Some music
documentaries have the ability to tell human interest stories which are
elevated beyond mere fan appreciation, to provide a narrative that can be
fascinating to those unfamiliar with the band as easily as those who own all of
their CDs. Soul Boys of the Western World
is not one of those movies, instead made in a way that is likely only to
appeal to those with a sense of nostalgia for this music. Though I was familiar
with a few hit songs, my knowledge of Spandau Ballet prior to watching this
film was virtually nonexistent. More importantly, after watching the
documentary, I am no more a fan than I was before I wasn’t even sure who they
were.
An even bigger
issue with Soul Boys of the Western World
than my lack of interest with the subject matter is director George Hencken’s
obvious fan appreciation. Although there are hints at drug use and battling
egos within the band dynamic, Hencken chooses to gloss over many of the areas
of conflict and ugliness with a pure love of the music. While this may feed the
fanbase of this minor ‘80s British New Wave band, it leads much of the
documentary to feel like an unnecessarily biased love letter. If I wanted to
appreciate this mediocre music, I would listen to their CDs. Other than the
random bits of rare archival footage, there is not much Soul Boys of the Western World can offer which couldn’t be found in
their music.
Most American
audiences are likely to know just one song in the repertoire of Spandau Ballet,
which is somewhat inconsistent with the arrogance of the band and the
irrational blubbering of their UK New York City
The DVD includes
only a trailer, offering no additional material for the fans. I did not mind.
If it is possible, this film made me less of a fan.
Entertainment Value:
4.5 /10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 5/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
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