As we reach the midpoint of Season Four, one aspect I always refer back to when watching and reviewing these biopics is accuracy. So far, they’ve found plenty of ways of keeping the film entertaining but at the sacrifice of some gritty details which oppose the narrative trying to be conveyed. With a story first and truth second approach, it’s down to your trusted reviewer to research heavily (read the wikipedia page) into your favourite artists and inform you how they are all terrible human beings. Yet, I’ve stumbled across a more fact-based genre that details a musician’s life called ‘Documentaries’, starting with The Sparks Brothers. Directed by Edgar Wright, a friend of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, The Sparks Brothers covers the lives of Russell and Ron Mael. Born in late 40’s California three years apart (Ron is the eldest), they studied filmmaking and cinema at UCLA at a similar time to Jim Morrison. In the same vein as the Doors frontman, the siblings would transition to music in 1968, forming the band HalfNelson before repackaging as Sparks in 1972. Where these comparisons differ are their influences, more interested in UK artists such as Pink Floyd and The Who, leading to Sparks’ popularity in Europe. 50 years later, the duo have released their 24th studio album, a film soundtrack and feature in this documentary.
With five decades worth of activity to cram in, it’s impressive work that Wright has compiled it all within two hours and twenty minutes. Gaining fame with Shaun of the Dead in 2004, it wouldn’t be a surprise if many of the director’s core audience were unfamiliar with the band’s work. Personally, I discovered Sparks through a collaboration with Franz Ferdinand (known as FFS) in 2015, but still remained largely ignorant to the rest of their discography. The brothers had kept many of their personal details private too, so the film acts as an introduction to the general consensus as well as intriguing die-hard fans. Bearing this in mind, it succeeds with getting the quirky personalities and humour present in their music across early on, opening with a self-aware fanfare song and visual based puns. We also have a wide variety of celebrities, musicians and groupies from different eras to really show the impact Sparks have had on the fringes of mainstream media. Ranging from Björk to Mike Myers, hearing the individual personal connections and discussing their favourite songs really adds gravitas when highlighting the band. Interwoven with real footage and rudimentary cartoons reconstructing significant life events, the movie never feels too dry or demanding for focus on the story.
It is Russell and Ron’s story that makes The Sparks Brothers film worth watching. Although I am becoming more of an admirer of their music as I continue to listen to Propaganda and having Angst In My Pants on repeat, it’s their willpower and dedication that I took so much value from. Constantly pushing the envelope, creating the music they want and doing things their way, it’s an inspiration to show that not everyone follows the same path in the creative industry. It’s also a very honest account of the many “failures” they’ve been through. Several albums not selling as well as they had wanted or projected, going through year long dry patches creatively and subsequently financially, their lives are like roller coasters with each hit followed by a dud. Being so open like this makes these oddball characters so much more relatable than your average megastar, knowing full well that people don’t just sit down and write Bohemian Rhapsody in five minutes. A new inspiration to draw upon as I continue to get in the swing of writing, discovering those mysteries of life and listening to more music you can dance to.