Fearless Freaks: The Wondrously Improbable Story of the Flaming Lips DVD Review:

As close as filmmakers try to get to their subjects as they begin making their rock documentaries, they may never get as close as Bradley Beesley has gotten with Fearless Freaks. Director Beesley spent fifteen years as a close friend and aspiring filmmaker to gather over four-hundred hours of footage of the eclectic band The Flaming Lips. As a neighbor and close friend Beeley had the opportunity to achieve a close and personal documentation of the band and of a lifestyle they lived, creating a documentary so incredibly personal that one of the band members even allows him to film concrete evidence of a heavy drug addiction.

The Flaming Lips, which is ultimately made up of Wayne, Steven, and Michael, began as a punk band which wasn’t all that interested in being good. They were more interested in just having fun. Even when a member of the band wasn’t able to play the instrument he claimed he could play they didn’t get rid of him because they liked him. As the band actually begins to develop a following they became one of the most experimental bands in rock, both recording and performing. With Wayne’s hard working personality and bizarre ideas, The Flaming Lips quickly gained a reputation as a great band to watch perform. Each concert promised something new and entertaining, whether it was lights, costumes, theatrical blood, balloons, confetti, or the famous plastic ball Wayne entered and crowd surfed in.

As the band matured they begin to explore new areas. For Wayne it was a movie he decided to make in his back yard called Christmas on Mars, starring members of the band. For Steven, unfortunately, it was an addiction to heroin. Some of the most powerful footage explores Steven’s amazing mind, despite the fact that his body is rotting with addiction. Equally amazing is the way the rest of the band allows him to continue till near death as long as he can still perform.

The Flaming Lips is anything but ordinary, and Fearless Freaks captures every unique element with care and accuracy that only a close friend could achieve. By the finish of the film the members of the band had exposed themselves so much that I felt I knew them, and much more important than that, I had developed a deep appreciation for their music.

As if the extremely personal documentary was not enough, there are over 90 minutes of special features in this two disc set. The second disc includes live clips, photo slide shows, deleted scenes, and outtakes. There is also a commentary track on the first disc with the director and the band. Although the special features come nowhere near as interesting as the feature, hardcore fans will appreciate the extras. There is also a great insert in the DVD with insight from Wayne Coyne.



Ryan Izay