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Given the choice of seeing LCD Soundsystem live or seeing the documentary, Shut Up and Play the Hits, about that last
show, I have to say that the movie pales in comparison to seeing them live. Having said that, the movie is fantastic
and isn’t really about what a great show it was. The live scenes of the show are cut with real-life scenes of James Murphy’s days leading up to and immediately following the last show. Seeing him on Colbert was as funny as you’d expect.
The live scenes seem to be injected into the story as mere memories of what once was. The boring camera angles and
poor sound quality seem to actually downplay the power of a live show. I went to a KiIlers show once (only once) with my friend Bryan that was being filmed for some MTV show. The house lights were left up so the fly-over cameras could capture the party atmosphere. I believe Bryan raised an eyebrow as the camera flew over our heads. The effect in Shut Up and Play the Hits seems to have been done deliberately as if to say, this isn’t a movie about how great they were live. I have read reviews of that last show, and the descriptions made me regret that I was not there. The scenes of that show in the movie made me glad I hadn’t laid out the cash to go to NYC.
But!!! I believe that the movie was great because it confirms that art still exists. James Murphy’s art is his own to create, in the film he refers to the first LCD album as just being a passing idea, having to form what he calls the best LCD Soundsystem covered band ever just to tour! At another point he declares that he had to stop LCD Soundsystem while he was still able to ride the subway and take his dog out for a leak.
And that’s how the movie begins, it’s the morning of April 3rd, 2011 and James Murphy’s Boston Terrier is standing on him in bed, starring him in the face; time to walk me master!!! It’s already over, there’s no Phony build-up to the last number (which was Spolier Alert!!!!………….New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down). Doing a documentary about what a great show it was would have made people who missed that show or even the show when it came through their town, just regret missing them all the more. The movie let’s you know the reason he ended it, and allows you to get to know a guy who already seems like somebody you know. It solidifies LCD as one of the greatest bands of all time and makes you happy for James Murphy, the man who gets to choose his own fame.
-Jamie