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List Price: $14.95 | | Label: Mvd Visual
Salesrank: 21258
Released: April 22, 2003 |
| Our Price: $8.33 |
| Used Price: $6.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
This unflinching, music-driven documentary provides the first real insight into the background and career of this legendary Irish artist who, as lead singer and songwriter for the Pogues, became a worldwide punk icon. The film includes contemporary inter
Description of If I Should Fall from Grace - The Shane MacGowan Story:
As any Pogues fan could've told you, The Shane MacGowan Story was destined to be funny, sad, uplifting, depressing, and utterly irresistible. By the time this engaging documentary was produced in 2000, MacGowan--former Pogues frontman, notorious drinker, and one of the greatest songwriters of his generation--was still the unrepentant alcoholic who caused his former bandmates so much worry. They loved him then and love him still (bandmate Philip Chevron speaks most eloquently of their history), and for all his toothless cackling and constant stupor, MacGowan is seen here as an amiable Irish pub-crawler, coherent in thought if not always in speech, still making music (with his latter-day band, the Popes), and obviously devoted to his wife, Victoria Clarke, an enabling saint whose love for MacGowan is joyfully unconditional. Archival clips, video excerpts, and interviews with MacGowan's friends and family complete this comprehensive chronicle, making it an essential addition to any punk-'n-Pogues library. --Jeff Shannon
If I Should Fall from Grace - The Shane MacGowan Story Reviews:
Sometimes warts and all is still full of warts 
2009-03-06 - If the director thought conducting every interview with MacGowan while he was drunk revelatory she was wrong. The ad made this seem an honest look at a star and his vices and just proved to be an attempt at character resurection. Yes we saw Shane out of it, (constantly) but no real details of either the band history or MacGowan's lifelong struggles. It seemd to me a way of admitting to lesser sins to claim innocence of greater ones. That and being a "Yank" the language (especially Shane's) is for the most part hard to follow. That and the way the movie ends( shot in 2002) gives a certain high sense of irony to the current Pogue reunion tour.
Brutal honesty at it's best. 
2008-02-09 - A fantastic insight into the wonderfully uplifting and at times sad world of Shane MacGowan. This is an engaging, brutally honest, beautifully shot and thoughtfully constructed story of one of our times best songwriters/poets. A must see.
Shane's Rather Boring in his Biography 
2007-05-09 - I love the Pogues like anyone but I have to confess, Shane's a very boring interview. He drags in his speak and repeats what he's said numerous times in previous interviews. Tipperary this and Tipperary that...
That being said, I loved the early footage in his year's with the Nipps and found the footage of an older, wiser MacGowan performing in Dublin to be an expression of bewildering nostalgia. That man has literally gone to hell and back and he's still standing, even waltzing with his mother on stage to a crowd of young Irish lads who still treat him as the "next big act" in Ireland.
His biographies are more interesting than his recollections of his life in interview.
If you like Shane this is a total must for your collection 
2007-05-02 - I saw this film a couple of years ago, I finally purchased my own copy of it.
This documentary is just fantastic and covers more or less the entire life up to the present of the great Shane Macgowan. Rather than just copying what most people have written about this movie I will just say a quick little quirp about what I really enjoy about it.
First off the opening of the movie sold me right away. The Popes live performing Paddy Public Enemy #1. That right there had me.
There is a ton of music in this documentary which I really enjoyed; too many music documentaries never have enough music and actuall performances for my liking. This one has a huge amount.
Many of the interviews are fantastic also. Not your typical "Oh so and so is a great performer", super in depth interviews about who and how Shane really is.
There is not a lot of extra stuff worth while except the extended interviews, do yourself a favor and be sure to check out "Shane and Nature" or something along those lines, it is hilarious!
So if you love The Pogues, if you love The Popes get this movie you will not be disappointed one bit!
Up the Republic!
Brilliant
2007-01-11 - This movie shows the genius that is Shane, warts and all. A little rough to watch his slide into olblivion but it also gives you appreciation for where he has been and where he is going. I saw the Pogue's last year for Paddy's Day in NYC and he still has not missed a step musically or performing.
