Movie review: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey’

[tater1977]

Movie review: ‘Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey’ with Journey

How the rock band welcomed a little-known Filipino singer with 'Open Arms'

Thursday, April 26, 2012, 8:00 AM
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainmen ... z1tAezTQcY

Ever fantasize about having a lost twin?

While many have, its doubtful any of them imagined a scenrio quite as unlikely as the one stumbled upon by the annoyingly catchy corporate-rock band Journey.

Five years ago, the group were on the hunt for yet another singer to sub for their departed lead shouter Steve Perry. A dvisive figure, Perry split years ago over both health concerns (his ongoing hip problems) and personal ones (he and the band came to loathe each other).

Group mainstay Neal Schon had been considering the depressing route of hiring some schmoe from a Journey tribute band when, late one night trolling YouTube, he fell across something impossible. Doing a “Journey” search, he found a good-looking, age-appropriate guy, half a world away in the Philippines, who, whaddya know, sounded EXACTLY like Perry. Arnel Pineda, a dirt-poor, failed rock star in his native Manila, had precisely the same barrel-chested power and tangy timbre as the original singer, but with a backstory capable of giving this aging group of “old whiteguys” a media hook to die for.

A Filipino-born director living in America, Ramona S. Diaz, got wind of the tale through a friend in Manila and thought “ocumentary!” (Diaz’ earlier credits involve docs about her native country, including one on irst ady and shoe-whore Imelda Marcos.)

In a sense, her Journey flick filmed itself, given its can’tmiss, Cinderella hook. But what makes it even sweeter than expected is the earnest charm of Pineda himself, as well as the band’s slack-jawed awe for him. It’s nice to watch the members marvel unendingly over their new find, while Pineda himself presents an ideal image of gratitude and hard work. In much of the footage from a U.S. tour, he’s suffering from throat problems, yet he powers through. To seal its beamy vibe, the movie doesn’t touch on any past, gnarly issues with Perry.

In its stead, there’s lots of footage shot in Manila, following Pineda’s family story, and a show Journey themselves played for the local throngs.

The plot also has a cross-cultural resonance. It demonstrates the shrinking world in the Internet age as well as providing a smart blow against racism back here. Given the fact that no Asian rock band has ever had a huge U.S. career, Pineda’s placement in Journey may provide the highest profile platform ever for someone of his race. Don’t think American Filipinos don’t know it. There’s generous footage of them treating Pineda as a godsend, and, hopefully, a sign of their future. It’s a theme winning enough to woo even the staunchest Journey foe.

[Don]

Noticed that despite the movie publicity, Eclipse is NOT in top 1,000 sales at Wal-Mart. For that matter neither is Revelation. Tribeca isn't helping move those particular products, that's for sure. I did find three different Def Leppard albums, Two Foreigner packages, Moody Blues, KC and the Sunshine Band, Heart, Huey Lewis And the News records and two different releases for Journey's Greatest Hits though.
I think it's safe to assume that Nomota's partnership with Wal-Mart is in serious disrepair.

[Ehwmatt]

Noticed that despite the movie publicity, Eclipse is NOT in top 1,000 sales at Wal-Mart. For that matter neither is Revelation. Tribeca isn't helping move those particular products, that's for sure. I did find three different Def Leppard albums, Two Foreigner packages, Moody Blues, KC and the Sunshine Band, Heart, Huey Lewis And the News records and two different releases for Journey's Greatest Hits though.
I think it's safe to assume that Nomota's partnership with Wal-Mart is in serious disrepair.

I'm not following all the events at this thing and the interviews, but Dan told me they (the Journey guys themselves) haven't used this platform to plug Eclipse at all, either.

[Rip Rokken]

I read about half the article, before I remembered why so many critics aren't worth the time. Quite a bit of douchebaggery there.

