The Sparks Brothers

Last updated

The Sparks Brothers
The Sparks Brothers Sundance poster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Edgar Wright
Produced by
  • Nira Park
  • Edgar Wright
  • George Hencken
  • Laura Richardson
Starring
CinematographyJake Polonsky
Edited byPaul Trewartha
Production
companies
  • MRC
  • Complete Fiction Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 30, 2021 (2021-01-30)(Sundance)
  • June 18, 2021 (2021-06-18)(United States)
  • July 30, 2021 (2021-07-30)(United Kingdom)
Running time
140 minutes [1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.2 million [2] [3]

The Sparks Brothers is a 2021 British-American documentary film about Ron and Russell Mael, members of the pop and rock duo Sparks. The film, directed by Edgar Wright, and produced by Wright, Nira Park, George Hencken and Laura Richardson, premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and was theatrically released the following summer. It received critical acclaim.

Contents

Summary

The documentary features lengthy interviews with Ron and Russell Mael, along with short interviews with musicians, record producers who collaborated with the band, previous members of the group who worked with the Maels in the various Sparks line-ups from the early 1970s until the early 2020s, as well as a number of fans. The documentary also includes several short animation sequences to reproduce apocryphal anecdotes between musicians with the participation of comedians and frequent Wright collaborators Simon Pegg (as the voice of John Lennon) and Nick Frost (as the voice of Ringo Starr).

Participants

Production

In June 2018, it was announced Wright would direct an untitled documentary film revolving around the band Sparks, with MRC Non-Fiction and Complete Fiction Pictures producing the film. [4]

Principal photography began in May 2018, with Jake Polonsky as cinematographer, beginning with covering the band's concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town. [5] In April 2020, Wright announced that the film was "nearly finished". [6]

Soundtrack

The Sparks Brothers
Soundtrack album by
Sparks
ReleasedMarch 2022 (2022-03)
Label Waxwork
Producer
Sparks chronology
Annette
(2021)		The Sparks Brothers
(2022)		 The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte
(2023)

A soundtrack album was released on 4-LP by Waxwork Records in March 2022, as well as a Spotify playlist

Track listing

Side A
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Sparks Documentary Film Fanfare"previously unreleased0:50
2."This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us" Plagiarism 4:03
3."Fa La Fa Lee" Halfnelson/Sparks 2:54
4."Slowboat"Halfnelson/Sparks3:55
5."Wonder Girl"Halfnelson/Sparks2:21
6."Girl From Germany" A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing 3:29
7."Talent Is An Asset" Kimono My House 3:21
Side B
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
8."This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us"Kimono My House3:05
9."Amateur Hour"Kimono My House3:37
10."Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" Propaganda 2:28
11."Something For The Girl With Everything"Propaganda2:16
12."Get In The Swing" Indiscreet 4:08
13."Under The Table With Her"Indiscreet2:19
14."Everybody's Stupid" Big Beat 3:40
Side C
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
15."Those Mysteries" Introducing Sparks 5:01
16."La Dolce Vita" No. 1 in Heaven 5:54
17."Beat The Clock"No. 1 in Heaven4:24
18."The Number One Song In Heaven" (7" Version)No. 1 in Heaven3:51
Side D
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
19."When I'm With You" Terminal Jive 5:49
20."Tips For Teens" Whomp That Sucker 3:33
21."Angst In My Pants" Angst in My Pants 3:29
22."I Predict"Angst In My Pants2:54
23."Cool Places" (with Jane Wiedlin) In Outer Space 3:25
24."I Wish I Looked A Little Better"In Outer Space2:59
Side E
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
25."Change" Music That You Can Dance To 5:21
26."Music That You Can Dance To"Music That You Can Dance To4:24
27."The Race For President"In Entertainment We Trust (Music From The Motion Picture A Cute Candidate)1:48
28."When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way’" Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins 4:37
29."Balls" Balls 4:24
Side F
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
30."The Rhythm Thief" Lil' Beethoven 5:19
31."My Baby’s Taking Me Home" (Live in London 2018)previously unreleased5:20
32."Dick Around" Hello Young Lovers 6:35
33."I Can’t Believe That You Would Fall For All The Crap In This Song" Exotic Creatures of the Deep 3:54
Side G
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
34."Johnny Delusional" (performed by FFS) FFS 3:11
35."Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" Hippopotamus 4:32
36."All That" A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip 4:44
37."The Number One Song In Heaven" (Live 2012) Two Hands, One Mouth 7:02
Side H
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
38."Computer Girl"Past Tense – The Best of Sparks3:13
39."Hospitality On Parade" (Live At Fairfield Halls 1975)previously unreleased5:25
40."What The Hell Is It This Time?" (Live In London 2018)previously unreleased4:12
41."‘My Way’ / When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way’" (Live in London 2018)previously unreleased5:51
42."Amateur Hour" (Read by Neil Gaiman)previously unreleased1:45

