"If it's a funeral, let's make it the best funeral ever."
Last wednesday I saw Shut Up And Play The Hits. The documentary about the end of LCD Soundsystem.
It's about, among other things, moving on and facing a very real question: "what's next?" This is done by showing footage of James Murphy the day after Soundsystem's final concert. Slowly realizing the gravity of his decision. He is a man adrift*.
Murphy accomplished more in 6 years than most people will accomplish in a lifetime. 3 hit records, sold out Madison Square Garden, the love of Pitchfork magazine. I don't mean this to put down other people but to display the potential people have when they do something with the intent to leave a mark on the world (his words) and bring their own perspective to what they do.
I believe this was a phenomenally important movie for me to see at this point in my life. there have been days I laid in bed just thinking "what am I doing? Do I honestly have the rest of my life left to shape?" One of the most important things SUAPTH does is humanize someone so successful. This, of course, is Murphy's intent. Nonetheless, the movie shows him as some regular *dude* who happens to be in this extraordinary circumstance. He has as few answers as any of us have but he did something.
Although the footage of the concert is great, a rare glimpse into what happens on and behind stage, the real meat of the movie comes from an interview Murphy did with Chuck Klosterman.
Perhaps the most striking thing Murphy said during the movie was about the band's success. (I'm paraphrasing here) "We're not any better than other people out there. We wanted it more. I think all of us wanted to impact, leave a mark on the world." It was a reminder that doing something with extreme purpose is the best way to accomplish something.
As a whole, the film is fantastic. It is one that truly benefits from the big screen. The sound and the images are larger than life (the sound design is simply magnificent). I fear that some of the impact will be sucked out of it on a smaller screen.
Most of the chances to see the film in theaters have passed. But I urge you to see it is you can. If you do watch it at home you should use headphones. And play it loud.