The new documentary, Liam: As it Was, opens with footage from that infamous night in Paris in 2009 when the Gallagher brothers finally called it a day. It then focuses on the period after Oasis split, as Liam formed the new band Beady Eye and eventually embarked on a solo career. There’s no Definitely Maybe here and not even a mention of Knebsworth.
Perhaps it was tactical, with 2016’s excellent Supersonic tackling the first few years of Oasis and the problems inherent from the very beginning. Either way, Liam: As it Was is a different beast and is more in line with other modern documentaries of contemporary artists. It’s not exactly generic but it’s not quite as exciting as the man himself.
The Shock of the Lightning Quick Pace
From the opening minutes, it’s clear that directors Charlie Lightening and Gavin Fitzgerald have made some interesting decisions. They opt to show Oasis’ split and the subsequent two-album burst of Beady Eye in just the first twenty minutes, therefore ignoring much of the downfall of the original band. The film is much more concerned with the rise and fall of the solo artist Liam Gallagher. There’s merit in this, but by breezing past much of the fallout of his downward spiral, the rebirth lacks the emotional punch it could have otherwise possessed. The arguments and the fights are only briefly touched on. The years-long personal struggles only warrant a few minutes of screen time. A week in Palma is played like the fix to all of Gallagher’s problems. It’s all a little too nice and tidy, as the film shifts quickly to his first solo studio album.
The film takes its time then to focus in on the actual music of Gallagher. Nobody will ever mistake him for a song writing genius as he would certainly acknowledge, but he is as charismatic and compelling as ever, and on the stage, he remains a bona fide rock and roll star. The film does well to pitch Gallagher as a man very much alone in the music world after the collapse of Oasis and Beady Eye. A frontman without any songs to sing. Seeing him work in the studio and hearing the words of his new bandmates and producers puts into perspective just how attuned his musical ear actually is.
This is when the film first hits some sort of stride. Snippets of the musical process will forever be fascinating, especially in the case of Gallagher as he adapts to new surroundings. This after all, is not just another album, but a first step in a new career, and the film does well to portray the excitement and nerves that comes from this. As repeatedly mentioned in the film, this isn’t just another singer from an indie band releasing a first solo album, this is Liam Gallagher.
The film then jumps quickly from gig to gig, enthusiastic crowd to enthusiastic crowd. It is obvious that if not quite comparable to the Oasis heyday, Gallagher is still back in a big way. The multi-generational appeal of Gallagher is pushed here, as he draws massive audiences to Glastonbury and sold out arenas. The film does well to parallel footage from Oasis’ manic tours and Gallagher’s recent ones, showing interactions with fans across the world. We see Liam’s personable and generous side in these short moments.
Keeping the Rock and Roll Star Front and Centre
It is a great strength of the film, that it takes time to focus on Liam the person rather than just the persona portrayed so often in the media. Visits to his mother and his childhood home, as well as trips with his family to Los Angeles and San Francisco show a different side to him. It’s not exactly ground-breaking filmmaking but it’s refreshing to see Gallagher as he is now in his mid-forties, not, ironically, as he was. In these moments, with the star front and centre, telling stories and cracking jokes, interacting with his family and his fans, the film is at its best.
That is because the film’s best weapon is obviously Liam himself. Although some will love him and some will hate him, it’s impossible to deny that Gallagher is always fascinating to watch. He always toes the line between pearls of Mancunian wisdom and a load of nonsense. So even when the documentary isn’t exactly riveting, the focus on Liam means it’s always interesting enough.
The Shadow of Noel
As it Was could never avoid the question of Noel, and the filmmakers are smart enough to tackle it head on. It is after all a crucial part of Liam’s subsequent progression as a solo artist. Liam has never been shy of approaching the subject and so the filmmakers give him plenty of time to do so. From the beginning until the very end there are constant snippets from and about Noel.
It is clear that the breakdown between them remains a constant sore spot in the younger Gallagher’s life. The brief moments where the subject is breached between Liam and his mother subtly highlight the pain that still pervades. Even though the shadow of Noel is addressed, it again begs the question why more of the issues post-2009 were left on the cutting room floor. Perhaps they could’ve made this even more of an affecting watch.
As it Was: Conclusion
Much like Gallagher himself these days, Liam: As it Was is a tided up version of the rock-and-roll star’s story. It’s not exactly plain, nothing with the eccentric Gallagher at the centre of it can be, but it’s a rather run of the mill artist biography. It’s a story of revival and progress that leaves the grittier aspects (mostly) in the past, instead focusing on the new man that is Liam Gallagher.
Do you think we needed another Gallagher brothers documentary? Are you going to be rushing out to see it or re-watching Supersonic instead? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch Liam Gallagher: As It Was
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