No Distance Left To Run [DVD] [2010]

For anyone who was there at the magical reunion gigs last summer, or who has admired Blur at any point during their diverse and long career, this is likely to be the best music documentary you'll have seen for a long time.

Its the kind of film that makes you want to immediately listen to every Blur song you can lay your hands on. The soundtrack is, predictably, brilliant. But the great thing about it is the fantastic interview footage. Narratively, it tells the story of Blur from their childhood through to their reunion gigs, intercut with footage from the gigs and their warm-ups.

All four members come out of the film really well - even Damon, who is markedly more candid than he has been before. But the real star is Graham, who emerges as a raconteur of almost Noel Gallagher-esque wit. Most people at one of the few cinema screenings of this film were continually giggling out loud during much of his interview footage - and yet he's able to also totally break your heart when describing his abrupt departure from Blur during the recording of 'Think Tank'. He's hilariously funny one moment, and devastatingly self-aware the next.

Its profoundly moving stuff, as it is again, for different reasons, when he and Damon describe the chats they started having about reuniting, leading up to an obviously incredibly emotional Glastonbury gig. To hear each of the band talk about what that meant to them is really quite special. And its hard not to feel quite choked when Graham reflects that he fell in love with Damon all over again when he realised that they're basically the same after all, they "just do things differently".

As they go through their career, album by album, what also becomes clear is how 1997's 'Blur' is their true masterpiece, and just how pivotal Graham was in that album. And therein lies the true sadness of his alcoholism and departure - if the early years of Blur had seen Damon as the creative force, presciently spotting an opportunity for a leftfield indie band celebrating Britishness, it was Graham who had saved them after the chaos of 'The Great Escape' by re-routing their whole guitar sound to America. And then, just at their creative summit, they started to collapse. The reunion footage is particularly redemptive after seeing how they were barely functioning as a band during the disjointed recording of '13' and 'Think Tank'.

Its one of those rare films you want to immediately watch again. The DVD bonus of footage from the wonderful Hyde Park gigs is a further incentive to want to own it. Highly recommended.

This film is a bittersweet experience for any true Blur fan. I mean, it was amazing to see them and hear their thoughts on what went on with Damon/Graham etc, but it was tinged with a great sadness that they may never play together again or create any more of their amazing music. I do hope that they re-think this as there is still a lot of love for them - the fans would be delighted!!

Anyway, Graham is hilarious, loved his anecdotes, even the more sad stories are tinged with humour. Alex is always a joy to listen to - such a character. Damon, who is never at home speaking on camera, seemed less awkward than usual and you get a few insights into how his mind works. And Dave, he's great - always the one with feet more firmly on the ground I think.

The live footage, both recent and earlier, was brilliant to see, and as for the soundtrack well what would you expect?

Don't watch this thinking it will be a history of 'Britpop', it's most certainly not. It's Blur through and through and all the better for it.

If these four talented lovable scamps are your thing then you MUST buy this!!

The film is a documentary of the career of blur. Being a long time blur fan, it felt like an ideal way to tie the whole thing off and move us all on. The interviews with all 4 members of the band are revealing, and interesting. The footage is scattered between the earlier years on and off stage, and the more recent gigs in 2009.
The film falls down slightly, a lot of the footage has been seen before in the starshaped video, and the unseen clips of the band from the past are very brief. It would have benefitted from including more older clips that were shelved from the unreleased 'b roads' documentary. Also, the interviews dont really inform fans of anything different or new. ie we know beetlebum was about heroin, we are well aware of graham's alcohol problem... it would have been nice for the members of the band to go in to more depth about these more serious situations in blurs career.
That said, the film is a moving tribute to a varied and turbulent career, which at some point we were probably all part of. An absolute must for Blur fans.