![]() ![]() Without Warhol’s eccentricity or Cale’s experimentalism, the documentary loses its core message. ![]() After Cale leaves the band, the documentary is clearly coming to a close, even though the band plays without him for many years. There is not as much material to work with, as the group was neither commercially successful nor running with Warhol’s crowd. The Velvet Underground represent the ongoing artistic spirit of New York City that those of us who live here can still see.Īfter Reed fires Warhol, the documentary falls somewhat flat. This sincerity is what saves the documentary from snootiness. We here friends and admirers give emotional testimonies of how The Velvet Underground touched their lives rather than the jaded and snobby music commentary that is often associated with art rock. Jonathan Richman of The Modern Lovers also speaks about how important the band was to him - he claimed to have seen them play around 60 times. Woronov and Tucker especially poke fun at the lofty and bohemian style of the band in those days, yet earnestly speak about the artistic genius of the music. Fellow Warhol superstar Mary Woronov recounts her experience working with the band and gives a hilarious picture of the Exploding Plastic Inevitable tour across America. Reed’s sister talks about their family and tearfully tells of her brother’s struggles with mental health and drug abuse. Cale and Moe Tucker, the only two surviving original band members, share many heartfelt and hilarious anecdotes, along with input from various friends and relatives. Many of the surviving members of this circle are interviewed in the movie. The eccentric artists that surrounded Warhol make for a dynamic cast of characters in this part of the story. This segment gives the audience a glimpse into the strange and star-studded 60’s art world that the band inhabited. This is where the film is at its best - it uses recovered footage from the Factory - Warhol’s studio - and photos from the Exploding Plastic Inevitable - the Warhol multimedia performance featuring The Velvet Underground. The emphasis on the uniqueness of the band is most apparent in the segment that covers the band’s time as Warhol “superstars,” the artist’s name for his subjects and collaborators. Haynes chose to highlight some of the darkest and most shocking lyrics by singer and guitarist Lou Reed, from songs like “Heroin” and “Venus in Furs.” The film makes it clear that The Velvet Underground was like nothing else. ![]() The hosts found this piece of experimental music strange and laughable - a sentiment that would be oft-repeated in the film. The film opens with a clip from a 1960s talk show discussing avant-garde composer and future band member John Cale’s 18-hour piano performance in which he played the same piece over and over again. With these things on my mind, I went to see the film and was blown away by Haynes’ love letter to the avant-garde, New York City, Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground. I was worried that the film would descend into pretentious analysis that often dominates the conversation about the group. However, as a longtime Velvet Underground fan, I felt that the history and music of the band has been overly valorized in mainstream media. Haynes has made a name for himself with unique films like “ Carol ” and “ Poison ,” so I had high hopes for this documentary. ![]() I was blown away by Haynes’ love letter to the avant-garde, New York City, Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground. This touching ode to the groundbreaking album was enough to get many, including myself, excited for Haynes’ documentary. Titled “ I’ll Be Your Mirror ” after the haunting love song performed on the original album by Nico, the cover album featured many artists who are legends in their own right, such as Iggy Pop, as well as current big-name alternative musicians including St. To promote the film, a compilation of covers of The Velvet Underground’s self-titled debut album was released in late September. Todd Haynes’ October 2021 documentary about the band, simply titled “The Velvet Underground,” received an unusual amount of preemptive hype for a documentary. Right now, they boast dedicated fans, young and old, and are a symbol for art and the avant-garde. Though it’s been over 50 years since their debut album, the New York City art rock band remains one of the most popular and influential alternative music groups. The Velvet Underground has a legacy like few other bands. ![]()
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