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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Only deep-seated musical snobbery would hinder enjoyment of this definitive, authorised, fastidious, and perhaps overlong telling of the Spandau Ballet story, which restores credibility to the "blue-eyed soul" quintet who were unjustly dismissed as opportunistic clotheshorses. From early school band stirrings during punk and overnight notoriety as dandyish leaders of London's Blitz club scene, to international stadium glory in the 1980s and the obligatory acrimonious split and legal battle, George Hencken's stringently archive-built approach boasts the rollercoaster momentum of many classic rock and pop biopics. It's illuminated with valuable home-movie footage, while commentary by the unseen band members lends first-person authenticity - undermined only when the links are clearly read (most glaringly by bassist-turned-actor Martin Kemp). For a band so stylish, the design is pedestrian, and the use of "serious" hit Through the Barricades to soundtrack footage of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the release of Nelson Mandela is somewhat spurious. But you'd need a hard heart not to be upstanding for the climactic, healing reunion in 2009.

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Credits

Cast

rolename
Tony HadleyTony Hadley
Martin KempMartin Kemp
Gary KempGary Kemp
John KeebleJohn Keeble
Steve NormanSteve Norman

Crew

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DirectorGeorge Hencken

Details

Theatrical distributor
Metrodome
Released on
2014-09-26
Languages
English
Guidance
Swearing, sexual/drug references.
Available on
DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour
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