We cannot wait to see this story of the British blue-eyed soul sensations, Spandau Ballet. The band conquered the 80s and this new flick details the road up and eventual downfall.
Check out this review from NYTimes:
Perfectly timed to coincide with Spandau Ballets current reunion tour, Soul Boys of the Western World is a cheekily self-serving account of the English groups rise to glory in the 1980s and its later dissolution. Working with only pre-existing footage, the director, George Hencken, constructs an unabashedly promotional tale of working-class aspiration and worldwide acclaim.
And whos to argue, when the five band members dominate the films commentary? Chattering over vintage film of council-house living rooms and London clubs, the men discuss early musical influences with a relaxed charm that softens the often harsh economic realities of the time. As we slide nostalgically through the 1978-79 garbage collectors strike (the so-called winter of discontent that ushered in Margaret Thatcher) and the Falklands War, the bands danceable beats discourage depression. As do their extravagant outfits: Sporting clobber more suited to a medieval minstrel or a Bedouin, the members knew that peacocking was at least as important as playing.
The film agrees, celebrating tailoring over Tony Hadleys killer pop voice or Gary Kemps smart, tight lyrics. Maintaining a sunny, scrubbed-clean tone, Ms. Hencken allows no possibility of dazed groupies or drunken meltdowns and only the briefest whiff of cocaine to darken her portrait. And when Mr. Kemp and his brother, Martin Kemp, take a 1990 detour into acting with the rather terrific gangster movie, The Krays, we dont even get a clip of their wonderfully cool performances.
Enjoy.