Western Stars

Every time I notice a documentary being released I simply beam, considering they are one of my favorite art forms when it comes to films. I've seen many amazing documentaries including "Murderball", "Fed Up", "The Corporation", "Supersize Me", "Capitalism: A Love Story", "Life Itself", and the recent "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" to mention a handful. So, when I saw my first trailer of "Western Stars", it simply looked amazing and it was in spades!

 

Backed by a band and a 30-piece full orchestra, Bruce Springsteen performs all 13 songs from his new album "Western Stars" touching on themes of love, loss, loneliness, family and the passage of time. Before each song, Springsteen narrates, with different footage, what and where the idea or theme would come from so as to convey to the audience that nuance and reality of where Springsteen was going with each song. His long-standing wife, Patty Scialfa is right at his side as singer and is a music arranger. This is a personal film for both Bruce and Patty as this performance is played out in their late 1880's old barn which gives certain warmth to the documentary.

 

This was directed with expertise and thoroughness by veteran to documentaries, Thom Zimmy ("The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town" (documentary) '10, "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Houston '78 Bootleg: House Cut" (documentary) '10, "The Ties That Bind" (documentary) '15, "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: The River Tour, Temple 1980" (documentary) '15, "Elvis Presley" The Searcher" (documentary) '18, "The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash" (documentary) '19) plus TV movie documentaries and video shorts, and Bruce Springsteen (video shorts) plus tons of soundtracks. Obvious, not only is Zimmy right in his comfort zone as a documentarian, but he has collaborated with Springsteen more than once before. This, in and of itself, is enough to realize that this documentary is going to as fluid as water. And it being quite the personal film for Springsteen makes this work that much more appealing. The film was poignantly written by Bruce Springsteen as well, ("Springsteen on Broadway" (TV movie documentary). The different visages that Springsteen wrote which preceded each song was heartfelt, personal and incredibly well thought out. The writing was concise, cohesive and so poignant that I had a tear or two in a couple of places. His writings delve into love, redemption, lies, self-loathing, faith, God's divinity, marriage and family, and all constructed in a loving, empathetic way emphasizing the importance of community and compassion toward one another.

 

This is a film which needs to be seen by one and all! It is all about people in Springsteen's life and about people in general. This is his 36th album, so he's been around for a while, and with this fact he has learned and has appreciated those around him, whether it be family, friends and co-collaborators and fellow musicians in his life. The message he is wanting us to grasp is to be grateful and appreciate those around you and see that we, each of us, are worthy of love and being happy which was performed through these amazing new songs. I certainly will be looking for the soundtrack! Kudos to this incredible artist and person. After the credits, there is a short segment of how the film was made which is very interesting as well.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 4       Rated: PG          88mins. & 9mins. how the film was made at end