Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey *

[tater1977]

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey *

by Chuck Bowen on March 3, 2013

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/revie ... urney/6848


Though responsible for a number of the most enduringly lucrative and popular rock anthems of all time, Journey is met these days with reactions of derisiveness or, at best, consciously ironic appreciation. Though formed in the early 1970s, the band is undeniably a 1980s band at heart, reflective of an ideology that's firmly rooted in an era in which American pop culture, particularly movies and rock music, explicitly peddled bombastic self-actualization with little nuance. Despite the calculation and absurdity of their music though, I've always felt that Journey's somewhat underrated, if for nothing else than for the naked conviction they invest in their kitsch, particularly in the context of the unceasing irony that currently characterizes so much of contemporary culture.



Sadly, those looking for any insight into Journey from Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey are going to have to look elsewhere. The doc follows Journey as they adjust to new frontman Arnel Pineda, a struggling Filipino singer the band discovered, astonishingly, from Pineda's karaoke routines on YouTube. Writer-director Ramona S. Diaz dutifully covers the traditional rocker anecdotes, which most prominently detail Pineda's prior hard knocks (the requisite rocker drinking, drugging, and poverty problems), as well as his rehearsals with the band that, most interestingly, concern Pineda's efforts to match the vocals of the huge white elephant in the room: the original, and iconic, singer Steve Perry. We're also provided a brief and incomplete recap of Journey's history (the specifics of Perry's departure, as well as the general musical-chairs rotation of varying band members throughout the years, are pointedly elided), as well as the obligatory feel-good finale in which Pineda surmounts his obstacles to the glowing adulation of thousands of fans.



Watching Don't Stop Believin', one quickly realizes that anything potentially interesting has probably hit the cutting room floor. Diaz amazingly manages to miss almost every irony that's inherent in this story, most obviously the fact that Journey resuscitated their career by openly embracing the corporate karaoke-act reputation that's (understandably) dogged them for decades. The possibility that Pineda was recruited as a publicity stunt that's meant to openly affirm the everyman subject matter of Journey's music is never broached, as we're supposed to accept, ludicrously, that this band, however past their prime it may be, had to sift through the dregs of YouTube for talent. This conviction is further undermined by Pineda himself, an ingratiating guy with a serviceable Perry impression who appears to be, at best, a mediocre talent with a voice that's often supported in concerts by speakers blasting the original Perry vocals—a fact that's occasionally, embarrassingly, emphasized when Pineda pauses to allow the crowd to sing the lyrics.



The film has virtually no conflict or focus, which leaves us with 105 long minutes of shapeless footage that's mostly compromised of talking heads saying dull and obvious things. In its unwavering determination to pander to its subject, Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey inadvertently further discredits a band that only has so much reputation to squander.

[The_Noble_Cause]

"an ingratiating guy with a serviceable Perry impression who appears to be, at best, a mediocre talent with a voice that's often supported in concerts by speakers blasting the original Perry vocals—a fact that's occasionally, embarrassingly, emphasized when Pineda pauses to allow the crowd to sing the lyrics."

The band uses canned BG vocals, as do most. No Perry in the mix tho.

[Don]

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey *

by Chuck Bowen on March 3, 2013

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/revie ... urney/6848


Watching Don't Stop Believin', one quickly realizes that anything potentially interesting has probably hit the cutting room floor. Diaz amazingly manages to miss almost every irony that's inherent in this story, most obviously the fact that Journey resuscitated their career by openly embracing the corporate karaoke-act reputation that's (understandably) dogged them for decades. The possibility that Pineda was recruited as a publicity stunt that's meant to openly affirm the everyman subject matter of Journey's music is never broached, as we're supposed to accept, ludicrously, that this band, however past their prime it may be, had to sift through the dregs of YouTube for talent. This conviction is further undermined by Pineda himself, an ingratiating guy with a serviceable Perry impression who appears to be, at best, a mediocre talent with a voice that's often supported in concerts by speakers blasting the original Perry vocals—a fact that's occasionally, embarrassingly, emphasized when Pineda pauses to allow the crowd to sing the lyrics.

