Cast: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
Genre: Music Documentary
Director: Toby L
In Irish Cinemas: 19th July 2024
Blur: To the End highlights Damon Albarn’s Most Vulnerable Moments Yet. The band that declared “modern life is rubbish” three decades ago still grapples with its meaning. Blur is back, and they’re brilliant—but not in the way you remember. *The Ballad of Darren* transcends the boundaries of a traditional music documentary, presenting a raw and unflinching exploration of middle age. Directed by Toby L, the film follows the legendary Britpop group—known for 90s anthems like “Parklife” and “Song 2″—as they navigate creating a new album ahead of their 2023 reunion concerts. Their latest release, *The Ballad of Darren*, marks their first new material in eight years and has continued their tradition of success, becoming their seventh album to reach Number 1. Through intimate footage and candid moments, the film captures the band’s journey, offering a poignant look at these iconic musicians’ personal and creative evolution.
However, this occasion marked the band’s debut performance at Wembley Stadium, captivating an audience 90,000 with an overwhelming blend of cheers and tears. The film captures a profound and extraordinary feeling of long-anticipated victory, mirroring the atmosphere of those concerts. It seemed as though this was the performance they had always aspired to while being the one that stirred the most anxiety. Reflecting on the experience, Albarn later declared that the second night at Wembley was their “best ” gig.
The focus is now on the four men in their fifties. The film includes a few nostalgic snippets from 90s concerts, music videos, and even scenes of Damon Albarn in school plays. However, it notably lacks extensive archival footage. Instead, the documentary emphasises their current lives: their worn-out knees, numerous close-ups of them eating salad and humorous comments about how ice baths provide a thrill similar to cocaine. This is their new version of rock ‘n’ roll.
The film presents an entertaining glimpse into the dynamic personalities of four distinct individuals. Lead singer Damon Albarn stands out as a petulant man-child and musical prodigy, known for his liberal use of expletives and his need for focus to prevent him from drifting off to compose an opera during rehearsals. Graham Coxon, the sweet yet anxious co-founder and guitarist of Blur who has known Albarn since they were twelve, admits, “I don’t have many friends.” Bassist Alex James, now a cheese-maker and family man, still struggles to resist overindulging in Jägerbombs.
This habit once led him to estimate he had spent £1 million on alcohol and drugs. Sensible drummer Dave Rowntree, who has transitioned to a career as a Labour councillor and lawyer, humorously reflects on being the last member to afford a lavish country home. “Funny how the things from your twenties bite you on the arse,” he remarks as the group gathers at Albarn’s Devon mansion to swim in the sea and navigate old and new tensions. Can these frayed friendships mend? Albarn admits they haven’t genuinely communicated in years but notes, “It’s just like it was when we were 19. Four sweaty blokes annoying each other.” Albarn rants when things don’t go his way, and the others quietly ignore him like parents managing a tantrum toddler. On the beach, Albarn and James flaunt their dad’s bodies and bicker like an old married couple. The film frequently underscores their familial bond and the inherent challenges of maintaining long-term relationships.
There is, undoubtedly, a clever commercial aspect to this narrative. Arguments—whether among themselves or with their chart rivals Oasis—were a hallmark of the indie music scene, and it is not the first time we’ve witnessed Blur in conflict. The band has produced several other documentaries, with the standout being 1993’s “Starshaped,” which exposed their internal fractures. The most recent one before this, “No Distance Left To Run” (2010), focused on the tension between childhood friends Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon. However, the frictions depicted in this documentary feel especially authentic, sad, yet hopeful. These tensions have lingered over the years but have also been softened by middle age. The band members are familiar, yet they’ve become more adaptable with time. One morning, a particularly poignant moment occurs when Alex James prepares bacon and eggs for the group, evoking their university days in London. It’s a scene that captures them momentarily shedding the burdens of adult responsibilities and lingering resentments, reminiscent of their youthful camaraderie.
For long-time Blur fans, the film offers a thrilling opportunity to get up close and personal with their beloved ageing rock icons. It highlights the absurdities of growing older, especially for those who achieved fame in their youth. However, this documentary is far from a monotonous concert film. Director Toby L masterfully captures the raw euphoria and deep anguish experienced by the band. He delves into their most private moments, portraying everything from the aftermath of wild nights to the intense preparations before taking the stage.
The four band members are more exhausted and vulnerable than ever before. In a poignant moment, Albarn, having recently separated from his long-term partner and mother of his daughter, breaks down sobbing in the recording studio while the others look on helplessly. Later, Coxon reflects on how men seldom ask each other if they’re all right. Despite having matured into fathers, lawyers, and recovering alcoholics (Coxon), they still struggle to share their pain. It makes one wonder how a documentary on female Britpop stars would compare. Would Justine Frischmann of Elastica, Albarn’s ex, comfort a crying bandmate with a hug? Though the final act’s self-congratulatory commentary on music’s unique purpose felt unnecessary, the film is otherwise a deeply engaging, intimate, and gently funny look at the bittersweet nostalgia of ageing. Do the boys miss the past, or are they glad it’s over? The film doesn’t provide answers but instead skillfully illustrates how we continue to wrestle with these questions throughout our lives, never quite settling. “The songs make more sense to me now,” Albarn observes sadly. The band that declared “modern life is rubbish” 31 years ago is still trying to figure it all out, and watching their journey is fascinating.
Overall: 8/10
Movie Reviewer