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021. [7] [8] [9] [10] Shortly after, Focus Features acquired domestic distribution rights, while Universal Pictures will distribute the film internationally. [11] [12] The film also screened at South by Southwest in March 2021, [13] and was theatrically released in North America on June 18, 2021, by Focus Features. [14] It was released in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2021. [15]

Box office

In the United States, the film made $107,225 on its opening Friday and $89,652 on its second weekend. It was released internationally in territories including the United Kingdom ($334,184), Australia ($45,404), France ($80,267), Iceland ($477), Portugal ($346) and New Zealand ($9,499). [16]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 96% based on 160 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Their albums may be cult favorites, but this Edgar Wright-directed documentary offers an introduction to The Sparks Brothers that has something for everyone." [17] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on reviews from 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Mael</span> American musician and co-founder of the band Sparks

Ronald David Mael is an American musician, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is the keyboard player and principal songwriter in the band Sparks which he founded with vocalist, occasional songwriter and younger brother Russell Mael in 1971. Mael is known for his quirky and idiosyncratic approach to songwriting, his intricate and rhythmic keyboard playing style and for his deadpan and low key, scowling demeanour onstage often remaining motionless over his keyboard in sharp contrast to Russell's animated and hyperactive frontman antics. Ron Mael is also noted for his conservative clothes and distinctive moustache. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Mael</span> American musician and co-founder of the band Sparks

Russell Craig Mael is an American singer best known as the lead singer for the band Sparks which he formed in 1971 with his elder brother Ron Mael. Mael is known for his wide vocal range, in particular his far-reaching falsetto. He has a flamboyant and hyperactive stage presence which contrasts sharply with Ron Mael's inexpressive demeanour. The band released an album with British rock band Franz Ferdinand, as the supergroup FFS, titled FFS, released in 2015. The Mael brothers are the founders of Lil' Beethoven Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sparks (band)</span> American rock and pop band

Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals) in Los Angeles. The duo is noted for their quirky approach to songwriting; their music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics—often about women, and sometimes containing literary or cinematic references—and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified by the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. Russell Mael has a distinctive wide-ranging voice, while Ron Mael plays keyboards in an intricate and rhythmic style. Their frequently changing styles and visual presentations have kept the band at the forefront of modern, artful pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgar Wright</span> English filmmaker (born 1974)

Edgar Howard Wright is an English filmmaker. He is known for his fast-paced and kinetic, satirical genre films, which feature extensive utilisation of expressive popular music, Steadicam tracking shots, dolly zooms and a signature editing style that includes transitions, whip pans and wipes. He first made independent short films before making his first feature film A Fistful of Fingers in 1995. Wright created and directed the comedy series Asylum in 1996, written with David Walliams. After directing several other television shows, Wright directed the sitcom Spaced (1999–2001), which aired for two series and starred frequent collaborators Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.

<i>Kimono My House</i> 1974 studio album by Sparks

Kimono My House is the third studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on May 1, 1974, by Island Records. The album is considered to be their commercial breakthrough, and was met with widespread acclaim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nira Park</span> British film producer

Nira Louise Park is a British television and film producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us</span> 1974 single by Sparks

"This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" is a song by American pop band Sparks. Written by Ron Mael, it is the opening track on their third studio album Kimono My House (1974), and was the lead single from the album. Although it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" achieved major success in Europe, peaking within the top ten of the charts in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for two consecutive weeks. The song has become the highest-charting for Sparks on the UK Singles Chart, held off from the top spot by The Rubettes' bubblegum pop song "Sugar Baby Love".

<i>A Woofer in Tweeters Clothing</i> 1972 studio album by Sparks

A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing is the second studio album by the American rock band Sparks. It was released in 1972 and includes the single "Girl from Germany". It was the last release by the original five-member incarnation of Sparks.

<i>Propaganda</i> (Sparks album) 1974 studio album by Sparks

Propaganda is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sparks, released on November 11, 1974. Following up their commercial breakthrough, Kimono My House, released earlier the same year, it was a moderate success in the United States and peaked at No. 9 in the UK in 1975. The album cover features an image of a tied-up and gagged Mael brothers, titled "Welcome on Board", which was taken by photographer Monty Coles.

<i>Big Beat</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Sparks

Big Beat is the sixth album by American rock band Sparks, released in 1976.

<i>Introducing Sparks</i> 1977 studio album by Sparks

Introducing Sparks is the seventh album by the American rock band Sparks, released in 1977 by Columbia Records.

<i>No. 1 in Heaven</i> 1979 studio album by Sparks

Nº 1 in Heaven is the eighth studio album by American rock band Sparks. Recorded with Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder, the album marked a change of musical direction for the group and became influential on later synth-pop bands.

