Iain Softley Interview For The Sundance Channel.Interview With Director Iain Softley And Actor Ian Hart.Audio Commentary With Iain Softley, Ian Hart, And Stephen Dorff.Anyone that has seen the film will find this a relief because the darker nature of the cinematography and Ian Wilson’s use of harsh overhead lighting could have been tricky. The good news is that the transfer’s contrast levels are beautiful. There is a bit of DNR present making the look at times feel washed of grain.
The transfer does benefit greatly by the up in resolution on Blu-Ray. The transfer provided by Universal appears to be the same one that they used for their DVD release. Backbeat does deliver on the music bio-pic troupe to satisfy any fan of the genre but it is its complex relationships and doomed love affair that will make this one stand above even the greats of the genre. One has to wonder why this has not been rediscovered as one of the truly best romances of the 1990’s. The chemistry between the two though is the “main star” of the film. Backbeat understands this and excels at deftly veering right rather that left its entire running time. Who needs everything we know recounted to us. By going for the rich emotional relationships between Astrid and Stu, Stu and John, and Stu and the Band the director and screenwriters make the smartest decision because everything about “The Beatles “Is in the background. For my money his accent works, so much so, I did not once notice or it in the same way that other American Actors throw me out of a film.ĭirector Iain Softley brings an uncommon complexity to the film that another director wouldn’t have attempted. The same goes for Dorff, who is work as Sutcliffe is the best he had done up until that time. There is a quiet strength that Lee plays Kirchherr with that should have gotten her much more work and made her more in demand. Lee is amazing as Kirchherr the German artist said to have been an intrigal part of their stylistic evolution. More than 25-years later everyone failed both Sheryl Lee and Stephen Dorff for the amazing and sensitive worked as the doomed lovers. Much of the praise, at the time, went to Ian Hart for his performance as young John Lennon and justifiably so. It is his art and his understanding of her that seals the deal. She has seen boys like him time and time again, but Stu manages to show her that he isn’t another one of those rock boys. Astrid challenges Stu at every turn when they begin their dance. There is not just a sexual component to their relationship but one of mutual curiosity. Backbeat takes it’s time with their relationship allowing Stu and Astrid to understand one another. Most of the film centers on Stu and Astrid as they begin their relationship and eventually fall in love. The film chooses to view them through Sutcliffe’s eyes which allows for a unique “left of center” characterization of all the fab four. They could have easily torn them all down but they don’t. The film charts their micro-ascent before superstardom and it is possible the best way to approach them. This is not the band that would drive girls into a frenzy, but rather young guys with big egos and bigger appetites for drugs and girls. George is a mama’s boy (and only 17 at the time). We see John, Paul, George, and Ringo (in a tiny Cameo) unfiltered. As Stu an Astrid begin their love affair we a privy to the Up’s and Down’s of the most famous pop bands of all-time. Sutcliffe was the first bassist of the Beatles as they made their way in Hamburg. It also may be one of the most accurate portrait of how the Beatles actually were than any of the sanitized documentaries that have been produced.Īs much as a doom punk rock lore story as Sid and Nancy was, Backbeat tolls the lore affair between Stu Sutcliffe and Astrid Kirchherr.
The fruits of their labor are a beautiful ode to love, art, rock ‘n roll, and the fleeting nature of life. have created a microscopic prologue to the fame, fortune and mania.
Rather than attempt the jarring task of doing a definitive Beatles bio-pic director Iain Softley and Co. The edition comes with a new transfer and a host of extras. The film being released by Shout Factory’s label Shout Select is not just a Beatles biopic but so much more. Adam falls in love with Backbeat all over again.
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