Watch Anvil! The Story of Anvil For Free

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Released in 2009 and directed by Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil: The Story of Anvil" is a documentary chronicling the Toronto metal band Anvil, focusing on the friendship and aspirations of the two main band members, singer/guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner. The band formed in the late 70s as Lips, but changed their name to Anvil upon obtaining a record deal in 1981. The mid-80s were a good time for the young band and they were expected to go on to great success, but it was not to be. Guitarist Dave Allison left the band in 1989 followed by bassist Ian Dickson in 1993. But Steve & Robb soldiered on with new members, releasing album after album up to the present (16 studio albums altogether, as of this writing). When the film was shot, Ivan Hurd was the second guitarist with Glenn "Glenn Five" Gyorffy on bass. Both are featured in the movie while original members Allison and Dickson are featured in the deleted scenes on the DVD (their scenes shouldn't have been cut IMHO).This is a great inspirational documentary whether you like Anvil and metal/hard rock or not. I really like the band, but never heard their stuff until 2009 when I rented the 1988 movie Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers," which features two songs from Anvil's 1987 album STRENGTH OF STEEL, the catchy "Straight Between the Eyes" and "Wild Eyes." One critic claimed that their 1982 album METAL ON METAL was their best-selling recording, but that's simply not true, STRENGTH OF STEEL was; and, although it's maligned by some fans, it's easily one of their top albums and not "too commercial," as some erroneously contend (check out songs like "Concrete Jungle," "Paper General," "Kiss of Death" and the aforementioned "Straight Between the Eyes").Anvil were just as good in their own unique way as any of the so-called Big Four, Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth. If you don't believe me, check out their top albums, like WORTH THE WEIGHT (the album being recorded in the movie, THIS IS THIRTEEN, is actually NOT one of their better recordings, song-wise, nor is the follow-up JUGGERNAUT OF JUSTICE). So why didn't Anvil AT LEAST attain the success of the secondary bands of the Big Four (i.e. Megadeth and Slayer)? Cheap production of their 80's albums may be one reason, although the production wasn't THAT bad for the era and certainly listenable; it was superior, for instance, to the production of albums by the contemporary Venom. Perhaps their location had something to do with their inability to reach the next level, but then how did Rush (another Toronto-based band) become so successful? (Then again, Rush switched from prog metal/rock to pop rock in the 80s). Bad management is likely another possibility. The reason is probably a combination of factors, including the band's sense of humor, Lips' outrageous antics and their sometimes goofy or juvenile lyrics (e.g. "Straight Between the Eyes"). In any case, this is a great documentary on the travails of trying to make it in a struggling rock/metal band. Their European tour shows that the lifestyle is difficult and takes dedication, to say the least: They miss trains, arrive late at a club in Prague because they were lost, play before small non-crowds, don't get paid and are offered goulash as a substitute. At a festival in Transylvania with a 10,000-seat capacity only 174 people show up. While there are certainly some high points on their tour it's mostly terrible. Steve, ever the optimist, responds, "Everything on the tour went drastically wrong. But at least there was a tour for it to go wrong on."I know of a local struggling metal band, by the way, that's currently touring Europe and I'm sure they're facing the exact same kinds of challenges.Anvil's family members are loyal, but think maybe they should throw in the towel. Yet Steve & Robb march forward in faith. A famous producer decides to produce their next album THIS IS THIRTEEN (2007), but it's going to cost thousands of dollars. Where are they going to get the money? And how are they going to release the album without a record contract? A Japanese promoter shows interest in having them play at a festival, but will more than a handful of fans show up?Then you have Steve and Robb's great friendship, which is seriously tested at times, like during the stress of recording their new album in England: Tempers flare, one quits in frustration and the other apologizes. Will they stay together? "Anvil: The Story of Anvil" is an entertaining lesson on faith in one's calling, perseverance, friendship, teamwork, glory/humility and the nature of true success. The film doesn't wear out its welcome at 80 minutes.GRADE: A-

This was one of the newer editions to the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, this was described as being like This Is Spinal Tap, so I wasn't sure if it was a mock film or real life, but I was looking forward to this rockumentary either way, from director Sacha Gervasi (Hitchcock). Rock bands like Scorpions, Whitesnake and Bon Jovi have become very successful and influential, selling millions of records and filling concert venues, and since the 1970's the rock band Anvil have tried to live the same dream, they are indeed influential, but have got nowhere close to the same success. Singer and guitarist Steve 'Lips' Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner have known each other and been together as Anvil since they were young, and dream to making great music to reach thousands of fans, but they only have a small group of dedicated fans, Lips has to work delivering food to schools and institutions and Robb works in construction. Anvil do get an opportunity to play the Sweden Rock festival and a short tour, they are promised thousands of fans will be watching in venues, but problems with ticket sales, lack of promotion, the band being late, and refused payments to them them means they are again not much of a success at all, the final concert at Monsters of Transylvania rock concert was meant a 10,000 seat arena expecting 5,000 of their fans, but only 174 people showed up. Returning home the band continue to struggle with their personal difficulties, mostly in finance, but their families continue to support them whatever move they make, and they decide that perhaps the writing and producing of their last few albums has not been up to scratch, so they call on an old friend to help them back into the limelight. Music producer Chris "CT" Tsangarides agrees to come and see them, he has experience working with Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest, he says that their written songs and the sound of them do have potential for their thirteenth album, "This Is Thirteen", and they get to work recording the songs in a studio, with their nearest and dearest helping to pay most of the costs. Spending a month making the album there is a point between Lips and Robb when they have a very heated argument, it gets so bad that Robb threatens to quit the band, but Tsangarides helps him and Lips reconcile and finish the album, but they fail to get a real record label behind it, but they consider what they have produced a success, and the band say they have stayed true to their roots. In the end Lips receives a phone call that Anvil are wanted to play a concert in Japan, this is exciting because they are returning to the site their career had its highlight, their spirits are lowered though when they are the first act on the bill of a three day festival, they fear the worst, but on stage they finally have an audience of thousands. With contributions from Lips's wife Ginny Kudlow, Lips's son Averey Kudlow, Lips's brother Gary Kudlow, Lips's sister Rhonda Gibson, Robb's wife Jane Reiner, Robb's sister Andrea Reiner, Robb's son Tyler Reiner, Robb's mother Eniko Reiner, Anthrax rhythm guitarist Scott Ian, Motörhead bassist Lemmy, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, band manager John Zazula, Slayer bassist Tom Araya, Anvil fan Cut Loose, Anvil fan Mad Dog, original Anvil bassist Gary Greenblatt, Anvil bassist Glenn Five, Anvil guitarist Ivan Hurd, Anvil manager Tiziana Arrigoni, Scorpions lead guitarist Michael Schenker, Motörhead guitarist Brian Robertson, Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French and Whitesnake drummer Tommy Aldridge. Knowing that the band of the film were real was interesting, the feel of the Spinal Tap style definitely resonates with this film, it is full of funny mishaps and terrible low points, despite the fact you probably never heard of them before you do go on the journey with the lovable band members of Anvil and hope that they can gain better success, a most watchable music documentary. Very good!