<i>Balls</i> (Sparks album) 2000 studio album by Sparks

Balls is the 18th album by the American rock band Sparks, released in 2000.

<i>Lil Beethoven</i> 2002 studio album by Sparks

Lil' Beethoven is the 19th album by the American rock band Sparks, released on November 26, 2002. The album was a radical musical departure compared to their previous works. The band only used strings, piano, and voices but sporadic drums: the result was both classical and pop music.

<i>The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman</i> 2009 studio album by Sparks

The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is the 22nd album by American rock group Sparks, released in August 2009. The duo's first work in the radio musical genre, the album is built around an imaginary visit to Hollywood by Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman in the mid-1950s. Its storyline focuses on the divides between European and American culture, between art and commerce. Unlike other Sparks albums, the work is conceived as a single piece, to be listened to as a whole, rather than a collection of stand-alone songs.

Tammy Glover is an American television producer, film producer, and musician. She served as the VP of Production for Comedy Central from 2007 to 2011, Senior Vice President of Production for FremantleMedia and is currently the Head of Physical Production for TNT, TBS, and TruTV, part of Warner Bros Discovery. Glover was on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences representing Production Executives. She played drums for Sparks from 1997 to 2011 and contributed to BBC Radio 6 Music's This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us: The Story Of Sparks presented by Mark Radcliffe. She also performs with Billy Zimmer as the duo Thorcraft Cobra. Modern Drummer has done a number of features on Glover. and she has contributed session work for many projects, including solo work for David Dattner, and playing live drums for the Peter G Adams soundtrack of CodeGirl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FFS (band)</span> 2010s supergroup band

FFS was a supergroup formed by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand and American art rock band Sparks. Their formation was announced on 9 March 2015, but the two bands had been recording since at least the mid-2000s. The group's eponymous debut studio album was recorded in late 2014 and released through the Domino Recording Company in the UK on 8 June and in the US on 9 June 2015.

<i>A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip</i> 2020 studio album by Sparks

A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip is the 24th studio album by American rock group Sparks. Recorded in gaps between Sparks' film projects, the album uses a full rock-group format to draw on the band's full range of musical styles and was universally acclaimed by critics, who praised both its lyrical and melodic content.

Joseph Wallace is a BAFTA Cymru-nominated film and animation director based in the UK. He uses stop-motion puppet and cut-out animation techniques to produce short films and music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With All My Might (Sparks song)</span> 1984 song by Sparks

"With All My Might" is a song by American pop and rock duo Sparks, which was released in 1984 as the lead single from their thirteenth studio album Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat (1984). The song was written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael, and produced by Ian Little. "With All My Might" failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 but reached No. 4 on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.

References

  1. ↑ "The Sparks Brothers". Sundance Film Festival . Retrieved December 15, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ "The Sparks Brothers". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ "The Sparks Brothers". The Numbers . Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ Sharf, Zack (June 21, 2018). "Edgar Wright's Next Film Is a Documentary on Cult Pop-Rock Band Sparks — Exclusive". IndieWire . Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  5. ↑ Trumbone, Dave (June 21, 2018). "Edgar Wright to Tackle 70s Cult Band "Sparks" in New Documentary". Collider . Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  6. ↑ Raup, Jordan (April 25, 2020). "95% of the Dialogue in Leos Carax's 'Annette' Will Be Sung; Was Set to Premiere at Cannes". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ Debruge, Peter (December 15, 2020). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Features 38 First-Time Directors, Including Rebecca Hall and Robin Wright". Variety . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  8. ↑ Willman, Chris (January 28, 2021). "Edgar Wright's 'The Sparks Brothers' Gives Cult Rock Icons Their Due". Variety . Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  9. ↑ Hoffman, Jordan (February 1, 2021). "'The Sparks Brothers' review: Edgar Wright's electric portrait of the pop duo". The Guardian . Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  10. ↑ Scheck, Frank (February 1, 2021). "'The Sparks Brothers': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Focus Features Acquires Edgar Wright's Hit Sundance Documentary The Sparks Brothers From MRC Non-Fiction". Focus Features. February 23, 2021. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  12. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 23, 2021). "Focus Features Picks Up Edgar Wright's MRC Documentary 'The Sparks Brothers' – Sundance". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ Kohn, Eric; Erbland, Kate (February 10, 2021). "SXSW 2021 Announces Full Feature Film Lineup, All Available for Online Viewing". IndieWire . Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (March 19, 2021). "Edgar Wright's 'The Sparks Brothers' Gets Summer U.S. Release Date In Theaters". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  15. ↑ "The Sparks Brothers". Film Distributors Association. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  16. ↑ "It was easy opening weekend". Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  17. ↑ "The Sparks Brothers (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Sparks Brothers - Critic Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
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