The Smiths - Inside The Smiths [DVD] [2007]

This is a very odd film. As the other reviewer has noted, the legal wranglings mean that Morrissey, Marr and the music are three very large elephants in the room. Whilst Rourke and Joyce are very likeable, they also don't make for particularly compelling story-tellers - and the stories they do tell are nothing new. So a long-time fan wouldn't learn anything they didn't already know, whilst a relative newcomer would be left distinctly nonplussed by the absence of the music and the band's two most iconic members. The lack of any Smiths music on the soundtrack (instead some generically jangly indie music that sounds nothing like the Smiths) makes this documentary feel weird, as though it's not really about the Smiths even though it is.

The contributions from others are mostly worthless - the Kaiser Chiefs are as wilfully uncontroversial as ever and the sudden appearance of Preston is frankly laughable. Mat Osman has the most input, although inevitably you're left wondering why they couldn't have got Brett or Bernard instead. Mark E Smith is the most entertaining, despite (or perhaps because of) coming across like a withered, incoherent homunculus.

The most curious thing about Inside the Smiths is that a documentary that was apparently three years in the making should feel so rushed and unfinished, as though this was the best they could come up with. And until we can have a full-blooded film with all four members involved, plus the music (plus some worthwhile and intelligent insights from other people who were actually there at the time), the best just isn't going to be good enough.

This is a very watchable DVD, but bearing in mind the protracted legal battle over royalties that ensued after The Smiths split it,s not too surprising that it reveals nothing new about the band. It was made without the co-operation of either Morrissey which is not too much of a surrpise given that he once wished Joyce "the very very worst for the rest of his life" , but also without Johnny Marr, so it's essentially half the story and some would say it's the least interesting half of the story as well. It also means the DVD is devoid of any music by the band apart from Rourke playing the bass line of "This Charming Man" in an attic which makes it feel slightly odd as well.
So it's left to bass player Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce to wax lyrical about this important and brilliant band and they do a pretty good job, coming across as affable and not at all bitter( With Joyce a big fat royalty cheque may have something to do with it) about their former band. So much so that they often comes across more as fans than actual participants which is curious and a little diverting at times. It's almost at times ,as if they are being played by someone else as them but in a slightly spoofy way . Most peculiar.
Various other luminaries of the Manchester scene including Peter Hook, Pete Shelley and most entertainingly, since he normally doesn't have a good word to say about anyone Mark E Smith. He made me laugh with his revelation that didn't know what Morrissey -or Stephen as he calls him - was on about half the time. Fifth Smith Craig Gannon pops up in the extras . It's slightly undermined by interviewing The Kaiser Chiefs who are a fine band in their own right but not a patch on The Smiths and aren't from the same era or area. The decision to interview Preston from The Ordinary Boys is just bizarre and you start expecting one of the Cheeky Girls to pop up next
The two raconteur about past events , some fans chip in and Joyce recounts his battle with drug addiction something that cropped up on "News At Ten" with Trevor McDonald embarrassingly .Morrissey falling off stage and refusing to fly in a helicopter for a Top Of The Pops recording are good value as well.
Ultimately you get the impression that both would reform at the swish of Morrissey's gladioli but that's not likely to happen . Joyce seems particularly haunted by the fact that this is unlikely , but you also get the inkling that he's be just as happy if they all got together and made up . Possibly the finest point made in this DVD is when Matt Osman from Suede(Incidentally Mike Joyce was an drummer for Suede early on but left as he feared his previous fame would impinge the bands progress. Curiously this isn't mentioned on the DVD)points out that The Smiths having a punk drummer and funk bassist contributed significantly to their unique sound. Listening to "Barbarism Begins at Home" on the MP3 on the way to work the other day, this comment makes a lot of sense.
Any body with an interest in the band will find this worth a viewing but it is slight fairly superficial fare .The fact remains that a definitive history of this fantastic band still remains to be made , though its doubtful given the enmity between various members that will never happen . Shame.

I grew up with the smiths and loved them for everything they brought into my life.
they really did write the soundtrack to my young youth and have forever remained within my conscious mind and heart.
maybe it was mozzers words or maybe johnnys music, maybe it was the way mike joyce and andy rourke joined together to create the perfect rhythm section to compliment both moz and marr's work but all put together really did shape the way many people saw and lived thier lives beit right or wrong.
at the end of the day, it was all about great, unique, possibly never again heard in such an astonishing way, music that really should have been given the accolades, way back when it mattered, the way it is being perceived now by closet and at the time, denial fans that thought it too uncool to ever even own up to having any sort of soft spot and affection for the band.

i am proud to say now, as i was back then that the smiths were and still are immense in music and provided a bench mark for so many young upcoming indie type bands of today and much more.

this dvd is all about joyce and rourkes take on being in the smiths and it is so fascinating and a great insight of the way of life within the band and how things were without putting anyones noses out of joint in the process. very honest and realistically told with good natured banter and humour within and throughout.

joyce really speaks from the heart and not just as a band member but an obvious fan of the band and music and really gives voice to many fans take of the whole smiths phenomenon..

i really enjoyed this dvd and it is a total must for any self respecting smiths lover and fan.

fantastic !