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Amazon.co.uk Review
"We're done," says Stewart Copeland near the end of Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out, his homemade documentary about the rise and eventual fall of the group that ruled the planet during their '70s-'80s heyday. "When you get to where you're going, the ride is over." Yeah, but what a ride it was. Some 20 years after the Police (Copeland, Sting, and Andy Summers) disbanded for good, the drummer, now a film composer, edited the 50-plus hours of Super 8 footage he shot way back when, compiled a new soundtrack, wrote some voice-over commentary, and put together a film that, while considerably less than perfect, provides genuine insight into the chaotic, ultimately deadening world of rock superstardom.
It all starts in '76, when the original band formed in England; by 1978, Copeland narrates, "we were ready to shed the leprous scab of (our) wretched history… and sally forth to the promised land of America." Fame and fortune ensued, and along the way, Copeland filmed everything--not just the inevitable scenes inside their tour van and backstage, but pre-gig sound checks, recording sessions, in-store promo appearances …
Hell, he even recorded the band while they were making their videos, and there's one remarkable sequence in which he sets up his camera on a tripod behind his drum kit, then turns to address the viewer in mid-performance ("There's a little fight going on in front of the stage," he tells us). The camera work is often pretty shaky, and the performance footage is primitive, not to mention loud and distorted, but somehow that fits Copeland's fly-on-the-wall approach; and the soundtrack, live and studio versions of familiar tunes that Copeland "lobotomized" and "de-arranged," is revelatory.
Perhaps best of all, the film offers Copeland a chance to tell us how it all went wrong. By the time of Ghost in the Machine, Sting (who comes off as his usual standoffish, mostly-humourless self) was no longer collaborating with other musicians in the studio. What's more, "(the) adulation started to feel like obligation," and while being rich and famous was swell, the price they paid was "our vibe, our essence." Part documentary, part travelogue, part video diary/confessional, Everyone Stares helps capture that essence again. --Sam Graham
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For me what Stewart's film shows, is how they went from semi punk jumpy festival gig openers to Stadium crowd pleasers, and all through the eyes of their drummer. It does have the feel of a home movie about it, but then portable camera and sound technology has moved on somewhat in 30 years.
It was at times almost surreal watching the film. The footage of the fans back stage practially ripping the bands car apart and banging on the windows when they are inside it was astounding, i cannot see how anybody can keep sane and their head above water, with that level of fame and adoration. This is in stark contrast to the footage of their early tours of the USA where it is just the guys in a truck larking about crossing America. You can see the difference in attitude and how much less tension there is in band when the pressure is off. A nice touch I thought was at the end of the film where the credits thank Henri Pandovani.
I couldn't honestly recommend this to a non Police fan but as a fan, i found this a fascinating insight into the Police behind the scenes. At times it doesn't show Sting in a particularly positive light, which doesn't surprise me having read about Stewart and Gordon's fights before, but the fact is without any of the three indivuduals there wouldn't have been the police, a fact they all acknowledge and ultimately what kept them together for five great classic albums.
It was at times almost surreal watching the film. The footage of the fans back stage practially ripping the bands car apart and banging on the windows when they are inside it was astounding, i cannot see how anybody can keep sane and their head above water, with that level of fame and adoration. This is in stark contrast to the footage of their early tours of the USA where it is just the guys in a truck larking about crossing America. You can see the difference in attitude and how much less tension there is in band when the pressure is off. A nice touch I thought was at the end of the film where the credits thank Henri Pandovani.
I couldn't honestly recommend this to a non Police fan but as a fan, i found this a fascinating insight into the Police behind the scenes. At times it doesn't show Sting in a particularly positive light, which doesn't surprise me having read about Stewart and Gordon's fights before, but the fact is without any of the three indivuduals there wouldn't have been the police, a fact they all acknowledge and ultimately what kept them together for five great classic albums.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have heard some good things and some bad from the US about this but as a Police fan I do intend, eventually, to make the investment.
HOWEVER: I merely wish to use this space to highlight - and I am not blaming the company - that the amazon.com version is half the price of the .co.uk version.
I do wonder if the powers that be will ever end the absurd rip off regarding European pricing and also the formatting obstacles which the consumer also continually comes up against.
HOWEVER: I merely wish to use this space to highlight - and I am not blaming the company - that the amazon.com version is half the price of the .co.uk version.
I do wonder if the powers that be will ever end the absurd rip off regarding European pricing and also the formatting obstacles which the consumer also continually comes up against.
Format:DVD
This is a must for die hard Police fans. The sound track is excellent mixture of classic Police sounds and edited production of various tracks specially for the film. I really enjoyed it and Stewart Copeland has to be congratulated with his imaginative production.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic Police
If you are a big Police fan, then this is a must. It does get a bit slow in bits but you get a great idea of what's going on in that time frame where they are at their peek
Published on 29 Jan 2009 by Hutch
Stare at The Police
First of all I am going to start by saying that this DVD isn't worth £15.99. That is why I bought it in the used and new section and I recommend you do the same. Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2008 by Matt182
An Obscured View
This film is slightly frustrating as it could be more interesting than it is. The footage is fine - patchy in places ,there is a real lack of footage of the last few years of the... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2007 by JosieK
A good insight in this rockband
I thought this do-it-yourself-documentary was the perfect movie for Police-fans. It tells the story of a few enthousiastic guys, fresh and hungry in the music-business. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2007 by Yovra
Fascinating
This video diary piece by Police drummer Stewart Copeland, shot over the years of their ascending fame, is a fascinating insight into the workings of a rock band at the height of... Read more
Published on 10 July 2007 by Mr. R. Fisher
Copeland not a film maker!!
As a big fan of the Police, I was awaiting this with great anticipation. Sorry to all you Police nuts out there - this was pretty awful. Read more
Published on 23 April 2007 by John Holmes
everybody stares....
A great film, i'd even go as far as saying fantastic - but then i've been waiting for years for something like this.... Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2006 by Mr. Stephen R. Winfield
interesting
Well i assume the other review here was written before amazon halved the price.
In regard to the film, i'd say its well worth the investment, but probably only for a... Read more
In regard to the film, i'd say its well worth the investment, but probably only for a... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2006 by C. Gorman
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