Beastie Boys Story Review
TV-MARuntime: 1 Hr and 55 MinutesProduction Companies: Oscilloscope Laboratories Distributor: Apple TV+Director: Spike JonzeWriters: Mike D, Adam Horovitz, Spike JonzeCast: Mike D, Adam HorovitzRelease Date: April 24, 2020
Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz of Beastie Boys tell you an intimate, personal story of their band and their 40 years of friendship.
Apple TV+ might be one of the only streaming services with content that is always under my radar. As far as TV goes, none of their shows fully grasp me (aside from Dickinson, which I warmed up to and ended up enjoying). Then, you get to their films and nothing has been stellar on that front, either. Until now! All it took with Spike Jonze and Beastie Boys to deliver what is undoubtedly the best content Apple TV+ has to offer.
It was only fitting for Spike Jonze — who got his start by doing music videos for artists, including the Beastie Boys (“Time for Livin’” and “Sabotage”) — to helm this documentary. Without any context, I expected this to be a traditional documentary where the story would be told through a collection of interviews about the Beastie Boys and how they became to be. It’s actually far more meaningful than that. Apparently, in 2019, Mike D and Adam H. of the Beastie Boys did a show at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn where they discussed their entire career story in an intimate TED Talk/An Evening With-like format, which was directed by Jonze. Not going to lie, I was feeling major FOMO. That occurred around the same time I went to Kings Theatre for a The Lonely Island tour. You have to praise the level of work that went into crafting this entire production and I’m not just talking about the doc itself; I’m talking about the performance that Diamond, Horovitz, and Jonze poured their hearts into. The three of them wrote this story together where they cover major facets of their journey while also expressing how they evolved from party boys into grown men through their trials and tribulations. The doc immediately immerses you as an audience member and keeps you thoroughly engaged throughout the almost two-hour running time. It’s brilliantly padded with enough archival footage to help Horovitz and Diamond tell the story. Though it is a walk down memory lane, it’s surprisingly mature. Through the night, the two reflect heavily on the decisions they made along the ride and the regrets they had when it came to relationships with other friends and founding members of their band who left, like Kate Schellenbach. It became a very soulful and mature story that made sure heart and wisdom were its core in its storytelling. Hell, the narration from Diamond and Horovitz is another major feature I loved. It sounds redundant to say, “They have such a kinetic dynamic,” or, “Their chemistry is strong,” but watching them interact and shoot the shit with the audience in an interactive manner makes you feel like you’re right in the passenger’s seat. If you are a fan of the Beastie Boys or their music, this is essential viewing. I had personally forgotten how many Beastie Boys songs I knew and how many of their music videos I grew up watching. Their tribute to late Beastie Boys founding member MCA (Adam Yauch) genuinely chokes you up due to Diamond and Horovitz’s emotions coming to the forefront. There’s even a moment of Horovitz reciting a passage from their Beastie Book where he just chokes up and says to Diamond, “You finish it. I can’t,” and you can see the tears he’s trying to hold back. Watching that nearly broke me, especially after learning about the many works that MCA dedicated himself to throughout his career outside of Beastie Boys. One that I would consider a major feat was that he was the founder of Oscilloscope Laboratories, the film production/distribution company that delivered classics such as Madeline’s Madeline, Wendy and Lucy, and The Love Witch, to name a few. Not only was he a remarkable person — one nobody could even get a full picture on — but he was also their brother.
While watching this engaging and heartwarming doc, I couldn’t help but think how this would serve as the perfect blueprint for an eventual Beastie Boys biopic. All the beats are right there for the taking. Spike Jonze, you have already done so much for the Beastie Boys that it would only make sense to helm a biopic narrative for them. Go full-on F. Gary Gray with it and make a Straight Outta Compton-like biopic for them. Call it No Sleep Till Brooklyn or A Very Beastie Boys Biopic. Something along those lines. Hell, make it animated while you’re at it. I can just envision an animated biopic of the Beastie Boys because their manic, insane story can be encapsulated through the art of animation. But for now, The Beastie Boys Story will do. It’s the best thing on Apple TV+’s platform, will surely put a smile on your face, and will make you shed a few tears along the way. Rating: 4/5 | 86%