[Navarro]

I thought this was a joke as I was reading it at first and went to the link. This shit pisses me off. Journey, love them or hate them, are a band of good musicians and songwriters. This guy is an asshole. I would be interested in his credentials as a musician or is he just another tone deaf bastard that is on interested in a handful of select bands that are in the rock and roll HOF.

[slucero]

a little rough.. but it was pretty accurate...

[steveo777]

I thought this was a joke as I was reading it at first and went to the link. This shit pisses me off. Journey, love them or hate them, are a band of good musicians and songwriters. This guy is an asshole. I would be interested in his credentials as a musician or is he just another tone deaf bastard that is on interested in a handful of select bands that are in the rock and roll HOF.

This.

[Gideon]

I read it and initially, the only jab I caught was the one directed at poor Jeremey, but this article is littered with backhanded compliments.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Noticed that despite the movie publicity, Eclipse is NOT in top 1,000 sales at Wal-Mart. For that matter neither is Revelation. Tribeca isn't helping move those particular products, that's for sure. I did find three different Def Leppard albums, Two Foreigner packages, Moody Blues, KC and the Sunshine Band, Heart, Huey Lewis And the News records and two different releases for Journey's Greatest Hits though.
I think it's safe to assume that Nomota's partnership with Wal-Mart is in serious disrepair.

Pretty sure the new Foreigner package also flopped. As for Eclipse, it's too late. It's over.

[Don]

Noticed that despite the movie publicity, Eclipse is NOT in top 1,000 sales at Wal-Mart. For that matter neither is Revelation. Tribeca isn't helping move those particular products, that's for sure. I did find three different Def Leppard albums, Two Foreigner packages, Moody Blues, KC and the Sunshine Band, Heart, Huey Lewis And the News records and two different releases for Journey's Greatest Hits though.
I think it's safe to assume that Nomota's partnership with Wal-Mart is in serious disrepair.

Pretty sure the new Foreigner package also flopped. As for Eclipse, it's too late. It's over.

It's flopped overall, but as far as Wal-mart sales by themselves, it continues to sit in their Top 25 best sellers months after release. Much, much better than Can't Slow Down or Eclipse did. Though you are correct, on the big scale, it's a commercial failure.

[scarygirl]

I read it and initially, the only jab I caught was the one directed at poor Jeremey, but this article is littered with backhanded compliments.

[Don]

Looks like Neal might have been grumbling at the end of the screening, or perhaps his blonde bandmate was coaching him up? Where's Cain when you need him?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rel ... _blog.html

What a Journey! Michaele Salahi and Neal Schon walk red carpet at Silverdocs, bail out early


Journey — go figure! For a band that recorded its hits in the early ’80s, it’s getting a lot of buzz these days thanks to a pair of rock-n-roll Cinderella stories. Unfortunately, one of them kind of turned into a pumpkin Monday night.

Michaele Salahi and guitarist beau Neal Schon resurfaced in the D.C. area Monday night to promote a new rockumentary — only to vanish into the night before the panel discussion he was supposed to join.

The occasion: The AFI Silverdocs film festival’s opening-night screening of “Don’t Stop Believin’:Everyman’s Journey,” which tells the story of Arnel Pineda, plucked from the obscurity of a Manila cover band in 2007 and hired as Journey’s new lead singer after Schon discovered his homemade videos on YouTube.

Schon and Salahi were the designated paparazzi bait at the Silver Spring theater’s micro-red carpet. You remember the backstory: How the Virginia socialite best known for crashing a White House state dinner and starring in Bravo’s “Real Housewives” abruptly left husband Tareq Salahi last fall to take up with the rock star.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” she told us Monday. “I learned that I’m resilient and that I am with the person who is worthy of my love.”

She wore a form-fitting white satin dress and rhinestone flip-flops that brought the statuesque blonde down to Schon’s height — a courtesy she rarely seemed to accord to her ex. The guitarist was turned out in black leather and shades. The divorce from Tareq — currently mounting a quixotic campaign for governor of Virginia while grappling with state crackdowns on his charity and businesses — has grown ugly, but the new couple seemed untroubled.

