by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who is ready for Edgar Wright’s new horror thriller, Last Night in Soho? Like many films over the past 15 months, this was delayed indefinitely until this pandemic blows over. Too bad we do not have the Winchester to go to and wait for it all to blow over, right? But Wright is an auteur director who has such a big fan base who treats his releases like events. But… are you aware of his other film releasing in 2021? Yes, he indeed has two films releasing this year. What makes this situation interesting is that this will be the first documentary that Wright has directed. But what exactly is he documenting? One of the greatest bands of all time of course… Sparks! Who? I know… when I first heard of this film, I wondered who this band was. But after watching it, I am so sad that it took me almost 30 years into my life to finally discover Sparks. Thank you, Mr. Wright. I am sure many others will be thankful too.
But who are Sparks?
This fraternal duo of Ron and Russell Mael have made a lasting career of progressive music that surpasses definition. Russell is the dynamic and hyperactive front man in the vein of Mick Jagger and Ron is the deadpan and glaring figure behind the keyboards flourished with a Tramp mustache. Over the course of 50 years, they have produced 25 albums and have made a lasting impact on the world of European music (despite being from LA). They might not be the favorites of your run-of-the-mill music fan… but they just might be the favorites of your favorites. They obviously made a huge impact on a young Wright who takes his incredible filmmaker prowess and creates the beautiful love letter. Wright is full of quirks and creativity himself so it is easy to see why such a dynamic and artful musical group made such an impression on his art.
For the cinematic audiences out there, what does Wright deliver over this two-plus hour runtime of The Sparks Brothers?
This film is an extremely detailed and deep dive into the life and career of the Mael Brothers. It does not dig too deep into conflict or negativity (I do not believe that was Wright’s goal for the film), but it captures an incredible passion of a true cinephile who uses that love to portray his passion for another art form. Audiences get an intimate look into the formative years of Ron and Russell before diving headlong into a detailed overviewing of Sparks’ discography. The film captures the significance of each album and the impressive creative merits that inhabit each and every record. I love music and I am a huge fan of progressive rock music. Rush is my favorite band with their incredible musicianship and breadth of talent in varying styles. I have not encountered another band quite like them until I wanted this documentary. There is so much craft and detail in the film that creates a perfect entry for newcomers and plenty to chew on for diehard fans.
We can see the passion that Wright brings to the table, but who else do we get to hear from?
The film does something special in that we get to hear from the artists themselves in a meaningful way. Ron and Russell, with their charming and unique personalities in tow, give their perspective on their story, but also shed some light on who they are as individuals. The humor shines through, providing for great laughs and smiles throughout the film, which is not something you get very often in documentaries. But the rest of the cast of interviewees in a murderers row of musicians and other entertainers. Various musicians from Beck to Weird Al to Giorgio to Flea pour out their passion for Sparks, including how they were influenced by the robust works of the band. You even get commentary from Mike Myers, Neil Gaiman, Jason Schwartzman, and others who are fans of Sparks’ music and the creative force that they represent and inspire.
With this great story and impressive gallery of perspectives, what else does The Sparks Brothers have that makes it stand out?
I was so surprised to find out that Wright was directing a documentary, seeing as he is one of the most creative filmmakers out there. Would this genre handcuff his creative juices? The Sparks Brothers proves that is definitely not the case. The sharp editing that is a trademark of Wright’s films is definitely present as it delivers a brisk pace and lends itself to organic humor. One great example is the ping pong dialogue between Wright and the Mael brothers as they provide answers in an assuming Q&A. Wright also packs this film to gills with music (whether it is from Sparks or other music that captures the narrative beats in the film). Honestly… I wouldn’t want it any other way after seeing the brilliant musical work in Baby Driver. Throw in some impressive animation and visual cues that bolster the narrative and you have yourself quite the dynamic documentary.
It is quite obvious that this film really impacted me, but will this be a must see for everyone?
As I stated before, Sparks is obviously the band I must love the most that I never heard of. The passion of this film is infectious and that makes it so impactful and relatable. Everyone has that thing that they are beyond passionate about and cannot get enough of. We want to share that love and express to others why they should give it some love too. Wright certainly convinced me why Sparks is worth checking out. Not only is the band it focuses on incredible, but so is the film that Wright creates around them. Show Sparks & Wright some love and go check out The Sparks Brothers.
Grade: A-