The film has virtually no conflict or focus, which leaves us with 105 long minutes of shapeless footage that's mostly compromised of talking heads saying dull and obvious things. In its unwavering determination to pander to its subject, Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey inadvertently further discredits a band that only has so much reputation to squander.

Too long, no conflict or back history of the band has been a constant critique through most of the festival reviews.

[steveo777]

Sadly, those looking for any insight into Journey from Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey are going to have to look elsewhere. The doc follows Journey as they adjust to new frontman Arnel Pineda, a struggling Filipino singer the band discovered, astonishingly, from Pineda's karaoke routines on YouTube. Writer-director Ramona S. Diaz dutifully covers the traditional rocker anecdotes, which most prominently detail Pineda's prior hard knocks (the requisite rocker drinking, drugging, and poverty problems), as well as his rehearsals with the band that, most interestingly, concern Pineda's efforts to match the vocals of the huge white elephant in the room: the original, and iconic, singer Steve Perry. We're also provided a brief and incomplete recap of Journey's history (the specifics of Perry's departure, as well as the general musical-chairs rotation of varying band members throughout the years, are pointedly elided), as well as the obligatory feel-good finale in which Pineda surmounts his obstacles to the glowing adulation of thousands of fans.

Hello! This is not a movie provided to give a historical perspective of Journey. It is a story about Arnel Pineda and his rise from obscurity to a great gig with an iconic Amrican band. Want a fairly historically correct film? Watch Behind The Music, then add in Pineda for the rest.

[Don]

The irony of this film coming out right when Cain says they may very well be done making new music. It reminds me of 2010, when DSB went top 100 in over two dozen countries and management's response was to take the year off.

[slucero]

Given the list of theaters this is playing at.. not many folks are gonna see this...

[steveo777]

Don't worry it has legs...............

[Don]

Given the list of theaters this is playing at.. not many folks are gonna see this...

It's not supposed to make money anyway. Diaz is no Michael Moore.

[Don]

Don't worry it has legs...............

Yeah, about as long as Arnel's songwriting career.

I jest, of course.

[steveo777]

Don't worry it has legs...............

Yeah, about as long as Arnel's songwriting career.

I jest, of course.

What ever happened to sending something into exponential growth via word of mouth, or in this case, social media? Maybe not enough people talk aout them or even care. That seems to contradict ticket sales though. Is liking Journey one of those closeted things like masturbating, even though everyone does it?

[slucero]

no one is interested in Arnels "story" anymore.. its old news..

The time for this movie coming out was years ago..


New.. amazing retro-sounding Journey music would have more impact than this movie ever will..

[Don]

Don't worry it has legs...............

Yeah, about as long as Arnel's songwriting career.

I jest, of course.

What ever happened to sending something into exponential growth via word of mouth, or in this case, social media? Maybe not enough people talk aout them or even care. That seems to contradict ticket sales though.

What do you mean? There ticket sales have steadily declined since 2008's tour.

As far as Social media, it seems hit and miss. Their FB page mentions Neal's single from his solo album and his deadbeat dad argument with his ex but not one word about any of the shows in NZ and Australia. The band's main website is worthless. They deleted all of the fan's album reviews about two years ago so there's really know need to go to that site at all.

Their most popular FB page of late seems to be the Michaele & Neal page but the people on there aren't really Journey fans as much as reality TV fans.

[JRNYMAN]

Given the list of theaters this is playing at.. not many folks are gonna see this...

And many of them are "One Night Only". So far, Phoenix and the entire metro area which accounts for over 4 million people and makes it the 5th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. doesn't list a single theater showing it. The closest is a small one-screen venue in Tucson - 90 miles south. And it too is a "one night only" showing.

[slucero]

ya this thing is gonna be "one and done"...

[jrny84]

ya this thing is gonna be "one and done"...

Exactly. For the most part, unless your a hardcore fan, this will pretty much go unnoticed by most.

[kmjrr]

"an ingratiating guy with a serviceable Perry impression who appears to be, at best, a mediocre talent with a voice that's often supported in concerts by speakers blasting the original Perry vocals—a fact that's occasionally, embarrassingly, emphasized when Pineda pauses to allow the crowd to sing the lyrics."

The band uses canned BG vocals, as do most. No Perry in the mix tho.

And he's probably hearing Deen.