“The craziness still goes on, but we’re just not paying any attention to it anymore,” Schon said. Their romance, after years of friendship, “isn’t surprising to me but it wasn’t planned. It’s kind of beautiful when things just kind of unfold and people meet at the right time.”

Alas, no romance is depicted in the documentary, which focuses on Pineda’s dizzying first year with Journey. A slim, unassuming man whose heavy accent melts away when he unleashes his rock-god tenor, Pineda is seen grappling with homesickness and sudden fame as his bandmates adjust to a novice frontman. “They didn’t know if this was going to work,” explained filmmaker Ramona Diaz, “this guy who hadn’t sung before more than 200 people” suddenly expected to command arenas.

Though scheduled to join the post-screening panel discussion from his home in the Philippines via Skype, Pineda ultimately couldn’t be roused — he and his wife have a new baby, festival organizers told us.

And as soon as the credits rolled — Schon and Salahi were outta there, despite imploring from organizers to stay. The guitarist was overheard grousing that the film didn’t emphasize the dynamics of the band enough. A rep for the band told us Schon had informed organizers over the weekend he couldn’t stay for the panel but did not elaborate on why.

[slucero]

funny how ironies come full circle.. I remember how Schon had a problem with Jeremy's wife... and her pregnancy...

Now, after AP can't make the post screening, due to their new baby... Schon again bails...

lol

[Don]

funny how ironies come full circle.. I remember how Schon had a problem with Jeremy's wife... and her pregnancy...

Now, after AP can't make the post screening, due to their new baby... Schon again bails...

lol

Not before getting in a complaint about the film though. I blame the woman.

[Jeremey]

I wonder if Arnel has yet been taught one of the principal Schon Rules of Fatherhood, imparted to me driving down the freeway in Neal's 500 SL, "a baby doesn't really need their dad until they're at least 4 or 5 years old anyways!" Or when I asked if I could fly back home to see my family during the off weeks of the tour or have my family come out to see me if we had a few days off, and Jon Cain said, as though he was explaining something very icky, "Sure, I mean you can go home or they can come out and visit or whatever, but....I mean, we can't have a baby on the tour bus or anything."

Luckily for Arnel, all of the unfounded fears that Schon and his nut job at the time imparted on me all pretty much came to fruition with Arnel, yet since they weren't evident until they were already on tour with the guy, there wasn't really anything they could do. And that my friends is today's lesson in irony and poetic justice.

[The_Noble_Cause]

“They didn’t know if this was going to work,” explained filmmaker Ramona Diaz, “this guy who hadn’t sung before more than 200 people” suddenly expected to command arenas.

To be honest, I'm still not sure if its working. Ticket sales are good and Arnel's got a helluva voice, but personally, the jury is still out whether Arnel is frontman material. Perry had the crowd eating out the palm of his hand. On good nites, Augeri did too. I've yet to see Arnel deliver like that, but he can most def sing his ass off.

So did anyone attend the post-film discussion? Cain? Ross? Pretty funny if Neal thought the film didn't focus on the band enough. Once again, even after seizing control of his band, he is overshadowed by his singer. Kinda poetic.

[Don]

“They didn’t know if this was going to work,” explained filmmaker Ramona Diaz, “this guy who hadn’t sung before more than 200 people” suddenly expected to command arenas.

To be honest, I'm still not sure if its working. Ticket sales are good and Arnel's got a helluva voice, but personally, the jury is still out whether Arnel is frontman material. Perry had the crowd eating out the palm of his hand. On good nites, Augeri did too. I've yet to see Arnel deliver like that, but he can most def sing his ass off.

So did anyone attend the post-film discussion? Cain? Ross? Pretty funny if Neal thought the film didn't focus on the band enough. Once again, even after seizing control of his band, he is overshadowed by his singer. Kinda poetic.

Neal and Michaele were the sole representatives for the band.

[Don]

The main complaint about this film is that it tells Pineda's story in about 20 minutes and then you are left with nothing more than a concert film. Most suggestions have been to edit out much of the band's back story and focus on Arnel more. I'm sure Neal will absolutely love that.

http://www.chud.com/97920/silverdocs-re ... s-journey/

SILVERDOCS REVIEW: DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’: EVERYMAN’S JOURNEY
By Dan Schindel · 06.19.2012


If, during Journey’s heyday thirty years ago, you’d have told a fan that the band would one day find a new lead singer on YouTube, odds are they wouldn’t have believed you. Well, first you’d have to explain what YouTube and the Internet are, but you know what I mean. Arnel Pineda’s story is utterly of the 21st century, the kind of success only made possible by the new age of global connectedness. But Don’t Stop Believin’ isn’t interested in the new brand of insta-fame. Instead, the documentary focuses on how going from nobody to living the dream can affect someone.

In 2007, word-of-mouth around Journey was at its chattiest in years thanks to Don’t Stop Believin playing out the final episode of The Sopranos. The band wanted to exploit this renewed interest, but faced the small problem of not having a lead singer. Since Steve Perry’s departure, they’d rotated through several replacements but no one had stuck. With a tour looming they grew desperate, and guitarist Neil Schon started browsing YouTube for prospects. That was how he discovered Arnel Pineda.

Pineda, a native of the Philippines, had been singing covers of eighties rock for over twenty-five years to mixed fortunes. He’d lived a tumultuous life, having spent two years on the streets of Manila after his mother’s death when he was a preteen – later getting caught up in drug and alcohol abuse. But he’d cleaned up his act by the time a friend taped his performance in a bar and uploaded it to the web. And then, in Pineda’s own words, the “fairy tale” began.

Journey brought Pineda to the States and, after an audition, took him on as lead singer for their Revelation Tour. Despite early trepidation from the fans, which stemmed mostly from fear of something different (but more than a little bit from good old-fashioned racism and xenophobia), Arnel managed to win nearly everyone over. It’s easy to see how. He brings boundless, infectious exuberance to the stage, somehow managing to keep his breath even as he ceaselessly moves about. The other members of Journey, as well as the filmmakers, attribute the band’s revitalization to Pineda’s talent.

The doc is shot and edited quite well. It does a great job of conveying Arnel’s energy on stage, and how he’s able to infuse that energy into an audience. It also mixes up the perspective, preventing things from getting stale. One venue might concentrate on the band, while another comes from the point of view of the crowd, and another remains backstage – watching the technicians working the cameras for the big screen. But while the production is more than capable, the movie’s story comes up lacking.

Schon speculates here that Journey’s popularity stems from the steadfast optimism of their lyrics, and Arnel Pineda’s tale seems tailor-made to fit their songs. It’s a rags-to-riches journey (*ahem*) that no one would dream of making up, for fear it would be too unbelievable. Stories like this are ripe for telling in documentary form, but they’re also vulnerable to frothy, Oprah-style exploitation. Unfortunately, Don’t Stop Believin’ falls into this trap more than a few times, failing to trust its material and relying on treacly sentiment to tweak the emotions.

To be sure, Arnel is a great person, and an endearing protagonist. He’s absolutely dedicated to his singing, powering through a recurring illness on tour to belt it out as best he can. No one except himself can ever tell the difference, but he’s committed to self-reflection, not a common quality in rock stars. He’s turned out this way thanks to a dark, messy past, but the movie is only willing to partially acknowledge that history. His addictions aren’t mentioned until more than halfway through the story, by which time that information doesn’t mesh at all with the person whom we’ve become familiar. It’s referenced a few times how Arnel struggles with new temptations on the tour, but that’s never demonstrated at all on-screen. There’s no sense of genuine conflict to it at all.

In fact, everything potentially downbeat about Arnel is downplayed as much as possible, even though those aspects are what make his story so compelling and uplifting. How can we feel the highs of his new found stardom without understanding the depths to which he once sank? I’m not asking for a lurid HBO-style biopic, but Arnel’s story as told here feels whitewashed and incomplete.

