Review: Walking Down Memory Lane with ‘Beastie Boys Story’
“Now here’s a little story I have to tell…”
Spike Jonze hasn’t made a film in a hot minute. It’s been almost seven years since Her, and while the world was been eagerly awaiting for his cinematic return, Jonze kept himself busy. He’s done some some stage work, a few commercials, and the occasional music video/advertisement hybrid, but not a full length feature like Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, or Where the Wild Things Are. That changes with Beastie Boys Story… well kinda.
Labeled as a ‘Live Documentary Experience,’ this Apple TV+ original sees Jonze returning to the titular band that made him famous twenty-four years ago. However, It’s not what you might expect. This is not a narrative film, nor is it a typical documentary. It’s more like to a taped comedy special where band mates Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz — Mike D and Ad-Rock respectively — are on stage giving an oral history of their careers to a live audience at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. As they speak, archival material is projected behind them with the occasional stage interruption tossed in for good effect.
To be frank, I’m not a die hard Beastie Boys fan. My attachment to the band amasses to programming Jonze's famous “Sabotage” music video for my university film club’s music video night, and anthem singing said song with my friends in Rock Band during all hours of the night at my sixth grade sleepover birthday party— to both my mom and dad, I am truly… sincerely sorry you had to endure that. As such, my approach coming into this doc is much more geared towards being a fan of Spike Jonze rather than that of the subjects themselves. For fans of the Beastie Boys, I think this is something you’ll thoroughly enjoy. For fans of Spike Jonze, you might not get what you’re expecting, *but* since when has doing something expected been apart of Spike’s M.O.?
The film appropriately begins with the baseline to “Sabotage” set against a flurry montage of best-of clips and fans at the Brooklyn event, quickly establishing the band’s lasting legacy and appeal. After getting a condensed thesis, you’re quickly settled into the documentary’s ‘live’ format. Written by Jonze, Diamond, and Horovitz, the stage show dons a scripted structure where two people walk down memory lane in a theatrical setting telling you their life story, what they learned, what they experienced, and why it mattered.
While Diamond, and Horovitz are speaking, Jonze is directing both the doc and the stage show, making him the one in charge of the media mixing going on. At times, the doc can play conventionally with Diamond and Horovitz essentially serving as talking heads paired with documentary footage, but it can also break that form and interact within the physical show setting. Jonze isn’t afraid to interject over the mic, the two friends can mime things out, and they can go off script. Through and through, though, this is a live show you’ll find at your city’s Paramount or Roxy theater that has been recorded for your home viewing pleasure.
The story itself is centered around friendship, how three friends could meet in their young teens, bond over music, start a band, find success, develop as individuals, and still be friends into their fifties through it all — a band not torn apart by stardom, but made stronger in spite of it. In this context, the notion of Adam Yauch’s passing is made all the more somber. A great deal of the doc is a tribute to the deceased band mate’s character. The affection to which Yauch is described can only be made possible by two individuals who knew him for thirty years, and through them, we come to understand how charismatic, influential, and talented he was. Regardless of how you come down on Beastie Boys’ music, you can appreciate the kinship amongst friends painted by Diamond and Horovitz’s words.
Perhaps this isn’t the return to form many cinephiles wanted from Jonze, but it’s certainly something new. If there’s anything I’ve come to know about Spike Jonze that he seemingly likes to expand his creative abilities. When you look at his body of work, he’s done a variety of projects in different mediums that indicates a willingness to take on projects removed from his prior work. But no matter what he decides to do, rest assured his signature flourishes will shine through, and that’s no different here.
