Movie Review: Homecoming

Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce **** / *****

Directed by: Beyonce.

Written by: Beyonce.

 

Most concert documentaries are made specifically only for fans of the artist in question – and with good reason – if you don’t like the music, why would you want to watch a concert documentary of it being performed. And yet, there are some concert docs that go beyond that. Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz, the Maysles Brothers Gimme Shelter are examples – and yet both of those are perhaps because they have relevance outside the music – there is a tremendous air of sadness and finality to The Last Waltz, as if more than a band is coming to an end, and in Gimme Shelter, the murder of a concert goer by the Hell’s Angels – hired by the Rolling Stones as security – give it a different vibe. Perhaps Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense – about the Talking Heads – then is a purer concert doc which is just about the music and the performance that can awe you even if you’re not a Talking Heads fanatic. And now, there is Homecoming – a film by Beyonce about her already legendary twin performances at Coachella in 2018. There is absolutely no doubt that the Bey-hive will love every second of this film – as they love every second of everything Beyonce puts out. But it even works even if you are not a die-hard fan. Much like her brilliant Lemonade (movie? video? TV show? Whatever) Homecoming is a film that we will leave you in awe of the sheer talent on display by Beyonce – and all of her collaborators. Most people when they do a concert just go up there and sing – they play the hits and get off the stage. If Beyonce had done that at Coachella in 2018, no one would have complained. But she did so much more.

 

Homecoming details that process. The months of rehearsals where every moment is scripted and planed – every dance move choreographed perfectly, every song selection painstakingly chosen. The costumes and sets. Beyonce picked out every dancer individually – and there are a lot of them. And then planning it so it not only works for the audience at Coachella – but also those watching it on livestream at the time (I didn’t) - and for the eventual audience of this documentary. There are scenes where Beyonce talks to the technical people working for her because she feels what they are doing on stage is not be accurately reflected on film – and she needs to make sure that is fixed.

 

And it must be said that it was fixed. This film is mesmerizing from the opening song to the closer. The film runs over two hours – and while that may be a tad too long, I cannot really think of anything you’d want to cut. You don’t want to miss any of the songs, and you don’t want to miss the behind the scenes stuff that show just how intricate the work was.

 

If there is any doubt just how minutely planed everything in these dual concerts were, Beyonce – the director (yes, she directed the movie as well) puts that to rest very early when she cuts between the two performances – which you can tell because they have different colored outfits on in each – and it looks like a special effect – as if you just digitally changed everyone’s clothes.

 

Homecoming is the type of concert film that will leave you in awe of a performer, even if you don’t necessarily love the music. The sheer energy on display here – translated brilliantly for the screen really is infectious. And the music is great to – even if, admittedly, Beyonce is not usually music I put on too often when I’m choosing something to listen to. She chooses her songs wisely here – a selection of hits, and songs I had never heard. She uses guest stars wisely – giving you enough that you’re satisfied, but not too much that there is ever any doubt just who is in charge here. Homecoming is a testament to Beyonce’s gifts – and all the many forms they take. As a movie fan, I want to see what else she can direct – because with Lemonade and now Homecoming, she’s got more chops than most directors whose films I see. I look forward to seeing just how far she can go.