I saw the Paul Simon doc at TIFF and found it surprisingly watchable given the long running time (they showed both parts as a 3+hr feature). I'm not the world's biggest Simon fan but that didn't really matter. His stuff is so famous that I knew all the songs anyway. My only (small) gripe was that it felt like they spent a bit too much time on the new album (but I assume that's what he wanted, so it was probably unavoidable). I've been a Steve Martin mega-fan since I was a tween, so I really, really need to see that one.
I guess I might amend my comment to say that yes, the Seven Psalms sections felt long to me in the moment, but actually ... you're right that they're memorable. There was something a bit haunting about those scenes that stayed with me.
I read the reviews after TIFF so I was prepared for how much of it was in the present - I think I was pleasantly surprised to find that stuff more interesting than I expected. I didn't think it fawned over the material itself excessively. And being very familiar with Simon's history already, I thought the "live," in-the-moment aspect helped make it more than a standard bio doc. I realize I'm also pretty much of a sucker for watching process unfold in the studio (I could have watched another few hours of it in Get Back), so not everyone will feel the same.
I saw CMAT at the Monarch Tavern a couple years ago and it was incredible—but at the Opera House she seemed newly aware of her own stage presence. Great show. I’m so glad you wrote about her—I am surprised she hasn’t received more critical attention in North America.
I saw the Paul Simon doc at TIFF and found it surprisingly watchable given the long running time (they showed both parts as a 3+hr feature). I'm not the world's biggest Simon fan but that didn't really matter. His stuff is so famous that I knew all the songs anyway. My only (small) gripe was that it felt like they spent a bit too much time on the new album (but I assume that's what he wanted, so it was probably unavoidable). I've been a Steve Martin mega-fan since I was a tween, so I really, really need to see that one.
I guess I might amend my comment to say that yes, the Seven Psalms sections felt long to me in the moment, but actually ... you're right that they're memorable. There was something a bit haunting about those scenes that stayed with me.
I read the reviews after TIFF so I was prepared for how much of it was in the present - I think I was pleasantly surprised to find that stuff more interesting than I expected. I didn't think it fawned over the material itself excessively. And being very familiar with Simon's history already, I thought the "live," in-the-moment aspect helped make it more than a standard bio doc. I realize I'm also pretty much of a sucker for watching process unfold in the studio (I could have watched another few hours of it in Get Back), so not everyone will feel the same.
I saw CMAT at the Monarch Tavern a couple years ago and it was incredible—but at the Opera House she seemed newly aware of her own stage presence. Great show. I’m so glad you wrote about her—I am surprised she hasn’t received more critical attention in North America.