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‘Pavements’ takes lovable liberties with the facts, delivering a ’90s indie-rock band in full

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To start off, “Pavement,” directed by Alex Ross Perry, is an experimental documentary titled “Pavements” that explores the ‘90s indie-rock icons Pavement. The film labels them as “The World’s Most Important and Influential Band,” a title that appears to be meant to make them uncomfortable, especially their modest frontman, Stephen Malkmus. However, it’s clear that Pavement was never like U2 or Nirvana. Their image and music don’t align with such an extravagant term as “important.” Furthermore, the raw emotions in Kurt Cobain’s lyrics stand in stark contrast to Malkmus’s clever refrigerator magnet poetry, characterized by its witty puns and unusual pairings.

And yet, let’s speak this part softly: Perry genuinely admires the groundbreaking brilliance of Pavement. With his film “Pavements,” he’s striving valiantly to encapsulate the band’s spirit. However, it’s not an effortless task, as the gritty aspects of this tale can’t be smoothed over into a movie like “Bohemian Rhapsody” or a TV special on VH1’s “Behind the Music.” Instead, what Perry has accomplished might be best described by the title of Pavement’s 1992 hit album, “Slanted and Enchanted.

Navigating through “Pavements” might be challenging for those not already fans, as even devoted followers may need to adapt to this intricate, multi-faceted tribute to the band’s history. Currently, Perry chronicles the build-up to the band’s 2022 reunion tour, a significant event being only their second joint outing since their split in the year 2000. Notably, Scott Kannberg, Pavement’s second guitarist and vocalist, better known as “Spiral Stairs,” recalls the financial struggles he faced before a 2010 reunion, considering taking a job as a Seattle bus driver. Despite Malkmus retaining his lean, youthful West Coast charm, even approaching late middle age, the quintet appears older and wiser, no longer shackled by their complex relationship with fame.

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Film director Alex Ross Perry decided to delve into the unusual story of ’90s alternative rock legends, not sticking strictly to facts, but instead touching upon something profoundly accurate.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I’d say that Pavement didn’t follow the typical rise-and-fall pattern of a rock band; instead, they defied conventions. In crafting their documentary, director Lance Perry and Robert Greene, our esteemed filmmaker, layer their history like the delicate layers of a choux pastry. They intertwine tour footage with three unique events that weave a captivating tapestry of whimsical mythology.

First, t Enchanted!” and a mock Hollywood biopic titled “Range Life.” The latter features a young, recognizable cast led by Joe Keery as Malkmus. Even though Pavement didn’t quite conquer the mainstream, Lance Perry lets his imagination run wild to depict them as a platinum-selling cultural phenomenon—even if it means rewriting their history from scratch.

Pavement, being a band that doesn’t stick around in one spot for too long, manages to piece together a basic timeline of its history. From its origins in the suburbs of Stockton, California, through its early stages at the University of Virginia, to the release of several singles and EPs that culminated in five complete albums across the 1990s. Perry and Greene allow significant cultural events to convey their message: a tour opening for Sonic Youth where they learned humility, Malkmus’ criticisms of Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots in ‘Range Life’, the mockery by Beavis and Butt-Head of the video for ‘Rattled by the Rush’, and an unfortunate afternoon performance at Lollapalooza 1995 where the crowd in West Virginia, growing restless, threw mud at them.

In a somewhat unusual twist, “Pavements” manages to navigate through the bullet points and indulge in fantasies as much as possible. The backstage footage of Perry’s Pavement musical production is the most captivating part of the film, offering an unexpected joy in witnessing theater enthusiasts singing and dancing to a repertoire that seems to challenge their inherent sincerity. Hearing a subdued, evocative piece like the 1997 track “Fin” being performed by a choir of polished vocalists reinforces Perry’s conviction that Malkmus’ songs have the power to surpass their original form. As you watch a series of enthusiastic youngsters attempting lyrics such as “You can never quarantine the past,” you might find yourself chuckling, and then, with equal surprise, concede that it truly sounds impressive.

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Instead of the movie-within-a-movie titled “Range Life,” it’s actually a deception cleverly disguised as a mockery of Method acting. The character Perry delves into the art of getting ready for a role in an unconventional manner, much like Greene’s 2016 documentary “Kate Plays Christine,” which chronicled Kate Lyn Sheil’s investigation into the real-life tragic figure, Christine Chubbuck. To portray the elusive Malkmus convincingly, Kerry undertakes extreme and frequently amusing measures, such as visiting the Whitney Museum where Malkmus used to work as a security guard and attempting to capture a photograph of his tongue for a more accurate representation of his “vocal fry.” As he studies an iPhone image of Malkmus’ mouth, Kerry reflects thoughtfully, “All my preparation stems from this source.

Approximately 2 hours in length, “Pavements” may seem somewhat reminiscent of the band’s infamously irregular 1995 album “Wowee Zowee,” which was a double album with just three sides. However, the slightly disorganized structure of “Pavements” mirrors those who appreciate the band’s artistic rebelliousness. It also seems fitting alongside Perry’s last fiction film from 2018, “Her Smell,” which heavily references the life of Hole’s lead singer Courtney Love and concludes a chaotic two-hour narrative with a stunningly beautiful finale.

1995 saw Hole and Pavement both gracing the main stage at Lollapalooza – an evening audience was more captivated by Love’s performance, while during the day, Malkmus held sway. In two different movies, Perry paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of the ‘Alternative Nation’ era, where personalities like Love and Malkmus significantly impacted their listeners. Despite not always blending seamlessly, Perry skillfully highlights their shared tones. However, there remains a considerable gap between Love’s emotionally raw, arena-suitable ballads and Malkmus’ complex lyrics and creative deconstruction. “Pavement” songs retain their mysterious charm by employing a blend of irony and misdirection, making them delightfully hard to fully understand.

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2025-05-09 03:31

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