By night, the Pixies are rock n' roll superheroes...by day, they're just four surly co-workers with very little to say to one another.
Pixies - LoudQUIETLoud: A Film About the Pixies (2006)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:21
Fresh:14
Rotten:7
Average Rating:6.2/10
Theatrical Release:Sep 29, 2006 Limited
Synopsis: The initial career of indie-rock figureheads the Pixies was marked by a strange juxtaposition--violent, jarring songs about whores and weird sex played by what seemed to be the most down-to-earth... The initial career of indie-rock figureheads the Pixies was marked by a strange juxtaposition--violent, jarring songs about whores and weird sex played by what seemed to be the most down-to-earth people on the planet. Clearly something dark was lurking beneath the four band members' ostensibly normal exteriors, and wild rumors regarding their 1993 breakup threatened to engulf the group's legend for a while. LOUDQUIETLOUD documents what happened when this odd collection of souls--singer Frank Black (aka Charles Thompson), bass player Kim Deal, guitarist Joey Santiago, and drummer David Lovering--reconvened in 2004 for a triumphant reunion tour. Directors Steven Cantor and Matthew Galkin travel down the well-worn rock-documentary path, alternating between coruscatingly loud concert footage and backstage glimpses of life on the road with the band. The filmmakers gained impressive access, and although they never quite manage to cut open the Pixies' corpse and let all the simmering tensions bleed onto the screen, they do capture a definite sense of unease among the four members. As the tour winds through the country, the still-devoted hordes flock to every sold-out date, but the love festooned on the band by its audience doesn't help camaraderie to develop among its members. The newly drug-free Deal brings along her twin sister, Lovering battles his own drug addiction, and Santiago and Thompson resolutely stick to doing their own thing. LOUDQUIETLOUD won't put to bed any of the rumors that continue to dog the Pixies, nor does it dig up any tangible reason as to why inter-band relations are kept at such a distance. Instead, Cantor and Galkin's film raises a series of questions without answers, neatly reflecting the continuing contrast between normalcy and wild creativity that lies at the heart of the Pixies. [More]
Starring: Frank Black, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago, David Lovering
Starring: Frank Black, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago, David Lovering
Director: Steven Cantor
Director: Steven Cantor
Composer: Daniel Lanois
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Release:
Nov 7, 2006
Reviews for Pixies - LoudQUIETLoud: A Film About the Pixies
And if you're a fan of the Pixies' music, that's not such a bad way to spend 90 minutes
It's this disconnect between their iconic public selves and their rather ordinary actual selves that makes the film so engrossing even for non-fans.
Filmmakers Steven Cantor and Matthew Galkin catch distressing and poignant moments on the tour that, if written into a fiction film, would seem too scripted to be true.
It's a lively, charming film, and if it gave us a little more of the band's history, it would be perfect. As it is, it's a perfect introduction to some great songs and fascinating characters.
The 85-minute documentary takes a torpid, fly-on-the-wall approach, providing little context, few insights, and not enough music.
A plangent record of the landmark group's 2004 reunion tour that should dispel any remaining romantic notions about the rock lifestyle.
In between blazing performances, the dead air and silent downtime produce a strong impression that we won't be hearing much from the Pixies in the future.
The concert footage, which is exceptionally well photographed and recorded, offers clips of varying lengths from a wealth of songs. The rest of the film glimpses the stress disorders that can develop when average people with problems become popular.
Watching the movie is not as much fun as listening to the old records.
For fans of the seminal alt-rock quartet, the Pixies' reunion was momentous, but in the solid behind-the-scenes documentary loudQuietloud, the band comes across as considerably more muted in its enthusiasm.
This tension combines into a collection of great music, at least for the already initiated.
Boring people who made extraordinary music, the Pixies are inexplicable. In attempting to demystify them, this backstage pass to their 2004 reunion tour achieves the opposite.
This is a nice Cinderella story, but here's the problem: It doesn't exactly crackle with drama.
The entire affair looks and feels like a reality television show minus the cheap drama.
Pic is targeted at the already initiated, but directors Steve Cantor and Matthew Galkin deftly resolve one often glaring problem with tribute documentaries -- making those who might not care do so.
Latest News for Pixies - LoudQUIETLoud: A Film About...
September 28, 2006:
Critical Consensus: 'Tis Not The "Season," "Guardian" Lacks Defenders, And "School" Flunks
This week at the movies, we've got jive talking woodland creatures ("Open Season," with Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher). We've got a school for Coast Guard rescue... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Pixies - LoudQUIETLoud: A Film About the Pixies at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

TECHLAND gives us a first look at the extras, including Leonard Nimoy's last day on set!

AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic


