If you only take one thing from this review, then let it be this; see this film at the cinema. It's the closest you'll ever get to truly reliving the impact of last summer's Oasis Live 25 gigs.
What follows is filled with spoilers of a truly breath-taking film. (SO LOOK AWAY NOW)
To a true fan who thought they knew everything about this band and what to expect from this film, I'm quite surprised at how overwhelming it was. Yes, it's an emotional rollercoaster, with immense, cinematic live shots of virtually the whole setlist mixed with really poignant fan stories, but it's also a complete reframing of the band. We relive the whole tour through the eyes of Noel and Liam, and their processing of what the band truly means as they stare out at the power of what they've created, night after night, city after city in every corner of the world. At its heart, this film is also about the power of reconciliation, and how Noel and Liam are joined together by the music, in the same way that the fans are.
The film opens with revealing footage of rehearsals with the band finding their rhythm again, and Noel directing proceedings as they fine-tune a stadium-worthy set. We get a glimpse of an incredible version of Columbia, sans Liam (how was this left out of the set!), and can almost reach out and touch the tension in the room before Liam walks in for his rehearsal with the band. They bang out the set in full, and without a goodbye, Liam picks up his bag, and walks out before the final notes of Champagne Supernova, just as he did during the gigs. "Bye then!" shouts Bonehead as the band stand around looking a bit bemused, Noel asking if Liam's actually into this or not. Later it's revealed that Liam skipped the band's final rehearsal which Noel doesn't seem too happy about, but cut to the tour's first show, and he strolls on stage and does the business.
Cardiff night one is arguably for me, the highlight of the film. We see Noel in a state of shock, walking to the stage with his head down, seemingly overwhelmed by what he's now got to do. As someone who was lucky enough to be there that Friday night, the film does an incredible job in capturing how electric and tension-filled that gig was. The sound mix of all the live songs is brilliant (fingers crossed we do get that long-rumoured live album!). Some of the highlights come from that Cardiff gig, which is amazing considering it was the first go. As the film develops, the band relax with each show, culminating in the gigs in Ireland that Noel said moved him and Bonehead to tears. The Manchester gigs, and the stories of fans who couldn't get into Heaton Park are another highlight. Footage interspersed with the band's backstory in Manchester really gives context as to why that city is such an important character in their history. Noel nails it when he says they just wouldn't have been the same band if they were telling journalists they were going to conquer the world in a West Country accent.
I went into the film with a bit of a suspicion that we'd be overwhelmed with fan stories and that it would take away from what we all wanted to see in this documentary. In all honesty, I think they do a brilliant job of keeping this lean, and relevant. We hear some really poignant stories from fans whose lives have been changed by the band, for a number of different ways. Crucially, we see fans; guys and girls, from across the world, who all love the band for different reasons, and yet the same reason. There's light relief from the fans who are just battered at gigs and have turned into comedians, but there are a few really touching moments where we hear of people who have overcome severe difficulties thanks to particular songs or the discovery of like-minded fans.
For the die-hard Oasis fans, there's plenty to learn from this film as well; Noel speaks about Bonehead in a way he's never talked about another bandmate. By his own admission, they spent all the years following his departure trying to replicate his sound. Bonehead's humour and personality is the thing that keeps things moving at times during tense rehearsals or in the moments just before the band walk on stage. It's surreal seeing him back in the band, but musically and personally, this film proves how completely vital he was, and is. The brothers' first joint interview in years is particularly revealing: relaxed, affectionate and genuinely funny, they appear closer than they have ever been. Noel’s description of Liam as “delightful” perfectly captures just how much has changed. As Noel says that none of the issues they fell out over in the old days matter anymore, and how there's no longer a power struggle, it becomes really hard to see them ever leaving this band again for solo projects. 4 hours ago, that's not something I would have said.
One of the films saddest moments comes from a section remembering the role of 'Don't Look Back In Anger' in the aftermath of the 2017 Manchester bombing and the passing of Mani. Noel and Liam are still so raw over his loss that they are clearly lost for words. The film plays 'I Wanna Be Adored' from the Stone Roses' famous Blackpool gig as the brothers explain what he meant to them. During 'Live Forever', see the screen tribute in the outro with his image, with both brothers looking quite shaken. It's a really sad and touching moment, but very sensitively done and it's a fitting tribute to the man Liam calls their 'hero'.
Despite the sentimentality throughout the film, it's also f***ing hilarious. Liam's share of the joint interview in particular, and clips of him explaining to fans before 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' what the Poznan is are laugh out loud funny. Noel can only sit back and piss himself laughing through most of Liam's answers.
Ultimately, this is a joyous celebration of Oasis, their enduring cultural importance and the extraordinary power of their live gigs. It’s bittersweet, because watching it will leave you desperate to experience it all again. If anything, the film may make the scramble for 2027 tickets even more intense.
An essential cinema experience for any Oasis fan and perhaps the closest thing to being back in that stadium last summer. As my Dad would have said proudly; "It's a mother f*cking blockbuster of a film!"