The film “Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium,” directed by Tony L, is a concert film that shows the well-loved alternative/rock band Blur performing their songs to hundreds in Wembley. The sense of camaraderie, love of their music, and craft were evident in every number and every shot.
The guitar, piano and drums were amazing to watch and skillfully played. The vocals, while not the conventional vocal style of many pop artists, suited the genre quite well and reminded me of other bands such as The Killers and Coldplay (if they played grungy rock). Whether it be due to the sound mix quality of the film itself or the stage sound mix, it was difficult to understand what the lead vocalist was saying sometimes. Despite this, it was clear that they held their own and seamlessly lead each song with talent and professionalism. Transitions were well done and on point. All solos worked well and provided the right amount of dynamics to draw in the audience.
The shots and colours were fairly high quality and offered inviting and attractive visuals. The use of space onstage was creative and took advantage of the size of the stage. The use of lighting and contemporary stage design added to the aesthetic and complimented the music genre well. Purple, orange, and blue filters over the projections of the band members added a very 90s aesthetic, which I enjoyed.
Their use of props was especially interesting and uniquely added character to the show. For example, the use of megaphones and tall cardboard cut out of a polar bear. This also contributed to interesting musical dynamics in that the siren on the bear’s megaphone was turned on during the end of one of the songs and complimented it very well. Lighting was also cleverly placed at this point. It is clear that a live show was especially important to them, and the work they put into engaging the audience in these ways was impressive, and amusing and expressed the band’s personality well.
Audience interaction and inclusion in the film added a sense of community surrounding the band and the experience. The clapping in unison at the beginning of their fourth song was a great example of this. Another was the request of the mask of Darren to be put on. many in the crowd placed a mask over their face and raved along to the relevant song, which the lead guitarist led vocally. Hearing the crowd sing along and added a wholesome vibe to the show.
An understandable note I have was the presence of two men in white coats, adjusting instruments and amps on stage during songs. While it makes sense that there would be people to help with this, it seemed disruptive on more than one occasion. Some of the shots were good quality, but slightly spoiled by the running back and forth of the stagehands/roadies. One of which, almost got hit in the face by a guitar a few times, which I found concerning.
At one stage, towards the end of a song, it seemed something had gone wrong with one of the instruments or pedals because the lead guitar cut out, and the lead vocalist requested the audience sing acapella with them instead. The lead guitarist initially seemed nervous about the issue but was soon comforted by the seamless way everyone rallied to finish the song. It was a beautiful moment, whether intended or not, that became one of my favourite moments in the film.
At every moment, Blur showed that they, without a doubt, know how to put on a show. Yes, time may have passed, but this show is TIMELESS.
The British Film Festival 2024 runs from Nov – Dec 8.
To book tickets to this or other films click https://britishfilmfestival.com.au/ for session and venue details.
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
