The litmus test for a "concert film" is the music. I like Cave's music, but I'm not a "fan". Did the film make me want to go out and buy his newest long player? No.
And this is a big problem for the film. Three-quarters of it is music. It's a high quality performance, no doubt, and Cave (alongside Warren Ellis) clearly remains very engaged with his art. But the music is admirable rather than exciting.
Five minutes of The Birthday Party in Wings of Desire is a much better concert film experience than this.
The performance is filmed very artfully, in a bare performance space (an old church?) filled only with lights and camera dolly track. It's certainly good to look at.
Far and away the best parts are the documentary scenes, in particular the one at the start where Cave talks about his ceramics, and the appearance of a fragile yet determined Marianne Faithfull.
And this is a big problem for the film. Three-quarters of it is music. It's a high quality performance, no doubt, and Cave (alongside Warren Ellis) clearly remains very engaged with his art. But the music is admirable rather than exciting.
Five minutes of The Birthday Party in Wings of Desire is a much better concert film experience than this.
The performance is filmed very artfully, in a bare performance space (an old church?) filled only with lights and camera dolly track. It's certainly good to look at.
Far and away the best parts are the documentary scenes, in particular the one at the start where Cave talks about his ceramics, and the appearance of a fragile yet determined Marianne Faithfull.