Film & TV

DVD Review: Duran Duran Unstaged

Duran Duran Unstaged

What do supergroup Duran Duran and famed avant-garde film-maker David Lynch have in common? Their love for perfecting their art via a camera’s lens.

 

Duran Duran UnstagedWhat do supergroup Duran Duran and famed avant-garde film-maker David Lynch have in common? Apart from sharing the first letter of their names you’d think not much. Dig deeper and more is revealed!

Their biggest bond is their love for the visual form with both perfecting their art via a camera’s lens. Duran Duran made their name with a litany of high-gloss video clips in the 1980s which transformed the industry. Likewise Lynch’s cinematic output from Eraserhead to the fabled TV series Twin Peaks revelled in their arresting imagery. Placed together and you’d expect a unique event – of which Duran Duran Unstaged most certainly is.

Filmed as part of an intimate concert series by American Express, the live digital concert aims to combine popular groups with influential film-makers. Both Duran Duran and Lynch suitably fit the bill. Shot in the Los Angeles Mayan Theatre during their 2011 All You Need Is Now tour, it shows the group singing a mix of past and present hits. Fans would know most of their tunes such as Planet Earth, Rio and A View to A Kill, through to their latest tracks like The Man Who Stole The Leopard. That each band member still gives the songs such energetic vitality is a testament to their professionalism and desire to push their set boundaries. From Simon Le Bon’s vocals to Nick Rhodes’ remarkable keyboard skills, Duran Duran shows why they are still a combined unit of talented artists.

Art is something their songs are given due to Lynch’s visual palette. Mostly shot in striking black and white, the lack of colour strips away the pomp and circumstance of certain songs. This doesn’t make them any less enjoyable but gives them another edge. Images appear during numbers such as Hungry Like the Wolf with Lynch graphing an image of a rather predatory wolf. This adds another texture to this well-known track with Lynch interpreting each song in his own way. Some work better than others with dancing Barbie dolls, stuffed animals and even sausages on a BBQ added to the peculiar optical mix. Whilst these raise some ‘what is he thinking?’ moments, Lynch’s bold style sets the concert apart from the usual point-and-shoot fare.

Duran Duran Unstaged is an experience and successfully transplants the excitement of a live concert. Duran Duran are at the top of their game with David Lynch having much fun in ensuring they remain at the peak of their musical gifts.

Recommended viewing for dedicated fans of both flamboyantly inclined entities.

Reviewed by Patrick Moore

Rating out of 10:  8

Duran Duran Unstaged will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital copy on 11 June 2014

 

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