Cert TBA
113 mins
BBFC advice: TBA
Biopics of famous bands tend to be consistently among my favourite types of film but here we have a movie about one which was unknown to me.
I doubt that I am alone. Big Star made three albums in the 1970s and they all flopped.
Forty years on and with two of their founder members dead they are, apparently, recognised as one of the chief influences of some of the world's greatest rock acts, such as REM.
Drew DeNicola and Olivia Mori's documentary examines why, despite critical acclaim, Big Star missed out on superstardom.
It goes back to the formation of the band in Memphis and their early days with producers at Ardent Studios.
It chronicles the lives of singer Alex Chilton and guitarist Chris Bell and the subsequent break-ups and tragedies.
But despite being well put together, it fails to come up with any answers.
There are interviews with surviving band members and relatives of its two headline performers, combined with contemporary footage.
Those who have been converted to Big Star fandom will not want to miss this thorough insight.
However, it washed over me and even when I heard their music I wasn't as bowled over as others appear to have been.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6/10