by Tom Farrelly
Worth: $16.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Jeff Buckley, Mary Guibert, Aimee Mann, Ben Harper, Rebecca Moore
Intro:
… a beautiful love letter written with immense care and adoration.
They say a documentary is only as good as its access — and if that were the only metric, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley would be a masterpiece. Amy Berg (Janis: Little Girl Blue) leaves no stone unturned in her portrait of the much-celebrated singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. Newly restored archival footage, intimate voicemails and rare interviews are delicately woven together to create the definitive Jeff Buckley documentary.
The subject matter here is incredibly rich. There is so much more to Jeff Buckley’s story than most are aware of. Casual fans will be enlightened and stans will feel more connected than ever to their favourite singer.
The uninitiated might know Jeff Buckley for his haunting rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ as well as his untimely passing. What most won’t know is the tragedy of his father’s death, the staggeringly high regard that his music was held in (David Bowie’s favourite album was Buckley’s Grace), or the fact that he was a fierce feminist in a time where such views from a male, were unique and brave.
Amy Berg tells Jeff’s story through the eyes of the women closest to him. Jeff’s mother and former girlfriends regale us with stories of his sensitivity, their love for him pours onto the screen and their pain is heartbreaking. What Berg balances well is Jeff Buckley’s humanity. He carries an undeniable aura, the combination of incredible talent and dying young often immortalises people in a dangerously inhuman light. Despite this, the film doesn’t pretend that he isn’t flawed. It depicts him as a sensitive, sweet, imperfect man with incredible talent.
It’s a warts and all portrait, but you get the sense that there just weren’t that many warts. None that most wouldn’t excuse of a child born into such tragic circumstances, then thrust into the spotlight of fame. This doesn’t make for a lack of drama or un-exciting viewing, it actually makes his loss greater and his music hit harder.
The film employs animation and visual effects that inject life into the archival footage. Playing within a format that audiences have seen so many times, these visuals bring a spark and energy.
Jeff Buckley had an undeniable impact on the world through his immense vocal range and vulnerable songwriting, although It’s Never Over hits hardest when we witness the affect that he had on those closest to him. Watching a mother listen to the final voicemail from her beloved son is heart-wrenching, but the final product stands as a beautiful love letter written with immense care and adoration.
