Images courtesy of Onyx Collective
It should come as no surprise to many that I am a huge fan of Rock docs. In fact, one of my first reviews for the Sleuth was a Chuck Berry documentary. If you are a fan of the genre there is a good chance that you saw Questlove's previous entry Summer of Soul (...Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), and if you haven't, get out and see it too. It's magnificent. For a man that knows music and its history as well as Amir "Questlove" Thompson does. He knows documentary filmmaking just as well.
Telling the story of one of the most influential bands in music history is a daunting task and this film is up to the task. The story of Sly himself could easily devolve into a depression inducing spiral but he navigates the ups and down with ease, giving balance to an incredible story.
The interviews, as well as the cast of luminaries being interviewed, are handled as well as I've ever seen. With a story being told almost exclusively via the people involved and using audio and video of previous interviews of Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart, you get to experience the ups and downs in a way that puts you in the action.
If you are a fan of the music, this is a must watch. If you aren't, watch this and you may very well find yourself becoming a fan. Sly and the Family Stone were a revolution to the music industry, impacting the industry to this day. Seeing the width and breadth of their influence is eye opening and so very welcome.
Laced through the movie is of course a miraculous soundtrack and stories behind the songs and the effect they had. The story of a very young band growing up on stage and leading a revolution. Come for the music, stay for the story and enjoy it every step of the way.
Sly Lives is easily near the top of best Rock docs I've seen, great pacing, great music, amazing stories with a message to the viewer. Give it a shot. I think you'll love it as much as I did. And if you don't, at least there is great music along the way.
-Trevor West