Dalbert Pringle Without a doubt - When speaking about the British music scene of the 1980's - ("blue-eyed soul" rockers) Spandau Ballet (amongst several other notable bands) were the ones who, most definitely, helped shape and define that unique era in pop music history.Impressively directed by George Hencken - "Soul Boys Of The Western World" tells the intriguing and eye-opening story of the meteoric rise, the double-crossing fall, and the eventual (but at first reluctant) reunion of Spandau Ballet.Through interviews, stills, and an absolutely amazing collection of vintage film clips (chronicling London's youth culture movement, circa 1975-1985) - This exceptional documentary is a first-rate production that I highly recommend to all who are interested in pop music of yesteryear.This is one of the best presentations of its kind that I've seen in a mighty long time. I hope that you will agree.

Coolestmovies 80's pop music "trendsetters" Spandau Ballet -- an arguable term if you look at their limited supply of #1 hits and garish taste in stage fashion versus the street clothing the world around them is seen wearing in archive footage featured herein -- are given bog standard rock doc treatment in SOUL BOYS OF THE WESTERN WORLD, an overlong, not particularly revelatory and utterly TV-worthy "behind-the-music-but-not-too-deep"-style documentary about the self-possessed members of the group. Their stereotypical ascent to international stardom from blue collar roots during particularly tumultuous times in Britain, their handful of hit songs, eventual breakup, largely-forgotten court battle and successful 2009 reunion are covered via extensive vintage clips and painfully canned voice-over from the band members (so rehearsed-sounding, in fact, that a writer should probably have been credited), but the whole thing is soft-pedaled to the degree that it becomes obvious the subjects are participating largely to drum up interest in yet another reunion circa the film's release in 2014. Professionally assembled by director George Hencken, a producer on several little-seen documentaries by Julian Temple, this show will undoubtedly delight now-middle aged fans, but others may be less enthralled, as the finished product -- perhaps unintentionally -- sketches these chaps as no less superficial than most pop acts of their ilk, and just as full of themselves.

davideo-2 STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning In Islington, North London, at the height of the glam/punk rock era, four boys, including two brothers, came together to form their own band, Spandau Ballet, who , influenced by the soul/blues music they had grown up on, developed their own distinctive style, in music and fashion, that came to be known as the New Romantic trend. They notched up a string of chart successes throughout the 1980s, starting with the enigmatic To Cut a Long Story Short, all the way to their seminal 1983 chart hit and enduring favourite True. From here, they ascended on a kaleidoscopic rise to the top, before internal disputes and dwindling relevance split them apart and took them in other directions.Many years on, and the relevance of the top musical groups who dominated the 80s music scene is still in evidence today, with 80s nostalgia at quite a remarkable height. Spandau Ballet, the subject of this in depth musical autobiography, even enjoyed a sold out tour last year, which is testament to their enduring popularity, among older, more seasoned fans and new discoverers of their work. While their own recollections and evaluations of their cultural footprint are no doubt from the horse's mouth, it's hard not to think of all those outside the band's dynamic, who would have been witness to their success (record producers, music journalists, DJs, etc., of the time) which this chooses to ignore, instead concentrating solely on the guys in the bad, delivering voiceovers describing their own wild, hedonistic adventures at the time.This doesn't detract from the film as such, because the boys own recollections are, in themselves, perfectly fun enough, re-living the height of their fame with all the energy and gusto as if they were really re-living them again right now, injecting the proceedings with enough wild distraction to keep you glued. It would just have been nice to have heard some outside contributions from time to time, instead of all just feeling like some big, personal love in that newcomers to SB just wouldn't be able to take in, and that, at worst, could smack a little of self indulgence. Nudging over the hour and a half mark a little bit, and just summarily glossing over some of the group's post band hurdles (i.e. Martin's brain tumour, the court battle for song royalties), it's a high energy thrill ride for the band and their lovers, without some personal touches that could have made it shine for an outside heart. ***

kiss_the_pussycats Can't believe nobody has written anything about this awesome movie yet! It was very well cut and edited- 2 hours long and not a single boring bit. Photos and video footages from the dawn of the band in the 70's are incredible- lots of hipstery- in a good way- party people are genuine and quickly evolving. They're the ones who really make the effort to look special for good parties. Learned about the "it" clubs- Blitz and Beetroot. You can tell there was good music, fun scene with a diverse mix, and clubs today try to keep it that way too, the spirit hasn't changed. For the band itself well go watch this and find out. These guys are the dream team.