Wednesday, 2 November 2016

The Masterplan: Review of Oasis: Supersonic

Oasis: Supersonic

Director: Mat Whitecross

By Alex Watson



While it's disappointing that director Mat Whitecross doesn't go as deep as required, Oasis: Supersonic is still a thoroughly entertaining documentary that captures the mania, egos and music of Oasis' at peak form. The continual knife edge relationship between the Gallagher brothers is well presented because they were the factor that both drove and eventually killed the band. The brothers along with an impressive variety of other commentators make for some great and brutally honest storytelling. Ever 90's kid who still has their worn copies of What's The Story (Morning Glory) will go away with a big smile.

Both starting and closing at the now legendary 1996 Knebworth gigs where Oasis performed to over 250,000 fans over two nights, we see them on top of the world. As the opening chords to 'Columbia' begin to roll, it's like you are being transported back to a very special time. The brothers were continually at each other's throats, even during childhood when forced to share a room while being raised by their Irish mother in Burnage, Manchester. While Noel is on tour in the 80's with Inspiral Carpets, Liam forms the band along with guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan and drummer Tony McCarroll and Noel soon followed suit, making his presence felt immediately. Their rise to the top began with a real chance opportunity when they blagged their way into King Tut's Wah Wah in Glasgow and performed a gig to seven people. Just so happened that Creation Records founder, Alan McGhee was in attendance and signed them immediately.

One element to Oasis: Supersonic that Whitecross has pinned down is that he makes full use of the Gallagher brothers storytelling and this along with a series of animated sequences provide Oasis fans with what they need. From starting performing at the Broadwalk in Manchester, in such a short time they were under the tabloid spotlight. This pressure caused friction in the band almost immediately and in unflinching honesty, such as after making their first EP 'Definitely Maybe' almost nothing happened for two years. The first part of the movie does trace the band's origins and refreshingly portrays Oasis as a group of lads from a council estate who just liked smoking pot and making music. Their desire to just make money and sell records would ultimately make the difference. While there are disputes galore, Whitecross does delve into what precisely drove Noel's now famous lyrics, such as the fact that he wrote their debut song 'Supersonic' in a manner of minutes.

As Noel, himself denotes, "Trouble seemed to find us" and thoroughly this picture that it is very much the case. While Definitely Maybe became the fast selling album in UK history, the band made a name for their loutish behavior instantly. Both brothers gleefully tell the story of how their first ever overseas gig never took place due to Liam and others getting involved in a mass brawl on the ferry across. The sequences of their 'first trip in a jumbo' across to Japan and the USA are the most entertaining, the Far East is where Oasis had their first taste of superstardom and they clearly still love every minute of it. The US was a far more difficult experience as audiences at the height of grunge failed to really gear into the band's act. Their shambolic make or break gig at LA's legendary Whiskey-A-Go-Go where Liam was high on Crystal Meth was a rare bad side to their quick ascent. The tension on this leg forced Noel to briefly flee the band.

The continual simmering feud between the brothers is what fuels Oasis: Supersonic and Whitecross firmly uses this as the selling point. While there was a lot of violence, such as a lengthy sequence which denotes Noel attacking Liam with a cricket bat when he brought back people from the pub while Noel was recording. There is also an ounce of respect for each other "I wish I could rock a parka like that man!" says the older Gallagher. Liam's cocky attitude and Noel's more hard-nosed approach were like fire and ice in the early days, but neither would be where they are without the other. One key sequence sees the return of their abusive father Thomas, who surfaces during their Morning Glory high point with a journalist during a gig in Dublin. Liam wants to knock the seven bells out of father and his abuse has long afflicted him, Noel, however, is there talking his little brother down and forcing him to take the high road. This display of brotherly love gives us a glimpse how deep the bond between the two goes.

While for the most part, Whitecross' picture is an entertaining affair, this rose-tinted view of the Oasis heyday gets frustrating. Yes, it is still glorious witnessing the music and live gigs at Maine Road during their peak. Not once does he delve into their notable 'Cool Britannia' rivalry with Blur or the time Noel stated he hoped they 'die of AIDS' or the decline that started with their overblown third album 'Be Here Now' The picture ends with the band on top after their Knebworth shows and there is no hint towards the eventual decline and animosity that would lead to the Brothers final fall out before a 2009 gig at Rock En Seine in Paris. What could have been one of rock's most potent doc pictures is annoyingly incomplete and while Whitecross clearly has a ball showing the band's glory days, you end up feeling like Noel after his Brit Awards triumph in 1996 shouting "NO, I WANT MORE!"

Oasis: Supersonic is a movie that leaves us mostly satisfied and will give its fair share of belly laughs. The Gallaghers make for great commentators and seeing Britpop at its highest does bring back great memories. If only, Whitecross had gone deeper this would have been one of the pieces of the year.

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