Biblical, that is the response you would receive from the man himself if you were to ask him about his new film As It Was and if people would like it. Of course we are talking about one of Manchester finest musicians, Liam Gallagher, former frontman of Oasis. In theaters on Friday, September 13th, available on Digital HD the 17th, and VOD October 8th via Screen Media, Liam Gallaghers’ biopic As It Was chronicles the fall and resurrection of one of the most popular frontmen of the 1990’s Britpop movement.
It picks up with the split up of Oasis which occurred minutes before a gig the band was scheduled to play at in Paris of 2009. After a row between the two brothers backstage minutes before the gig, Noel drove off and Oasis was officially over. Keeping in mind this is only five minutes into the movie, the rest follows the years after the Oasis break-up and truly shows how the first half of the decade that Liam found himself without Oasis certainly wasn’t easy.
Compelling, you see a very different side of Liam in the movie, one that is much more human side than the one you are used to seeing – a brazen attitude Rock-n-Roll maniac singing into a microphone. Instead Liam allows you to see a softer side. You find out about his divorce to All Saints Singer Nicole Appleton who he has a son Gene with after rumors about infidelity were true. This allows you to see Liam in a more vulnerable state as he tries to become a better man, person and father to his children, which include oldest son Lennon and daughter Molly.
With inserts from his mother Peggy and lifelong friend Bonehead (former Oasis rhythm guitarist), you are told of the lowest lows Liam was going through as he thought he may have become a washed up has been rock and roller. In the years following the Oasis breakup, and following the further breakup of his other band Beady Eye, you learn that Liam did indeed take a step back to sort out his life and figure out his next move.
After a chance drunken sing-along in an Irish Pub where a viral internet video of Liam has him singing a then unknown song he had written called “Bold” made its way around, a full on comeback was already set in stone. Shortly after this video made the rounds on the internet Liam was signed to Warner Brother records for his first solo album, 2017’s As You Were, which resulted in forthcoming solo album Why Me? Why Not. set for release on September 20th.
All this information provided, much should be said about the other star of the movie including Debbie Gwyther, Liam’s former personal assistant who plays a huge and integral part in getting Liam back not only into music, but back into a much better place in his life. Clearly it becomes obvious that Debbie is much more than his former personal assistant and that she truly is his soulmate.
Overall, As It Was is a beautiful movie that wonderfully details the life of one man that had spun out of control after years of hard living and partying. The chance that Liam took in coming back, and not being sure if the world would accept him again, really shows how out on the limb he went in order to do what he loves best… play Rock-n-Roll.
Fans of Liam Gallagher and Oasis will love this movie – the concert footage is great, the scenes with his family and children are heartfelt, and the scenes in his childhood home force you to only hold out in hope that one day he and brother Noel will finally make amends after ten years of not speaking to each other. An absolutely brilliant film, some may even call it ‘biblical,’ Cryptic Rock gives As It Was 5 out of 5 stars.
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