'ONLY THE STRONG' TOO WEAK.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic THE MUSIC DOCUMENTARY ``Only the Strong Survive'' seems to exist in a curious land of suspended time that's peculiar to interviewer/producer Roger Friedman's brain. At the outset, Friedman and documentarians Chris Hegedus (``Startup.com'') and D.A. Pennebaker (``Don't Look Back'') state that their aim is to find the lost legends of soul and give them their due. Think of it as ``Standing in the Shadows of Motown'' for the equally deserving Stax artists. What music fan would not want to see that movie? Unfortunately, the makers of ``Only the Strong Survive'' have delivered a far different film, one that is shapeless shape·less adj. 1. Lacking a definite shape. 2. Lacking symmetrical or attractive form; not shapely. shape , uninformative un·in·for·ma·tive adj. Providing little or no information; not informative. un  in·for and strangely lacking in survival stories. There are a handful of stirring musical performances, but it's hard to even recommend the movie on that basis. One would be better served spending one's money on some well-chosen CDs instead. The subjects of ``Strong'' seem to be chosen at random. They include several greats from the mighty Memphis soul label Stax: Wilson Pickett, Sam Moore (from Sam & Dave) and Rufus and Carla Rufus and Carla was the moniker Stax Records used when releasing duets by Rufus Thomas and daughter Carla Thomas. They have the distinction of sharing the company's first hit "Cause I Love You" when Stax was briefly known as Satellite Records. Thomas. There's also Philly soul singer Jerry Butler, Chicago vocal group the Chi-Lites and former Supremes backup singer Mary Wilson. Some of these people weren't hard to find. Pickett remains in great voice and unabashedly un·a·bashed adj. 1. Not disconcerted or embarrassed; poised. 2. Not concealed or disguised; obvious: unabashed disgust. explains why it's nothing for him to spend $1,000 for a shirt. Then there's the lovely Carla Thomas, who hasn't performed in probably 30 years but remains a startlingly star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. good singer. Moore, though past his prime, remains capable of wringing the heartache from a good ballad. What's odd about the movie is how the filmmakers treat the subjects as if they've never left the charts. The only survival story we get is a brief anecdote from Moore as he drives past a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. corner where he used to sell drugs. Fan boy Friedman never presses the subject. Later when interviewing Butler, currently the Cook County Commissioner in Chicago, Friedman gushes, ``You're the Iceman Iceman Body of a man found sealed in a glacier in the Tirolean Ötztal Alps in 1991 and dated to 3300 BC. It has revealed significant details of everyday life during the Neolithic Period. and he (Pickett) is a blast of heat!'' Butler looks at Friedman with a bemused contempt and answers, ``Um, OK - I'm not going to mess with that.'' The ``Iceman'' line of questioning Noun 1. line of questioning - an ordering of questions so as to develop a particular argument line of inquiry line of reasoning, logical argument, argumentation, argument, line - a course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating a truth or falsehood; the is about as probing as the fawning fawn 1 intr.v. fawned, fawn·ing, fawns 1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing. 2. Friedman gets. It's like he and the filmmakers still exist in some sort of time warp where these people are performing in sold-out arenas instead of half-empty halls and where Wilson - and not Diana Ross - was the leader of the Supremes. The movie misses countless opportunities to explore the tumult of the musicians' lives, instead settling for bland hero worship. It's embarrassing to watch. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to celebrate these people, too. It's hard to have a good time, though, when you're constantly cringing. ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE - Two stars (PG-13: brief language, a drug reference) Starring: Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Wilson Pickett, Mary Wilson, Sam Moore, the Chi-Lites, Ann Peebles, Jerry Butler. Director: Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker. Running time: 1 hr. 40 min. Playing: ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. In a nutshell: Good music, bad documentary. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Sam Moore of the famed duo Sam & Dave is one of the performers featured in ``Only the Strong Survive.'' |
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