Anvil - The Story of Anvil (5 Stars)

Before I say anything about the film itself, let me comment on other reviews I've read. Many reviewers compare the film with "This is Spinal Tap" which was made in 1984. The similarities are only superficial. Anyone who dwells too much on the parallels between the two knows nothing about rock music and probably hasn't even watched either film carefully. There are two major differences which outweigh all similarities:

1. "This is Spinal Tap" is a fake documentary, a "mockumentary" about a fictitious band. "The Story of Anvil" is a real documentary about a real band.

2. "This is Spinal Tap" is a comedy. "The Story of Anvil" is serious.

So one of the quotes on the movie poster above calls the film funny? And another compares it with "Spinal Tap"? Marketing banter, nothing more. The film studios suspected that not many people might go to the cinema to watch a documentary, so they said "Hey, if you liked Spinal Tap you'll like this". Sad, too sad. This is truly the best documentary I've ever seen, and it deserves to stand or fall on its own merits.

Anvil came together in 1978, and in the early 1980's they had enormous worldwide success and critical acclaim. They were the original thrash metal band that influenced the big four bands, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth. After three albums they reached the peak of their success in their 1984 world tour. Then they disappeared from the public eye. They made another nine albums that sold badly. In 2008, when the documentary was made, the band was still together. So what happened?

The film makes a few suggestions, without claiming to give any definitive answers. The band never had a good manager. They relied on independent record labels that produced their music poorly. They were Canadian. (It isn't meant as a joke that being Canadian is a disadvantage; Canada was very remote and detached from the 1980's heavy metal scene). Or maybe they were just unlucky.

The documentary follows the group over a few months. We see them doing their day jobs in a catering company. They go on a poorly managed European tour which earns them no money at all. They struggle to make a new album which they have to sell privately, because no record companies are interested. Then they go to Japan and are surprised to find themselves cheered by 10,000 fans.

The film is moving. Heartbreaking. It's tragic how a band with such amazing talent could flop. If you get a chance to watch the DVD, please take time to listen to the interview with Metallica's Lars Ulrich in the Extra Features, in which he heaps praise upon Anvil. Lars believes that Anvil's drummer, Robb Reiner, was the best metal drummer of the 1980's, and that Anvil's music was a step ahead of everything that had been played till then.

Click here to view the trailer.