The Velvet Underground

Name: The Velvet Underground
Genre: Music, Documentary
Released: October 15, 2021
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 87
Cast: Allen Ginsberg, Amy Taubin, Barbara Walters, Danny Fields, Doug Yule

2021

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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The Velvet Underground

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Movie Details & Credits

Apple TV+ | Release Date: October 15, 2021 | R

Starring: Allen Ginsberg, Amy Taubin, Barbara Walters, Danny Fields, Doug Yule, Jackson Browne, John Cale, John Waters, Jonas Mekas, Jonathan Richman, La Monte Young, Lou Reed, Mary Woronov, Maureen Tucker, Merrill Reed Weiner, Sterling Morrison

Summary: The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock ’n’ roll’s most revered bands. Directed by Todd Haynes, “The Velvet Underground” shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literaryThe Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock ’n’ roll’s most revered bands. Directed by Todd Haynes, “The Velvet Underground” shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literary yet realistic; rooted in high art and street culture. The film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with a treasure trove of never-before-seen performances and a rich collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band's creative ethos: “how to be elegant and how to be brutal.” [Apple TV+]… Expand

Director: Todd Haynes

Genre(s): Music, Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 121 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Rooney

Jul 12, 2021

Making ingenious use of split-screen, experimental montage and densely layered images and sound over two fabulously entertaining hours, Haynes puts his distinctive stamp on the material while crafting a work that could almost have come from the same artistic explosion it celebrates. Read full review

100

RogerEbert.com Matt Zoller Seitz

Oct 13, 2021

This is a dazzling film—not just one of Haynes' best, but possibly the one that his whole career, with all of its self-aware formal and historical experiments, has been building toward. Read full review

100

Mark Richardson

Oct 14, 2021

The Velvet Underground is a beautifully poetic meditation on the emotional and cultural power of rock and the allure of making a life in art. Read full review

The Film Stage Luke Hicks

Jul 20, 2021

It isn’t the most entertaining version of a Velvet Underground documentary, but it’s the truest to the group. Haynes hones in on character and new elements they brought to the table which, like elements of modern art, are best captured through philosophies and conceptual understanding, as they are here. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

Oct 15, 2021

The Verdict Underground is hypnotic but clear-eyed, finding a different way to put a musical biography on film. And for all its radical formalism, it never forgets to be entertaining. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Jul 12, 2021

As a collage of the period, The Velvet Underground is dazzling: a hypnotic act of high-wire montage. You can tell that Haynes wants to take us as close to this band as possible, and if that means his entire documentary is going to have to be a kind of poetic sleight-of-hand trick, then so be it. Read full review

Brianna Zigler

Oct 1, 2021

The Velvet Underground will leave one less acquainted with the band with an incomplete picture in mind, but it’s unfair to say that the film is only for true enthusiasts. Instead, Haynes is interested in capturing a mood: A feeling of creative interconnectedness, of change, innovation and of a revolving door of people and art that will never again be replicated. Read full review

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User Reviews

mukaczi

Oct 16, 2021

This is one of the best documentaries about the 60s ever made, Haynes clever use of tons of experimental cinema films works beautiful + this is one of rare successful attempts to describe VU musical process. Never thought that Jonas Mekas would ever fill half of Apple TV original...

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Dec 10, 2021

A confession first, I'm a huge fan of The Velvet Underground.
This movie really focuses closely on the influences, reationships, and musical processes, The Velvet Underground developed in their short and influencial reign.
Some great archival footage, and most of the talking heads areA confession first, I'm a huge fan of The Velvet Underground.
This movie really focuses closely on the influences, reationships, and musical processes, The Velvet Underground developed in their short and influencial reign.
Some great archival footage, and most of the talking heads are amazing, and give us a real feel of the 1960's - 70's NYC art scene.
One of 2021's best movies.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bertobellamy

Oct 28, 2021

Old fans will find this unconventional documentary very compelling, while newcomers will become fascinated with one of the most influential rock bands of all time.

Todd Haynes — who has expressed his music passion throughout his filmography — was the right choice to make this movie. But,Old fans will find this unconventional documentary very compelling, while newcomers will become fascinated with one of the most influential rock bands of all time.

Todd Haynes — who has expressed his music passion throughout his filmography — was the right choice to make this movie.

But, beware, this is not your typical VH1 'Behind the Music' kind of thing, no; this is a more avant-garde approach, just like the subject band. Think of a collage, showing and not telling you how The Velvet Underground unorthodox pop music became relevant.

Sure, there are some talking heads moments, and the second part goes faster exploring the group's timeline than the first one, but, as a fan, I'm satisfied with what Haynes achieved here. And the footage obtained to make the montage is just amazing!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Dec 19, 2021

The Velvet Underground was influential as a band and an art project. This doc by director Todd Haynes, who himself has defied traditional expectations, has echoed their imaginative roots. Most of this film features split screens with montage layers of experimental film and photos. There areThe Velvet Underground was influential as a band and an art project. This doc by director Todd Haynes, who himself has defied traditional expectations, has echoed their imaginative roots. Most of this film features split screens with montage layers of experimental film and photos. There are interviews to help stitch together a timeline of the band's development. Frustratingly, they’re only identified by name, with no explanation of their relationship to the band (until a barrage of names during the credits). The history of the group is chronicled, but with NO performance videos (although there are some audio clips). As a matter of fact the only song that’s shown being sung is saved for the very end. Fans of the band will appreciate this poetic cinematic experience, which defies traditional doc tropes and mirrors the band’s ethos.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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