The film’s structure is at fault as well. A half hour in, I wondered what the movie had left to tell, since it had gone through Pineda’s background, the circumstances around him joining the band, and his success with them. It turns out that this is mostly a glorified concert movie, which is great if you’re a big Journey fan, but not so great if you really want to dig into Arnel as a character. As is, the stage sequences are occasionally interspersed with scenes of him reminiscing about his life, but it isn’t enough. The movie mostly consists of behind-the-scenes road footage that’s familiar to anyone who’s seen a band-focused doc before.

I get what the movie is trying to do here. It’s less interested with how Arnel came to the place he is than it is in how he deals with where he is now. But all it says on the subject is “the fame hasn’t changed him; isn’t that just great?” And that’s not much better than the false role model fabrication around whoever’s the latest American Idol frontrunner.

Again, how much you’ll be able to tolerate this will largely depend on how much you like Journey. If you aren’t a fan, then Pineda will do nothing to save this doc for you. I like them well enough, so I was able to stand it, for a while at least. Since the movie is almost two hours long, I feel even the biggest Journey diehard will be worn out by the time it’s over. It doesn’t help that there’s a point where it really looks like the film will end, only for it to go on for another twenty minutes. There’s a good amount of material, especially that which concerns the history of Journey (and thus has next to nothing to do with Pineda), that could easily have been cut.

Don’t Stop Believin’, as pretty much anyone, everywhere, ever will be able to guess, ends with a performance of Don’t Stop Believin’. It takes place in Pineda’s home of Manila, and demonstrates how far he’s come. It should be a soaring capper to the movie, but I could only squirm uncomfortably. Arnel Pineda is a worthy subject for a documentary, but this movie seems only interested in bland, Wal-Mart inspiration. It isn’t bad by any means; it moves amicably enough even with its lopsided structure. But it lets down its own story by sacrificing honesty for safety. That’s death to the emotional truth of Arnel’s journey, and what’s left is little more than nice-sounding lip service to dreams. Much like the music of Journey itself. On that level, this is a perfect Journey movie. But it’s only an okay any-other-kind of movie.

Rating:
★★½☆☆

Out of a Possible 5 Stars

[brywool]

http://www.chud.com/97920/silverdocs-re ... s-journey/

SILVERDOCS REVIEW: DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’: EVERYMAN’S JOURNEY
By Dan Schindel · 06.19.2012

...

Journey brought Pineda to the States and, after an audition, took him on as lead singer for their Revelation Tour. Despite early trepidation from the fans, which stemmed mostly from fear of something different (but more than a little bit from good old-fashioned racism and xenophobia), Arnel managed to win nearly everyone over. It’s easy to see how. He brings boundless, infectious exuberance to the stage, somehow managing to keep his breath even as he ceaselessly moves about. The other members of Journey, as well as the filmmakers, attribute the band’s revitalization to Pineda’s talent.
...

The writer hits it on the head.
Deny all you want. It's a fact and this guy's not even a fan and he can see it.

Other than that, of COURSE it's a glorfied concert film. That's fine with me. Let's see it!

[Don]

A little racism never hurt nobody, it builds character.

[brywool]

And as soon as the credits rolled — Schon and Salahi were outta there, despite imploring from organizers to stay. The guitarist was overheard grousing that the film didn’t emphasize the dynamics of the band enough. A rep for the band told us Schon had informed organizers over the weekend he couldn’t stay for the panel but did not elaborate on why.[/i]

Like there haven't been a million documentaries on Journey already. My God, what an ego.

[The_Noble_Cause]

And as soon as the credits rolled — Schon and Salahi were outta there, despite imploring from organizers to stay. The guitarist was overheard grousing that the film didn’t emphasize the dynamics of the band enough. A rep for the band told us Schon had informed organizers over the weekend he couldn’t stay for the panel but did not elaborate on why.[/i]

Like there haven't been a million documentaries on Journey already. My God, what an ego.

