Being a KLF admirer since their inception, my biggest problem with this movie starts with the title itself. Everyone who only knows the basics of the JAM's, knows that Drummond and Cauty were always in full control - so, if anyone could have killed The KLF, it would have been them. And hey, guess what the movie concludes.
Then, I wonder why it is even important to ask this particular question. The ending is less important than what they created while the duo was active - yes, this documentary dives into many facettes of their creations, ideas and ideologies behind - but not thoroughly enough.
If you have combed through the internet for any information about the KLF, many segments seems very familiar, as they have been used almost unedited from the original source. Instead of adding more original material, the makers decided to shoot scenes of things that "could have happened this way" in an attempt to create a more immersive experience. But quite frankly, these parts didn't really add to the story, they were actually just a visual filler for the off-text of "re-discovered tapes" where the duo explains certain processes and decisions. And this leads to the most important question: Why weren't there current and exclusive interviews with Drummond and Cauty? Quite simply put: because they refused to work with the filmmakers. This is a reverse domino effect which makes this movie pretty much "unofficial".
So, why 5 stars. Let's be fair: there a few chapters that explained certain actions and events really well. The cornfield actions, the building of a myth (White Room movie, Rites Of Mu, Extreme Noise Terror performance, etc), in general, the whole PR capabilities that came with The KLF - pretty well done.
But it is all rather blurred and leaves out very important key facts, stories and backgrounds - but most of all, it loses focus quite often, and therefore actually becomes boring at some points. And then, when it is focused, it puts the eye on elements that are not really vital and of very economical nature: money, commercial exposure and market value (again and again underlining where they stood on the charts internationally). Those are exactly the elements that didn't matter to Drummond and Cauty, yet, the film dedicates its whole third segment to the (not true) fact that The KLF are remembered as "the band that burnt a million pounds" while, at the same time, stating that not enough people even took notice (many contradictions).
The KLF (co-) invented Trance, Chill Out and Stadium House - but not intentionally. This is being loosely touched upon: the freedom that they had AND made use of. Just when those sparks are about to ignite, they are being extinguished by statements and turns that come from an economical standpoint. Why? Why is so important to always talk about the money - who made it, who lost it and who could have benefited from it? It just misses the whole point (-> money was just a vehicle for the two - they used it to get their works across - and then again made it from just that - there are much deeper lessons and interpretations from this, but the makers decided to not dive any deeper into this).
Instead, the film prefers to ride the "band that had it all: the skills, the tools, the money, all that prospect, yet, wasted it all"-train. While creating certain sympathy with the protagonists, it always represents the viewpoint of the masses. And I believe that exactly that ruins this documentary all the way through - but then again, it has sparks of inspiration.
Once again, let's be fair: "Who killed The KLF" brings up many interesting facts and events, and sometimes puts them into wonderful context. But overall, it misses the actual point about Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty.
It is an ambitious attempt to document the achievements of a creative duo whose impacts can neither be understated nor ignored. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver the full picture, important connections and most of all, the true spirit that Dummond and Cauty brought (and - VERY important - still bring) to the table. Particularly the ending felt very empty and a bit soulless.
I value the attempt - but the real KLF documentary is yet to come (to quote Bill Drummond in a more recent interview: "The best music is yet to come").
Then, I wonder why it is even important to ask this particular question. The ending is less important than what they created while the duo was active - yes, this documentary dives into many facettes of their creations, ideas and ideologies behind - but not thoroughly enough.
If you have combed through the internet for any information about the KLF, many segments seems very familiar, as they have been used almost unedited from the original source. Instead of adding more original material, the makers decided to shoot scenes of things that "could have happened this way" in an attempt to create a more immersive experience. But quite frankly, these parts didn't really add to the story, they were actually just a visual filler for the off-text of "re-discovered tapes" where the duo explains certain processes and decisions. And this leads to the most important question: Why weren't there current and exclusive interviews with Drummond and Cauty? Quite simply put: because they refused to work with the filmmakers. This is a reverse domino effect which makes this movie pretty much "unofficial".
So, why 5 stars. Let's be fair: there a few chapters that explained certain actions and events really well. The cornfield actions, the building of a myth (White Room movie, Rites Of Mu, Extreme Noise Terror performance, etc), in general, the whole PR capabilities that came with The KLF - pretty well done.
But it is all rather blurred and leaves out very important key facts, stories and backgrounds - but most of all, it loses focus quite often, and therefore actually becomes boring at some points. And then, when it is focused, it puts the eye on elements that are not really vital and of very economical nature: money, commercial exposure and market value (again and again underlining where they stood on the charts internationally). Those are exactly the elements that didn't matter to Drummond and Cauty, yet, the film dedicates its whole third segment to the (not true) fact that The KLF are remembered as "the band that burnt a million pounds" while, at the same time, stating that not enough people even took notice (many contradictions).
The KLF (co-) invented Trance, Chill Out and Stadium House - but not intentionally. This is being loosely touched upon: the freedom that they had AND made use of. Just when those sparks are about to ignite, they are being extinguished by statements and turns that come from an economical standpoint. Why? Why is so important to always talk about the money - who made it, who lost it and who could have benefited from it? It just misses the whole point (-> money was just a vehicle for the two - they used it to get their works across - and then again made it from just that - there are much deeper lessons and interpretations from this, but the makers decided to not dive any deeper into this).
Instead, the film prefers to ride the "band that had it all: the skills, the tools, the money, all that prospect, yet, wasted it all"-train. While creating certain sympathy with the protagonists, it always represents the viewpoint of the masses. And I believe that exactly that ruins this documentary all the way through - but then again, it has sparks of inspiration.
Once again, let's be fair: "Who killed The KLF" brings up many interesting facts and events, and sometimes puts them into wonderful context. But overall, it misses the actual point about Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty.
It is an ambitious attempt to document the achievements of a creative duo whose impacts can neither be understated nor ignored. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver the full picture, important connections and most of all, the true spirit that Dummond and Cauty brought (and - VERY important - still bring) to the table. Particularly the ending felt very empty and a bit soulless.
I value the attempt - but the real KLF documentary is yet to come (to quote Bill Drummond in a more recent interview: "The best music is yet to come").