noel Gallagher	...	Himself
Liam Gallagher	...	Himself
Damon Albarn	...	Himself
Jarvis Cocker	...	Himself
Kevin Cummins	...	Himself
Toby Young	...	Himself
Ozwald Boateng	...	Himself
Damien Hirst	...	Himself
Robert del Naja	...	Himself (as 3D)
Jon Savage	...	Himself
Louise Wener	...	Herself
Peter Mandelson	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Blair	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
John Dower

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Dower		writer

Produced by
John Battsek	....	producer
Jessica Ludgrove	....	assistant producer

Cinematography by
Fred Fabre

Film Editing by
Jake Martin

Art Department
Giuseppe Cristiano	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Paragon	....	sound mixer: interviews

Editorial Department
Søren Kloch	....	digital film transfer

Music Department
Liz Gallacher	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Julian Adamoli	....	film researcher

Production Companies

• Passion Pictures

Distributors

• Three Lines Pictures (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Wise Policy (Japan) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• First Look International
• Focus Film Facts (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Redbus Film Distribution (UK)
• UK Film Council

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language including drug references

Runtime:

UK:82 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:MG6 | UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

Passion Pictures

Quotes:

Inteviewer:So what is "Live Forever" about then?
Liam Gallagher:Well, it's about living forever, aint it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: Episode #7.2" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Parklife

pointless nostalgia

Why was this film made? 'Britpop', as a phenomenon (if it was that) finished less then a decade ago. Indeed, it hadn't even started a decade ago according to this film. At least some time should have been given to see how history remembered certain events, rather than embellishing them almost as soon as they've occurred. Why would anyone would want to see or hear the views of 'wonderwall', a shockingly witless oasis tribute band, when the film can afford more insightful perspectives of Jarvis or even Noel? Damon does himself no favours in this documentary. as the frontman of blur, one of the greatest pop bands we've had in the last 20 years, he tries to come across too much as a social commenatator, rather than the purveyor of just simply great pop songs. His refusal to comment on certain events merely riles the viewer, and his self-importance is rightly satirised in the closing sequence as we see him losing himself as he plucks away at a banjo(?). Noel, however, is the main source of interest, and his brother provides the humour and arrogance which made oasis so exciting in the first place. Louise Wener is perhaps the most articulate of the lot, the frontwoman of sleeper-turned-author retains a sense of keeping her feet on the ground.

Although some of the music is indeed brilliant and some events were as equally exciting (common people came at a perfect time, and pulp heroically headlined glastonbury at the last minute), the inclusion of massive attack (although my favourite group) just furrowed my brow - why include them and not radiohead, not the spice girls? Radiohead in particular, who have gone on to arguably greater success than oasis. maybe they had a few problems getting interviews with the actually relevant people of the time?

There are too few interviewees for this to be a broad essay on the scene in the mid '90's (maybe this is why they had to include Wonderwall?). whereas 24 Hour Party People managed to entertain, excite and sympathise with some of the absurdities and fickleness of the music world, this film fails to be a worthwhile exercise in anything other than over-glorifying a period which has effectively only just ended.

Although as i've said, some of the music is great...