| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Meeting People Is Easy: A Film About Radiohead
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
When most people see a disc called "Meeting People Is Easy" in my collection, they assume I'm a sad, lonely person, and...regardless of whether or not that's the case..."Meeting People Is Easy" isn't quite the sort of disc the title suggests.
"Meeting People Is Easy" is a documentary by Grant Gee, and the subject is Radiohead, during their promotional tour for "OK Computer". Gee, not content to simply photograph the band, makes some very interesting choices, using security cameras and filming a television in a green room while the band performs on Letterman, along with concert footage, some behind-the-scenes stuff, parts of interviews... I haven't really heard much of Radiohead's music, but I liked this very different sort of documentary that focuses on a side of the music industry that's often ignored. "Meeting People Is Easy" doesn't paint the generic "poor rock star" image, but it at least seems to be a very unbiased look at the strains and pressures of being in a successful but misunderstood band making the promotional rounds.
Video: Grant Gee used a tremendous different number of sources for the film, ranging from professionally shot film to security cameras, which are, of course, of greatly varying quality. This isn't a glossy, pristine looking film, nor is "Meeting People Is Easy" intended to be. A handful of segments look wonderful, so from that, I'm guessing that the sloppier-looking portions are presented as they're intended. The image is full-frame, by the way.
Audio: My receiver doesn't handle DTS (sobs!), so I can't comment on the DTS track on "Meeting People Is Easy", but I can say a little something about the DD 5.1 track. First of all...wow! Out of all the discs I own, I can't recall one where the rears were ever so loud. The volume there is only rather high at the beginning and a couple other points, and I'm not really complaining, but...it's different. Similar to the video, the quality of the audio isn't entirely consistent. "Meeting People Is Easy" was recorded over a lengthy period of time, and not every second is going to be recorded pristinely...the dialogue never disappointing or excessively difficult to understand. The music, aside from segments where it's intentionally distorted or slightly odd-sounding, is crystal-clear and sounds wonderful, and some of the unusual sound effects are also pretty impressive. The level of bass is incredible, and a couple of times I got up just to touch my sub during some extremely bassy parts. Yes, I'm weird. "Meeting People Is Easy" had been sitting on my shelf for over a year until I pulled it out for another spin, and I had completely forgotten how spectacular this disc sounds. Oh, and a 2.0 surround track is also available. "Meeting People Is Easy" is a five-star effort all the way.
Supplements: Nothing. Not even chapter stops. Seeing as how so many of the performances in the film were short excerpts, it would've been nice for complete versions of at least one or two songs to be available on the disc.
Conclusion: If you're a Radiohead fan, then you probably already have this disc. If you're just a casual fan, "Meeting People Is Easy" will likely try your patience. It's a pretty disjointed documentary, and although I liked it somewhat, I'd imagine that opinions will vary widely. I recommend it.
"Meeting People Is Easy" is a documentary by Grant Gee, and the subject is Radiohead, during their promotional tour for "OK Computer". Gee, not content to simply photograph the band, makes some very interesting choices, using security cameras and filming a television in a green room while the band performs on Letterman, along with concert footage, some behind-the-scenes stuff, parts of interviews... I haven't really heard much of Radiohead's music, but I liked this very different sort of documentary that focuses on a side of the music industry that's often ignored. "Meeting People Is Easy" doesn't paint the generic "poor rock star" image, but it at least seems to be a very unbiased look at the strains and pressures of being in a successful but misunderstood band making the promotional rounds.
Video: Grant Gee used a tremendous different number of sources for the film, ranging from professionally shot film to security cameras, which are, of course, of greatly varying quality. This isn't a glossy, pristine looking film, nor is "Meeting People Is Easy" intended to be. A handful of segments look wonderful, so from that, I'm guessing that the sloppier-looking portions are presented as they're intended. The image is full-frame, by the way.
Audio: My receiver doesn't handle DTS (sobs!), so I can't comment on the DTS track on "Meeting People Is Easy", but I can say a little something about the DD 5.1 track. First of all...wow! Out of all the discs I own, I can't recall one where the rears were ever so loud. The volume there is only rather high at the beginning and a couple other points, and I'm not really complaining, but...it's different. Similar to the video, the quality of the audio isn't entirely consistent. "Meeting People Is Easy" was recorded over a lengthy period of time, and not every second is going to be recorded pristinely...the dialogue never disappointing or excessively difficult to understand. The music, aside from segments where it's intentionally distorted or slightly odd-sounding, is crystal-clear and sounds wonderful, and some of the unusual sound effects are also pretty impressive. The level of bass is incredible, and a couple of times I got up just to touch my sub during some extremely bassy parts. Yes, I'm weird. "Meeting People Is Easy" had been sitting on my shelf for over a year until I pulled it out for another spin, and I had completely forgotten how spectacular this disc sounds. Oh, and a 2.0 surround track is also available. "Meeting People Is Easy" is a five-star effort all the way.
Supplements: Nothing. Not even chapter stops. Seeing as how so many of the performances in the film were short excerpts, it would've been nice for complete versions of at least one or two songs to be available on the disc.
Conclusion: If you're a Radiohead fan, then you probably already have this disc. If you're just a casual fan, "Meeting People Is Easy" will likely try your patience. It's a pretty disjointed documentary, and although I liked it somewhat, I'd imagine that opinions will vary widely. I recommend it.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||