Supersonic (2016, dir. Mat Whitecross)

I was highly anticipating a viewing of this documentary.  In the 90's while I was in high school, Oasis captured my imagination in ways that no other musical act would.  Here was a band from England that captured the spirit of The Beatles and 60's British invasion in an unparalleled fashion.  Noel Gallagher's songwriting was transformative and alluring.  At its best, it spoke to my adolescent longing for freedom, transcendence, and spiritual realization.

Supersonic, the new documentary from director Mat Whitecross highlights the band's coming into being and dominance of the world airwaves at that particular time in the mid-90s.  Seeing it was reliving the excitement and wonder that Oasis were able to embody in their brief but amazing tenure as "the best band in the world."

The documentary is revealing in some of the behind the scenes stories and sibling rivalry that took place in the band's formative years and at the height of their fame.  I was enthralled by the story of a drug mix-up in which the band, thinking they were getting cocaine (their main drug of choice at the time), had actually procured a great quantity of crystal meth.  It effected their behaviour and on-stage performance very adversely.  But it also would lead to the trajectory that would eventually result in Noel's composing of "Talk Tonight" one of the band's most heart-felt and beloved B-sides.

The friction between Noel and lead singer Liam is always at the forefront and it results in some very humourous incidents and soundbites.  It is also interesting to see the way the film delves into the family dynamics in the Gallagher family.  The revelations of a physically abusive and absentee father and a caring, headstrong mother demonstrates the tenuous, fractured family environment that the boys were raised in.

The music is what makes Oasis.  The documentary is never shy about displaying the high-energy songs in all forms:  live, recorded, and in-studio.  It is amazing to see the early recordings of the band before Noel joined, or an early, pre-Be Here Now version of "All Around the World." 

Hopefully, this documentary will initiate a re-assessment of the band whose importance cannot be over-stated.  With the passing of time, their magnitude and ability to capture the zeitgeist should not be forgotten.  Whitecross's documentary does a great job of paying tribute to the band and the time in musical history when Oasis were on top of the world.