Todd Rundgren: The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect (1983 Video) User Reviews

Interesting and Informative

[mictester · 7/10 · 17 June 2021]

Rundgren may sometimes appear to be a bit self-absorbed, but he has a lot to offer in this retrospective documentary. He describes some of his early work, and explains why he largely worked on his own (he finds that few musicians have the high degree of patience that he demands).

The musical content is (mostly) superb, and there's some live concert footage included. He explains his somewhat unique way of working, and comments on some of the music from other musicians that he's worked on - sometimes as a recording engineer, a musician and often as a producer.

The range of his work as a producer is also mentioned - he worked with bands as diverse as Sparks, Meatloaf and The Tubes.

Definately well worth watching if you "get" Rundgren (many people don't!)

Fantastic biography

[carterla · 10/10 · 4 July 2003]

One of the best biography I saw on movie. Todd Rundgren shows of don't have doubts on like be a director, and there succeeds to an elevated level. Very handsome the psychedelic sequence of the Vulva Light where through a crack the world of Todd is entered. Sin it is the only film turned from Todd. Indeed a wizard a true star. Nothing is boring and no rockstar has caused a film like this never

Extraordinary good biographical self-made interview

[alabala-6 · 10/10 · 23 July 2006]

If you are a least bit interested or intrigued by Rundgren and the progressive 70's musical innovation, you must see this beautiful and honest self-portrait of a movie. Rundgren acts as both journalist and as himself in a portait/interview. He asks the questions that he likes to answer, and gives you honest and intelligent views on his own life, his music and the fact that most of it has been highly influated by psycedelical drugs. He explains what happened to him after something/anything, when he started experimenting with LSD, guides you through those years of evolution, and shows you videos with his music which shows you what his mind was about when he recorded that music. My favorite part of this picture is a live performance of the funky soul 1975's Initiation-opener, "Real man". You can't afford not to see this one! Get on with it

All you Todd fans, get this one!

[Egghead7 · 10/10 · 31 July 2010]

Great interview segments with some extra-ordinary music. The DVD includes three MTV era videos ( "Hideaway", "Can We Still Be Friends" and "Time Heals") An earlier review complained that Todd begins the interview by saying "I'm running late, so can we just get going" or something. This guy has either no sense of humor, or is seriously missing what the show is all about! The music, dammit...

Anyways, Todd's insight into the inspiration of psychedelic drugs is worth the price of admission.

Some may find the 80's effects somewhat dated, while the rest of us can only revel in the music of Todd Rundgren. A wizard, a true star.

Boring, Pretentious, Inane...

[Craig0509 · 1/10 · 1 April 2003]

Wow! What a self-indulgent piece of garbage. The first lines TR speaks when sits down for the interview segment of the documentary(?) are, "Can we make this fast, I'm kind of late." This to an interviewer he hired to ask questions he (TR) wrote for a doc he was directing and producing about himself!!! Unbelievamous. And that's about as modest and self-effacing as he manages to be in this thing. This gi-monstrous error in judgement proves one thing, anyway - Being a rockstar is not good for your personality! Whew - avoid this stinker at all costs.