The Velvet Underground

audience Reviews

, 80% Audience Score
  • Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    VELVET UNDERGROUND effectively invokes the experimental nature of the band in relating their story and enduring legacy, creating an interesting portrait of both the band and the era that informs and entertains, whether you're a fan or not.
  • Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    A confession first, I'm a huge fan of The Velvet Underground. This movie really focuses closely on the influences, relationships, and musical processes, The Velvet Underground developed in their short and influencial reign. Some great archival footage, and most of the talking heads are amazing, and give us a real feel of the 1960's - 70's NYC art scene. One of 2021's best movies.
  • Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    Todd Haynes deft directorial touch, great raw footage, storytelling and the sublime talent of the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol make for a crowning achievement. The meteoric rise and fall of this pioneering underground band is very interesting and speaks to the torturous genius of Lou Reed. The great candid interviews with stakeholders rounds out film.
  • Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    Well-made VU appreciation documentary. I'm not a big fan of them, but could see til the end because editing is good. Music is great of course, and visually inspiring.
  • Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    Very good archival digging but borders on being a hagiography. There was a lot of resistance to the the VU during their career from critics thinking of them as "Warhol's pet band" to labelmate Zappa's dig at them on some issues of "We're Only In It for the Money". You wouldn't know any of that from this doc that presents them as a progressive rock band too hip for the public.
  • Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    This is an overall impressive doc on a band whose history is pretty well known to its ardent fans. Similar works on the band, Reed, Warhol and his scene, Nico, have covered most all of this history, this material before. But there is certainly quite a bit of video I haven't seen before, or at least do not recall. There's also audio speech from their time from members and Factory figures as well. One call always wish for more, like more concentration on the albums themselves; specific songs that are especially transcendent or indicative of a band's/act's recordings or significance. But this is fairly thorough and hits the main lines well enough. I found Jonathan Richman annoying, though, but I often do. 3.7 stars
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    I love box office man
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    The definitive doc that in years to come will be inseparable from the bands legacy. Captures the essence and spirit of the band.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    Excellent documentary for Velvet Underground fans. It discusses the band members fairly equally with a focus on what their motivations were, how they worked together, inspirations and their backgrounds. Includes a good deal about Nico as well. Great clips of Warhol and some of his art films, too. It will re-spark interest in their music if you hadn’t heard them in awhile. It almost “takes you there” to the time period and captures it’s energy.
  • Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    A pretty good documentary about one of my favorite bands and a favorite artist.