Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

ShootingShark A documentary about the epic career of Canadian rock trio Rush, who formed in 1968, have had the same lineup since 1974, and are still touring and recording thirty-six years and nineteen albums later.First, an objectivity disclaimer - Rush are probably my favourite band, so I guess I'm maybe not the best person to review this informative and amusing biography of their contribution to rock music. There are certainly a lot of intriguing questions to ask - why are they not better known, given that they've had more consecutive gold records than anyone bar The Beatles and The Rolling Stones ? How did they manage to stay together so long ? How have they have retained such an original sound despite almost constant change and progression in their musical style ? Why don't girls like them ? The film is a conventional but agreeable mix of interviews, performance footage and comments from key collaborators and some of the many artists they've influenced (Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumpkins is particularly insightful). What's especially nice for Rush fans is that there's plenty of rare material (such as a home movie of a teenage Alex) and lengthy discussions with all three, including the notoriously camera-shy Neil. Whether you like Rush or not, the specific niche they've created is interesting. They're full-on rockers but they are neither tattooed hedonists nor art college politicos. They're consummate musicians and entertainers, but they don't seem to be in the least bit motivated by fame, popularity or wealth. They've never really had any kind of media profile and yet ever show they play is sold out. To borrow a phrase from Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, who are those guys ? Their music seems totally unique to me but I don't think I can really explain why, it's just something I feel in my heart. The documentary (and the band itself) isn't afraid to poke fun at their nerdy image, fashion blunders and frequent savaging by the music press, but it also showcases their originality, commitment to what they do and respect for their audience. For a band who can often be labelled pretentious, that's really the one thing they never are, and that's what comes across here. If I have one criticism, it's the pacing - inevitably for such a long-lived act, it's hard to devote time to all their work and the mid-to-late period (encompassing albums like Hold Your Fire or Roll The Bones) suffer very brief analysis. Engagingly filmed by Banger Productions' Dunn and McFadyen, who also made the equally enjoyable Iron Maiden: Flight 666. I saw this in my local arts cinema and the small venue was packed with Rush addicts enjoying every moment, and that kind of sums this band up - you either totally get what they're doing or you just can't see it, there's no middle ground. If you're any kind of rock fan at all, and especially if you don't know Rush, don't miss this terrific little flick. From the point of conception to the moment of truth, at the point of surrender to the burden of proof, from the point of ignition to the final drive the point of the journey is not to arrive ...

crossbow0106 Just to get it out of the way, if you have zero interest in Rush, proceed with caution. I am a casual fan and thought this was great. The best thing is it explores the relationships between the band, from the beginning. Also, along with insightful commentary from various musicians, the guys tell their own story. Always maligned by critics, this is an exploration into why they are still so popular. Even better, all three guys, especially Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, are just good people. Neil Peart is a bit more difficult to warm up to, but you'll like him also by the end (actually, way before that). You get concert clips and the aforementioned commentary and what basically comes through is that these guys deserved every bit of fame that came their way. They are all superb musicians, actually all three amongst the best in rock. While Geddy Lee's singing voice takes a bit of getting used to (there is a funny part where various people quote critics on what they thought his voice sounded like), by the end you realize that its also part of what makes the band unique. That over 30 years on they can still sell out tours is amazing, and it really is about time they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The only reason I didn't give it a ten was that if you have little knowledge of the band you may feel its a bit much to go through the records one by one. However, as I am a casual fan only (to date, I have "Permanent Waves" and the two disc compilation "Chronicles" only), this documentary makes me want to go out and buy more Rush music. If that isn't an endorsement for this film, then there just isn't one. Congratulations on their well earned success and bravo to this career spanning, insightful and thoroughly entertaining documentary.

hanfuzzy This film does a good job of presenting and explaining what Rush is all about, and how the group has earned respect from fans, producers, DJs and other musicians (just not critics). Not quite hagiography, as it quotes some of the negative reviews and the band's own dissatisfaction with some of their albums or directions or even wardrobe choices.Unlike the filmmakers' heavy metal survey films (Headbanger's Journey and Global Metal), in this film Dunn is never on screen and is only heard once or twice asking questions of interview subjects. The spotlight (or limelight) is clearly placed on the band - this is a straight-up documentary, without dwelling on a fan's relationship to a band or genre. As in previous films by this team, the interviews with a surprisingly wide variety of subjects provide much of the meat of this film, giving a broad perspective and keeping it from having too much of a narrow viewpoint. Of course at least half the interviews are with Rush members themselves. You get a real sense of the men behind the music, including their relationships to each other, family, other musicians, and fans. A special aspect is some great earlier footage, even from family discussions while they were still in high school. There are also some powerful landscape shots while exploring Peart's response to deaths in his immediate family. And the examination of the song-writing process, including shots of original hand-written lyrics drafts, provides good value for viewers.Overall, a well-made film that does justice to the topic. Not as poignant or story-arced as Anvil: the Story of Anvil, this film has a more successful subject and didn't need to become a real-life Spinal Tap to make a interesting watch.

bs-30 Saw the premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last night. A theater full of Rush fans guarantees that if the film faltered it would get immediate feedback. Not the case here at all. What us rabid Rush fans have been waiting for all these years has finally happened: a serious piece of film that accurately details the background of the band and their rise from obscurity to, as Geddy says "not mainstream, but OUR stream", with the ups and downs along the way. Everything is covered, from their struggle for a recording contract until their first stateside 'fans' Donna Halper from WMMS in Cleveland and Cliff Burnstein of Mercury Records helped them out, the early years w/ John Rutsey (someone who up until now was just a name - seeing and hearing him made me appreciate his early contributions to the group), the triumphant release of 2112 that gave them their independence, all the way to Neil's tragic loss of his daughter and wife years ago that almost spelled the end of the band.Peppered w/ interviews from other musicians who you would not typically think of as Rush fans (Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, etc.) as well as those who absolutely fit the bill (Jack Black, Les Claypool, etc.) you see that their influence is not just musical but spiritual - not one of these people, except for maybe Mr. Claypool, play like Rush, but they all relate how their admiration for the band fueled their own push to be better musicians and hold onto their integrity.As you would expect, my only complaint is that it's not long enough. But that's what DVD extras are for. :) All in all a hearty thumbs-up! Be sure to catch the TV premiere in late June over at VH1/VH1Classic!And one last thought - this has solidified the growing position among us hardcore fans that it's irrelevant if they ever get into the R&R Hall of Fame. That's a popularity contest that the band has never cared for and nor do I.