Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2008)

best movie i've ever seen.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Still passionate as ever about their music, the two original members of 80s heavy metal band Anvil continue to try to recapture the fame they once had in this documentary from Sacha Gervasi (director of the film 'Hitchcock' with Anthony Hopkins). As one of the musicians' wives says, they have kept "dreaming that dream" despite fading into obscurity and never achieving the recognition of bands like Metallica who they inspired. Now in their fifties, the two men hold regular day jobs and play whatever gigs they can on the side, while still recording albums to sell directly to their fans, since the demand is still there. While their never-ending passion is interesting, watching the pair argue while going from one low paying gig to the next is not particularly fascinating. Same goes for a sequence that follows one of the rockers while he tries to make it as a phone salesman. More history on the band may have been beneficial, with the film skirting over the period in between their 1980s fame and the present day, but when focused on the hurdles faced by them in the present, it is fairly compelling stuff. The interviews with their wives really enhance the material too, highlighting what their families have had to put up with as a result of their undying dreams of renewed fame and glory. Their music is also very decent, if only ever heard every now and again.

This was a real movie, with a story, an arc and an uplifting message. Seeing these good old boy canuck-heads in my home town of Toronto, slugging it out for their dreams in their 50s was something really close to my heart. The characters are real down to earth sweethearts with great personalities and good souls and you can't help but root for them and wish them some measure of success through all the hard work and struggles they have to endure in their lifelong quest.The ending had me as close to tears as I ever get for movies. It was so poetic, touching and fulfilling. Perhaps the makers tweaked reality a little bit for the desired effect, but it worked, dammit. I was moved. And I don't even like heavy metal.If you only watch one metal band doc in your life, make it this one.

Let's be clear - ratings of this film should not be about Anvil's talent.Rather, ratings should focus on the unparallelled tenacity, heart and passion of Lips and Reiner. Anyone who denies these gents their well-deserved props after tirelessly and near thanklessly rocking for 30 gruelling years, does not understand the plight of the human spirit.And as depressing as playing to a 3-person audience in Middle-of-Nowhere, Slovakia might be, these boys still rock out solid set after solid set based purely on their passion for the music - a trait few and far between with many passing prima donnas who think regurgitating an 80s song should somehow catapult them to stardom.Anvil, particularly Lips and Reiner, on the other hand, could write a book on following through on your dreams...and what musical passion is all about.

I think that if you're a fan of heavy metal, or are into rock documentaries in general, or just like a good human interest story, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" is a great movie to watch. The title group seemed poised for stardom back in the early 1980's, when the material they performed on the classic "Metal on Metal" proved to be influential on other emerging acts. The unfortunate part of that is that those other groups - Anthrax and Metallica to name but two - went on to fame and fortune while Anvil, as the copy says, faded into obscurity. The movie picks up as longtime members Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner embark on a 2006 tour that yields disappointing results, yet they soldier on, hooking up with esteemed producer Chris Tsangarides and create a new album, "This is Thirteen". Key to the movie's success is that Lips and Robb remain so relatable throughout. And this is true warts and all stuff; we can see the sparks that sometimes fly between these two personalities. Testimonials from their loving family members also add a lot of heart to the story. As the group is made to endure various setbacks and problems, one can't help but root for them and hope that their somewhat late in life second bid for success will come off. There are also various testimonials from various rock & metal superstars: Lemmy, Lars Ulrich, Slash, and Scott Ian, all of whom profess their admiration for the group. And, of course, the music is totally kick ass throughout. What's really nice is seeing the updates on the key personnel that appear during the closing credits. Director Sacha Gervasi clearly holds this story near and dear to his heart, and it's not too surprising to see a photo that indicates that he's known the group since the 80's. Highly recommended stuff that's both interesting and inspirational, it goes to show how sticking with something that you love, and persevering in the face of overwhelming odds can make life worth living. 10 out of 10.