Of the post-Perry lineup? Not really. Either way, Neal should've stayed. Would've been good PR for the film and the band. What a dope.

[Don]

And as soon as the credits rolled — Schon and Salahi were outta there, despite imploring from organizers to stay. The guitarist was overheard grousing that the film didn’t emphasize the dynamics of the band enough. A rep for the band told us Schon had informed organizers over the weekend he couldn’t stay for the panel but did not elaborate on why.[/i]

Like there haven't been a million documentaries on Journey already. My God, what an ego.

We've been told more than once that this is Arnel's story more than it is Journey's. You would think that this being the third screening Neal's been to, he would have accepted that. As He and Michaele were the sole representatives for the band this time out, it probably wasn't the best arena to suddenly offer up critiques of the film.

The movie is still trying to set up a distribution deal, so any type of band representation is probably welcomed, minus the the griping of course.

I think it's the woman putting ideas in his head, asking when he was going to have his big scene in the movie, after all it is his band.

[brywool]

Of the post-Perry lineup? Not really. Either way, Neal should've stayed. Would've been good PR for the film and the band. What a dope.

Doesn't need to be one about the post Perry lineup. Do they really need to go over Ross, Deen, Neal, and Jon? Jon and Neal have been covered before in the ROR documentary. All of them were covered in the VH1 deal. The film wasn't about the band Journey per se. It's lame of Neal to think "I must insert myself into this movie that focuses on Arnel, or walk out grumbling because I'm not featured enough. Even though I was okay with it before". Dumb. The movie is a focus on Arnel's story and Journey is a big part of the movie (have only seen the trailers). Arnel's story is something Neal personally pumped for years. Now all the sudden, it's bothering him? It should be no surprise that the band wasn't featured enough as Neal had already seen it, hadn't he? To create a public perception at the premiers of being pissed cuz it didn't feature the band enough is lame and way childish. Imagine what Arnel must be thinking about reading that line about Neal's grumbling. Gotta wonder if that'll affect their dynamic together. Hope he doesn't do an Augeri on him and shun him onstage. Just seems like petty jealousy, which I guess isn't surprising. Neal knew what the film was, allowed the filming, allowed them to use the songs, now he's going to gripe about it? Makes no sense. However, this COULD be just the writer's perception and not what the deal really was. Neal has always seemed to stand behind Arnel. But if this is really what went down, then it screams lame.

[The Sushi Hunter]

"....depressing route of hiring some schmoe from a Journey tribute band". LOL

It's also depressing just to watch a tribut band most times.

[Ehwmatt]

"....depressing route of hiring some schmoe from a Journey tribute band". LOL

It's also depressing just to watch a tribut band most times.

Nah, paying the price of buying 2 friends a round of beers for a ticket that gets me 2.5 - 3 hours of talented musicians playing songs I love and playing deep cuts I'll never hear the actual band play is not depressing.

But seeing a shell of a once great band, now fronted by a guy who can't even correctly pronounce the words comprising the song lyrics, go out and play the same 10 tired songs on a tour that purportedly is supporting said band's new (mediocre) album sure is depressing.

[The Sushi Hunter]

And that's exactly why I'm only interested in the new original material and will only purchase merchandise if it includes such. And so far since November 2008, two albums have been produced that meet that criteria.

[Don]

And that's exactly why I'm only interested in the new original material and will only purchase merchandise if it includes such. And so far since November 2008, two albums have been produced that meet that criteria.

By that criteria, you won't be attending any upcoming concerts then as at the last show I saw, they played ONE song newer than 1989.

[The Sushi Hunter]

That's true, but I'd also like to add that I've not been to a Journey concert ever and don't really intend to go to one, unless of course the wife wants to go.

[tater1977]

That's true, but I'd also like to add that I've not been to a Journey concert ever and don't really intend to go to one, unless of course the wife wants to go.