“I’m the wrong kind of person to be really big and famous.” – Elliott Smith
May 19th, 2014: With such a strong aversion to the fame game, how is it that Elliott Smith found himself nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 70th Academy Awards? Gus Van Sant’s Goodwill Hunting was the sleeper Indie hit movie of 1997 and “Miss Misery” was the breakout Indie-Folk song that catapulted Smith into the Simon and Garfunkel of our generation. Channeling more Simon than Garfunkel, Smith became the face, the voice and the struggles of our youth. And with that came all the trappings and pressures of a devouring American music industry that ran counter to his ideal. “Heaven Adores You: An Elliott Smith Project” beautifully narrates the toilsome life of the Elliott Smith very few knew but so many adored.
For all his years of Portlandia seasoning that help create this ethereal sound, Smith’s formative years were spend in Dallas Texas with music as the centerpiece. Protracted basement sessions with bandmates cultivated a hard rock holler that would mellow over time into that hauntingly lucent voice always heavy with meaning that pushed the everyman narrative which became his signature. Along with that came an introspective and mature song writing pedigree that belied his age. The dynamics of family life were fairly typical of a middle income upbringing. The only hint of dissension was the chasm that existed between Elliott and his Psychiatrist father that was never really explained. But, from its wake came the fertile offerings of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle and the move to new beginnings.
Director, Nickolas Rossi fastened a compelling biopic through a series of mostly off camera Q and A radio interviews from station KCRW and KBOO. With each pointed question serving as a unique jumping off points into Smith’s carefully guarded personal life, we are given an uneasy entry into his world. And, even with the comfort and security of his ever growing following, Smith never truly lets his guard down or for that matter, us in. From managers to publicists, interviews to agents Rossi captured Smith’s dulcet tones conveying the personal struggles and angst that engulf every fiber of his being.
By 1998, the evolution of the Elliott Smith brand was now elevated to world touring status hot off the success of his XO album. Anonymity was not part of Smith’s vernacular anymore. A new label and a new love but still his trifecta of demons (depression, alcoholism and drug dependence) remained constant in his ever expanding musical solar system. The incredible power of Smith’s prolific song writing fills every corner of this documentary as any worthy musical biopic worth its salt should. With a body of work encompassing 6 albums, 3 of which are solo project, Rossi mines a wealth of material to incorporate and he chooses wisely.
Even more appealing for Smith purists is his affront to the pre-fab conformity driving the American music industry. An industry that churns out slick, pre-packaged, formulaic pop idols with limited talent and even less shelf life. Smith is refreshingly none of the above. With Amish frumpiness, a craggy face and hair that have seen better days, Elliott Smith was the epitome of substance over style. A heretic against the Beiberization of the American music scene, Smith heady soulful musings could quiet a room with an intensity and anticipation that bonded his followers as one. Songs that painted acoustic and lyrical vistas of life’s imperfection, individuality, fears and loves were only part of his bounty. A bounty that was never fully realized in a life cut short.
Verdict: 4.5 out of 5: With such a short window into the life of a true American poet, Heaven Adores You brings to the fore, with convincing detail, a sombre character study into the life of Elliott Smith. A discography where Stranger Than Fiction becomes Harum Scarum, becomes Murder of Crows, becomes Heatmiser that eventually became Elliott Smith. A strong musical aesthetic of concert footage, session recordings, Impromptu jams and performances further solidifies the narrative. Rossi’s pushes the boundaries once again by combining the lush Pacific Northwest aerial cinematography with the dreamy lyrics of Elliott Smith creating a transcendental cinematic experience. Capturing the push and pull of everyday life, Heaven Adores You segues effortlessly through the trials of a poet as we witness both the beauty and torturous struggles of an artist fully immersed in his art.
Heaven may adore you but we adored you more.
Genre: Documentary / Biopic
Country: USA
Year: May 10th, 2014
Language: English
Director: Nickolas Dylan Rossi
Producers: J.T. Gurzi, Marc Smolowitz, Nickolas Dylan Rossi, Kevin Moyer
Runtime: 104 Minutes
Premiere: International
Festival: Canadian Music Week Film Festival
Website: http://heavenadoresyou.com/
Cast: Rossie Harris, Jon Brion, Chris Douridas, Kevin Moyer, Autumn DeWilde, Mark Flanagan, John Chandler, Rob Sacher, Aaron Espinoza, Joanna Bolme, Dorien Garry, Pete Krebs, Steve “Pickle” Pickering, Janel Jarosz
Discography
Studio albums
Roman Candle (1994)
Elliott Smith (1995)
Either/Or (1997)
XO (1998)
Figure 8 (2000)
Posthumous albums From a Basement on the Hill (2004)
New Moon (2007)
