Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Starring: Nick Cave Writers: Nick Cave, Iain Forsyth, & Jane Pollar | 4/5 20,000 Days on Earth Mark my word. This is the most unconventional music documentary you are likely to see this, or any other, year. For one, it takes place within the confines of one twenty-four hour period. Secondly, it is a work of fiction - sort of. Unless you can consider imaginary conversations nonfiction. Would you expect anything else from Nick Cave, the gothic godfather who sounds like he fronts the most wicked band in Hell’s hottest jazz club? I wouldn’t. The narrow time table of the film eliminates the possibility of any kind of warts-and-all, birth-til-now storytelling, but that is not what this is. 20,000 Days on Earth is more of a study of the creative process than an actual document on a particular artist. Aside from some reflective conversations about his childhood, this is all about the music Cave is creating now. We do not get a run through of Cave’s greatest hits or performances. If we hear about the past, it’s about life-changing Nina Simone or Jerry Lee Lewis concerts. This is forward looking. What we will do TODAY. What drives us TODAY. For this, it is all the better. On Nick Cave’s 20,000th day on Earth, he began his Push the Sky Away album. We witness him waking up, writing on his typewriter, practicing and recording with his long-time band The Bad Seeds, visiting friends, having imaginary backseat conversations with various people from his past, watching Scarface with his kids - Breaking Bad, anyone? -, and finally taking a walk down on the dock. If it sounds a bit surreal, that’s because it is. Cave’s I-am-the-universe personality may be a bit much for some viewers, as may his Sinatra’s-evil-twin style of music, but anyone who has any interest in music and creativity should not miss this film. (Available on iTunes) |
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January 2016
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