You know that if Edgar Wright is stepping away (briefly) from narrative filmmaking and venturing out into the world of documentaries that it had to be a subject that was near and dear to his heart. Well the fact that he was able to make it about his favorite band, Sparks, which took the acclaimed director three years to complete, makes it clear that this was truly a labor of love.
The documentary, The Sparks Brothers, is shot in black and white, you can immediately sense Wright adoration for the Sparks brothers as he sets the table for a nearly 2 1/2-hour experience that somehow manages to be a pretty deep dive that should satisfy the hungriest of Sparks fans, while still being accessible to those Wright diehards who are watching the film not having a clue who Sparks even are.
Starting with the basic outline of the brotherly duo of Ron and Russell Mael, who are actually American but are commonly mistaken for being a British band. He runs through the immense amount of releases that they have as well as the clear influence they have over countless celebrity interview subjects featuring the likes of Beck and Flea, as well as actors like Patton Oswalt.
He begins with their childhood, the death of their father at an early age which seemed to forge the inseparable bond which would be crucial for their maintained persistence in an industry that has destroyed so many bands after only a couple of years. The heart of the band and Wright’s film is their relationship and how everything else only complimented them on their journey that is still going strong to this very day.
Wright showcases how the band seemed never afraid to hit the restart button no matter how much success they would find. And even if they didn’t have success they would keep their head down, keep chugging along and finding a new way to reinvent themselves and keep pushing the boundaries.
While they never seemed to find the mainstream sort of success, especially here in the States, the fact that they marched to the beat of their own drum and made the art that they found true is a reason why they’re practically your favorite band’s favorite band and have outlasted all of their contemporaries.
The format of the documentary is creative enough to make it distinctly from the mind and heart of Wright but also straightforward in a linear sense to appeal to those who have never heard of the band before and are willing to get on board. This is not an easy task to please both fans of the aisle (see Star Wars) but Wright does so in a fashion that never compromises anything, just like his favorite band.
When I saw that the film was 2 hours and 15 minutes long I thought that it may have been too much, yet in reality, it still wasn’t enough. Your reminded with a loving nudge from Wright just how influential this band was although they still manage to be terribly overlooked and underrated to this very day.
Wright has cemented their legacy in a new format one that will only remind people more about their importance to the music industry and be a way for new fans to find their music in due time.
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