A documentary that makes a mockumentary, which preceded it by over 20 years, look irrelevant. THIS is Spinal Tap, only their name is Anvil and they are very real. As many have stated before, this is a film with amazing power. It really does make everything seem OK. Here are two men that refuse to give up on their dream or each other. Kudlow is a wonderful character and wonderful man, full of raw passion and a childlike confusion. The scenes where he approaches his peers in a fanboyish way make him truly endearing. He should be level with these men, many of whom he has met before but never remember the encounters. Sometimes you laugh at them, but in a way that can't be considered cruel. Kudlow and Reiner are a sweet couple and this is their moment. This is how people should live their lives, with responsibility, but always with one (and sometimes two) eyes focused on that dream.

¨Everything on the tour went drastically wrong. But at least there was a tour for it to go wrong on.¨ That is the kind of attitude that Steve ¨Lips¨ Kudlow, lead singer of the Canadian cult metal band Anvil, has had during his entire life. Things have gone wrong with the band, but his positive attitude and his fight for achieving his dreams and goals are what have made the band stick together for more than 35 years. This documentary, directed by Sacha Gervasi (who also wrote The Terminal) is a truly emotional experience that tries to examine what went wrong with this promising band from the 80's which disappeared from the map all of a sudden. Anvil seemed to be heading to certain fame in the early 80's when they went on tour opening for Bon Jovi with their hit song ¨Metal on Metal.¨ Something went drastically wrong, due to poor managing, and the band was soon forgotten by almost everyone. Other bands such as Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax that did make it big time in the metal world claimed to be heavily influenced by Anvil, but somehow Lips' band faded away. Now more than 30 years later, Gervasi (a Canadian himself) decided to make a documentary as to the whereabouts of the members of the band. Lips and drummer Rob Reiner have stuck together during all these years playing at small shows and recording new albums, while at the same time working full time jobs in order to sustain their family. They have remained best friends since they were young teens and have played together during their entire lives despite facing great adversity. The inspiring and sometimes funny story makes for an unforgettable and emotional film.The documentary begins by introducing us to this promising Canadian band from the 80's that was opening for Bon Jovi and through their music influencing some of the biggest names in rock history. Despite the spectacular moment the band was living, they were the only one's not to ever make it mainstream in the Metal world. Something went wrong and they were soon forgotten, until 30 years later Gervasi decided to make a documentary about their life. Surprisingly the band was still together playing at small gigs and releasing their 13th LP. Lead singer Steve ¨Lips¨ Kudlow and drummer Rob Reiner now in their fifties are still rocking together and dreaming of one day being able to achieve their dream. They have families to maintain and other jobs to pay the bills, but they still live for the music. Out of nowhere they receive an offer from a European fan who wants them to go on tour all over Europe. They decide to follow their dream once again and begin touring in Europe alongside their new manager Tiziana Arrigoni (the fan that e-mailed them about the tour). Things don't turn out as expected and the band returns to Canada once again with their hopes down. Lips is too much of an optimist and a fighter to let go of his dream so he continues to pursue it alongside Robbie and together they decide to release a new CD and hopefully make it big time in the music industry that has turned its back on them time after time.Let me level with you guys: I'm not a heavy metal fan at all, I don't like it. I'm not a big music fan for that matter either, but Anvil is an excellent documentary worth watching because it tells a great story we can all identify with. These two buddies have dreamed of being rock stars all their lives, they were really close to making it once and they didn't, but that never stopped them from trying and pursuing their goals. Time hasn't been on their side, much less the music industry, but the passion these guys have for what they do make the journey worthwhile. Lips and Robbie are real life friends and as such they have their up and downs, they joke, they fight, they laugh, and they cry. There is a lot of emotion here, and these heavy metal guys aren't really as tough as one might have expected. They never quit, they keep on going, and that is a very rare quality to find nowadays. A few try, but when they fail they let go of their dreams and try to fit in, but these guys keep at it time after time. Anvil might be a documentary, but it's a much better buddy comedy then you will probably find from Hollywood these days. The movie is really worth a watch, it has so much emotion put into it, I really had a great time with this documentary.http://estebueno10.blogspot.com/