"Part of the success of this documentary lies in its coverage of the gig"

Documentaries are often challenging and niche forms of filmmaking , they portray specific areas of interest and music documentaries even more so as the concept of music is a very subjective and personal thing.

Shut Up And Play The Hits is a documentary that charts the build up as well as the aftermath of the final performance from the hugely influential indie band LCD Soundsystem. James Murphy, the bands singer having just turned 40 decided it was time to call it a day on the band that made his name and built up a huge following across the world, so the documentary as well as being a joyous celebration of the music is counteracted by this almost funereal quality. Most films end and there's a sense of a life beyond but in Shut Up And Play The Hits they're marching towards a triumphant and definitive ending

It's fair to say that fans of LCD Soundsystem will get much more fans from this film than those who arent particularly aware of them, nevertheless I think people who havent even heard of them will definately appreciate the impact they have, not just in their music which makes up a large portion of the movie and rightly so, but also the impact on their fans and the people around them.

This final show filmed in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden crowd grabs the camera and screams down the lens with all the passion of somebody who is staring oblivion in the face, which is essentially the fate James Murphy has given himself but rather than making it something to be sad about, Murphy simply puts on the greatest show of his life!

Part of the success of this documentary lies in its coverage of the gig, rather than cutting back and forth to interviews and other scenes, the directors have made a conscious decision to give the audience a full show and let them see songs in their entirety, and for a fan of LCD which I most definitely am its a great way of feeling as though you were a part of this farewell show by experiencing the music the same way the crowd did.

As I said newcomers to the music of LCD won't find it hard to tap their foot along to their pulsing electronic beats , the music is long and occasionally repetitive but Murphy is a master of the build up, starting with the pitter patter of keyboards and gradually building to a soaring crescendo of clattering reverb and synths

The film is as much about music and their gig as it is about the man at the centre of it all, James Murphy. Murphy cuts a lonely figure as the film cleverly paints a realistic portrait of fame and the lifestyle of someone who spends their evenings performing to thousands , dancing like an idiot and singing till his voice is hoarse compared with his alter ego, James Murphy as an ordinary person. A man who lives alone with his pet bull dog, who wears unflattering tartan pyjama bottoms, who enjoys making coffee, it's a life very much at odds with his stage persona. At times, it almost seems like some of these scenes have been lifted straight out of a Miranda July film, Murphy sits cross legged on the floor in silence watching his dog eat food, it feels like a quirky indie movie.

An interview with Murphy runs throughout the film, occasionally poignant questions are put to Murphy such as what was the singular failure of the band, to which Murphy honestly replies 'I dont really know if it's a failure yet, but stopping'. Other questions are simply knowing and pretentious and the interviewer starts to get a little annoying, but for the most part the film retains its very observational approach. It reminded me a lot of Arcade Fire's documentary, Miroir Noir which has a similar format, and ironically Arcade frontman Win Butler turns up for support and even joins Murphy on stage for a song which for me as a huge LCD and Arcade fan was a rather spectacular moment!

Personally, the joy of watching this documentary is the duality of seeing Murphy away from the stage and away from the music, juxtaposed with the footage of him on stage. We see the duality of the band and the fans, and as the gig comes to a climax its genuinely an emotional moment, fans are crying, band members are crying and in one incredibly touching scene after the show is long over, Murphy is asked what he wants to do with the gear which is being kept in a storage unit, after looking around for a few moments he suddenly breaks down in tears.

Obviously fans of the band should see this movie, but I think in general fans of music will appreciate it, Shut Up And Play The Hits is a glorious farewell from a unique band and as much as it is sad and emotional, it's also one hell of a blowout performance!