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Local Guides
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IF I Should Fall From Grace (DVD)
The Shane MacGowan Story
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by Brent Hagerman
April 15 — 21, 2004 |
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IF I Should Fall From Grace: The Shane
MacGowan Story
(MVD)
Using archival live footage and interviews with
some of The Pogues, MacGowan’s family, his
girlfriend and the man himself, The Shane
MacGowan Story traces the notorious drinker’s
rise to fame, his inevitable fall off the bar stool,
and his shaky reunion with the band.
The film posits that the band’s early success
was due to the fact that they started in London
at a time when it was vastly unpopular to wave
your Irish heritage around. The initial energy
ejaculated into music by the punk movement
had largely given way to sythn pop and the
Pogues’ roguish take on traditional Irish music,
along with MacGowan’s celebration of working
class Irish life, sparked a much needed
cultural revolution for the the Irish diaspora in
London.
It is no surprise that MacGowan’s addictions
eventually take centre stage in the
documentary. Friends and colleagues offer
anecdotes of Pogue lifestyle on the road,
reasons for MacGowan’s eventual ejection
from the band and conclude that, to
paraphrase Nick Cave, a man’s demons are
his own prerogative.
MacGowan’s dental hygiene is a source of
awe throughout the film, especially for the
camera man who takes every opportunity to
showcase it. This heightens the film’s drama
as you are sure that at any moment one of
MacGowan’s remaining incisors will drop into
his drink. In fact, after watching this dvd you’ll
give up alcohol altogether and dedicate your
life to flossing.
Watching the film is a bit like viewing an
episode of The Osbournes, with MacGowan
playing the bumbling drunk with a hideous
laugh that would scare Gollum.
While the doc does a very good job
condensing a lengthy period of rock history into
just under two hours, nothing is mentioned
about MacGowan’s solo career, the band is
underrepresented in interviews and, despite a
largely inaudible conversation with Clash
bassist Paul Simonon, hopes of lost footage of
Joe Strummer and The Pogues remain
unrequited. Oh ya, and subtitles would be nice.
[BH]
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