IN BRIEF: Very entertaining film about the famous singing brothers.
JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Using interviews, archival, and concert footage, Frank Marshall has assembled a moving tribute to one of the most famous musical trios ever. I am talking about The Brothers Gibb: Barry, Maurice, and Robin, collectively known as The BeeGees. His documentary chronicles the rise of these three brothers from Australia and their 20 number one hits in-between good times and bum times.
The group's classic three-part harmonies and their influence with R&B gave their music a distinctive sound, well before their later falsetto musical stylings led the group into the disco craze which cemented their legend. Robert Stigwood managed them throughout their thirty year career and the film wises uses their musical legacy to tell their story.
However, The BeeGees: How CanYou Mend a Broken Heart tends to focus too much on the positive and whitewashes any negativity in its adoration of the group. The documentary blames the high cost of fame for their mercurial relationship, but downplays the sibling rivalry between Robin and Barry, forcing Maurice to become the chief negotiator of the ongoing conflicts between his warring brothers. The Bee Gees' instant road to fame had some serious bumps along the way, including the death of their youngest brother, Andy, from drug abuse, which is mostly sidestepped. Mere mentions of the other brothers' drug or alcohol issues are only alluded to as well. Their disco era hits from Saturday Night Fever are highlighted and so is the disco backlash. (The origins and engineering prowess of Stayin' Alive is a particularly fascinating tidbit of information.) Also, one wishes more of their complete song-lists would be played instead of little bits and pieces, or spicks and specks, so to speak.
Still, what an entertaining documentary this is! The film has a bittersweet quality within its celebratory mood. The BeeGees: How CanYou Mend a Broken Heart becomes a joyous kaleidoscopic journey of the 60's to the 90's, especially if you are an avid fan of their music. (GRADE: B)
JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Using interviews, archival, and concert footage, Frank Marshall has assembled a moving tribute to one of the most famous musical trios ever. I am talking about The Brothers Gibb: Barry, Maurice, and Robin, collectively known as The BeeGees. His documentary chronicles the rise of these three brothers from Australia and their 20 number one hits in-between good times and bum times.
The group's classic three-part harmonies and their influence with R&B gave their music a distinctive sound, well before their later falsetto musical stylings led the group into the disco craze which cemented their legend. Robert Stigwood managed them throughout their thirty year career and the film wises uses their musical legacy to tell their story.
However, The BeeGees: How CanYou Mend a Broken Heart tends to focus too much on the positive and whitewashes any negativity in its adoration of the group. The documentary blames the high cost of fame for their mercurial relationship, but downplays the sibling rivalry between Robin and Barry, forcing Maurice to become the chief negotiator of the ongoing conflicts between his warring brothers. The Bee Gees' instant road to fame had some serious bumps along the way, including the death of their youngest brother, Andy, from drug abuse, which is mostly sidestepped. Mere mentions of the other brothers' drug or alcohol issues are only alluded to as well. Their disco era hits from Saturday Night Fever are highlighted and so is the disco backlash. (The origins and engineering prowess of Stayin' Alive is a particularly fascinating tidbit of information.) Also, one wishes more of their complete song-lists would be played instead of little bits and pieces, or spicks and specks, so to speak.
Still, what an entertaining documentary this is! The film has a bittersweet quality within its celebratory mood. The BeeGees: How CanYou Mend a Broken Heart becomes a joyous kaleidoscopic journey of the 60's to the 90's, especially if you are an avid fan of their music. (GRADE: B)