By: Dr Matt Warnock
Anvil: The Story of Anvil is a gripping rockumentary that provides an inside look into the trials and tribulations of one of Canada’s heaviest bands as they struggle to resurrect their careers. Following the band as they play their way across Europe and Japan, at least on the nights that they arrive on time and have an audience, the film opens the curtain and gives audiences a behind the scenes look at a band that is struggling to stay afloat in a musical world that seems bent on ignoring their unique brand of heavy metal music.
Though it has been referred to as a real life Spinal Tap, the movie goes much deeper than its comedic element, though the wedding reception scene will bring a smile to any musicians face. By showcasing the human side of the band as they progress on their heavy metal journey, the audience begins to relate to the struggles faced by the band, on what seems to be a daily basis. Described as “possibly the greatest film yet made about rock and roll” by The Times and “the best documentary I’ve seen in years” by Michael Moore, Anvil: The Story of Anvil lives up to the praise it has been receiving as it explores the story of one of metals least remembered, though most influential, bands.
The film focuses on the two remaining original members of the band, drummer Rob Reiner and guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow, who used to play his guitar with a dildo during the height of the bands fame in the early 1980s. Working together for more than thirty years, these two aged rockers struggle to balance their day jobs with family commitments, while fulfilling their dreams to become the rock stars that many feel they should have become long ago. The two long-time friends provide some of the films more comedic moments, even if it’s not purposeful, while the scenes focusing on the personal and financial struggles they endure are gripping, and often heart wrenching, to watch.
The true mastery of the film lies beyond showing the “real world” of rock and roll; the mastery is that it makes the viewer care about the guys in Anvil. When they struggle, the audience feels it, when they get angry over a botched booking the audience gets angry along with them. There is a scene where Lips talks about his dreams of being a rock star, and how bad he wants to succeed, that is as emotionally intense as it gets. These guys are real and they are interesting, and by the second scene of the film everyone in the audience is rooting for them, even as they cringe and laugh along with the drama unfolding on screen.
While the film centers on the music, there is never a dull moment when Lips and Reiner are in the same room together. Their love, hate relationship is constantly being challenged as they both deal with the conflict between what they want to achieve and what they feel others expect from them. Though they are both passionate individuals that aren’t afraid to express their displeasure with each other, they always seem to find a common ground and eventually work things out.
Even if they are constantly fighting, it is easy to see that their love of the music, and dedication to the band, overrides any personal disagreements they may have. In the end, the close bond they have formed over the years seems to be their greatest ally as they battle to save the life of their band.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil is an inside look at the human side of heavy metal. It is not a Hollywood happy-ending type story, but it is more realistic and engaging than most anything playing down at the local Cineplex these days. Love them or hate them, the guys in Anvil will have you rooting for them as they struggle to succeed in a cutthroat business that seems to have passed them by.
Without spoiling the ending, the film has brought some well deserved attention to the band and has helped them get back out on the road, opening for bands such as ACDC and Saxon. So the next time you see a poster advertising Anvil live in your town, don’t pass it by, take the opportunity to see one of metal’s best kept secrets, you won’t regret it.
Links
Anvil: The Story of Anvil on Amazon
