Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus: Watch “Pavements”
Reviewing Alex Ross Perry’s "Pavements" feels almost impossible. For non-fans of Pavement, this two-hour documentary might leave you walking out of the theatre thinking, “What the fuck did I just watch?” Meanwhile, die-hard fans hoping for groundbreaking insights into the beloved slacker indie-rock band may find little that’s truly revelatory. But here’s the thing: the documentary’s flaws are precisely what makes it brilliant.
At its core, "Pavements" is a love letter to the band’s legacy—unhinged, unconventional, and unapologetically true to the chaotic essence of Pavement. Perry’s approach is hilariously satirical yet sincere, blending sarcasm and slacker charm into a film that perfectly embodies the band’s ethos. It’s more about capturing a vibe than uncovering deep lore, and that’s what makes it work.
The documentary blurs the line between fact and fiction, weaving through several loosely connected narratives. It begins by following Pavement’s 2022 reunion tour preparations, including glimpses of the quirky “Pavement Museum,” an exhibition of archival footage and band artifacts. (I’d time-travel to 2022 just to visit this!) From there, it introduces Perry’s jukebox musical, "Slanted! Enchanted!", loosely inspired by the band, as well as the development of the fictional Hollywood biopic "Range Life," starring Joe Keery, Jason Schwartzman, Nat Wolff, and others. Keery’s portrayal of Stephen Malkmus is particularly hilarious, with behind-the-scenes footage of him preparing for the role and stealing the show. While the focus on the musical is engaging, I wish the film spent more time on the fictional biopic. The "Range Life" timeline, especially with Keery’s comedic brilliance, is one of the documentary’s standout elements, and the recurring gag of ‘Oscar Nominee Joe Keery” is golden. The film is a chaotic, genre-blurring ride, and what makes it so remarkable is how it feels like something born from the creative depths of Wattpad or Tumblr. It’s as if someone channeled the wild imagination of those platforms and pitched it directly to Perry. The result is something uniquely, gloriously chaotic.
Watching this at the Globe Cinema during Calgary Underground Film Festival’s 12th Documentary Film Festival was an unmatched experience. I’ve been aware of this film for months now and the moment I found out that it was playing during CUFFDocs, I had to go. Hearing one of the lead programmers, Brennan Tilley introduce the film and express the love he has for the band truly encapsulates the essence of the impact Pavement had on the lives of many. From hearing the belly laughs erupt in the theatre, Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements is the ultimate love letter to the band and ultimately a love letter to music.
The Alberta premiere of “Pavements” at CUFF.docs takes place on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Tickets are available for purchase at www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org.