The 1970’s was a unique time, where the tone of the entire world began to shift. Some things changed for the better, and some for the worse. Music took a stand, and this decade is home to some of the greatest musicians in history. From Stevie Nicks to Lyle Lovett and Neil Young to Peter Asher, these musicians collaborated with one another in a way that allowed them to become Immediate Family. The singer-songwriter era began with them, and this is their take on how music shaped them and the world around them.
In the grand scheme of it all, I know very little about music–and many of the things that I heard throughout the course of Immediate Family meant very little to me. That’s not to say that the things that were said were unimportant–because that couldn’t be further from the truth. Their stories are important, they are riveting, and the journey that they take viewers on is beyond anything that I believed a documentary about music could have taken us on. With all of that being said, Immediate Family does a wonderful job of reaching viewers, of expressing to them the importance of all that they did throughout their careers. Even when I wasn’t familiar with certain musicians or songs, I could feel that passion present in each and every facet of the film and of their careers. Their understanding and their love for their craft is infectious–and they so perfectly propel the film forward.
Beyond the artists presented on screen and their testimonials regarding their journeys, the music itself is just simply incredible. It seems like every major hit from the 1970’s and 1980’s exists on the soundtrack of Immediate Family, and the fun that these songs provide never ends. Viewers are sure to love the stories told by all involved–but it’s the music that moves us, it’s the music that keeps us around and energizes the film. Immediate Family uses the perfect music to drive the film.
To be honest, Immediate Family is a tad chaotic–but I believe that works for the film. There are so many songs, so many people talking, and so many stories being told–but they still all manage to exist in their own space throughout the film. While Immediate Family is chaotic, it’s also interestingly organized–and Director Denny Tedesco does a wonderful job of understanding the quasi-linear path that viewers are taken on, never veering from that journey, and keeping viewers focused.
I was floored by the interminglings of each and every person that sat in front of the camera for Immediate Family. So many famous names, so many important people in the world of music–and to those of us (Me!) who don’t know or understand the inner workings of the history of music, this is simply amazing. Seeing how nearly every major musical contributor affected one another is insane–and if it wasn’t so perfectly articulated throughout the course of the film, I’m not sure that viewers like me would have been able to appreciate the film or the content. But Immediate Family does such a wonderful job of catering to all of its viewers, never holding back, never failing to entertain.
Each and every time I watch a documentary that focuses on music, I’m baffled by the fact that there is so much content to cover. I’m not entirely sure what’s not clicking in my sometimes scattered brain, but I sort of like the fact that I always end up in these situations where I’m able to appreciate the genre as if it’s the first time I’m experiencing it. Immediate Family does this for me again–and I felt completely transported to a distant world of music, one that mesmerized me from beginning to end.
Immediate Family feels like it really wants to appeal to musicians, but it also understands how to reach viewers like me who don’t have a strong understanding for the artform. These massive talents are brilliant in their musical expression–and the film perfectly showcases their stories. From “Dance Hall Days” to “Bette Davis Eyes,” Immediate Family has a soundtrack that is sure to get the party started, continuing late into the night–and I’m impressed by what Tedesco is able to accomplish through each and every facet of the film.
Directed by Denny Tedesco.
Starring Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, Steve Postell, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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