Documentary – STREAMING MOVIE NIGHT

2024 Columbia Pictures

Rated: Unrated

Length: 1 hr 38min

Documentary

Directed by: Devin J. Dilmore

Starring: Norman Harris and too many Musicians, Guitar Players and Fans to list.

“At his world-famous LA guitar shop, founder Norman Harris reflects on his legacy as legendary musicians sing his praises in this heartfelt documentary.”

Kiefer Sutherland Executive produced the Documentary and worked alongside Columbia Pictures to produce the full length film. Norman’s Rare Guitars was started by Norman Harris, a musician who played and toured in bands in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Norm was playing in a band with Bobby Caldwell (of Derek and The Dominoes fame) called Katmandu. Norm saw and purchased a Vintage Fender Jazz Bass at a really good price. His musician friends soon took an interest in the bass and offered him way more money than he had paid for it. Always looking to supplement his income as a touring musician, he decided to find some more vintage guitar deals that he could make money on. That very quickly escalated into a growing side business that eventually took over every empty space in his house.

Within a couple of years it had become a full time business, and in 1975 he opened his first rare guitar shop in Reseda, California. Eventually outgrowing the Reseda location, he moved to the current location in Tarzana. The documentary takes a look at the history and the current state of Norm’s health and his business. After a recent battle with health issues, Norm has started to wonder about the legacy of the shop and who will run the business when the day comes he is forced to retire. Joe Bonamassa is Norm’s nephew and has had a very large presence in the store over the years. The family speculates and wonders if he might have a hand in it’s legacy after Norms inevitable retirement.

I am a guitar player and a musician, as well as a writer and the Streaming Movie Guy. Just thought you should know that this review is anything but unbiased. There are tons of musicians, guitar playing celebrities and cameos in this film, a who’s who of musicians, and guitar players. The sheer number of vintage guitars that the shop and Norm currently possess is staggering. Just watching the day to day visitors in the shop in itself is fascinating. I absolutely love this documentary, if you have any interest in music, guitars, or vintage guitars it is a must watch. There is a website for the documentary, I’ll post the link below. There is also a Youtube channel that has become very popular with new videos from the store featuring the guests that stop by.

Highly recommended…yes, yes and yes!

Norman’s Rare Guitars Documentary Website

Norman’s Rare Guitars YouTube Channel

Norman’s Rare Guitars Store Website

Currently streaming on Netflix

2024 Netflix

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 54min

Documentary

Directed by: Josh Greenbaum

Starring: Will Ferrell and Harper Steele.

“A friend is a friend is a friend…..till the end.”

We all know who Will Ferrell is, even spell check knows, it just informed me I left an L off of his last name. He is one of the most famous faces in Entertainment. He got an email from his old friend Andrew Steele informing Will that he was transitioning to a woman, now known as Harper Steele. Will and Andrew were hired at Saturday Night Live at the same time 27 years ago. Andrew became one of the head writers and Will Ferrell became famous. They became close friends and when Will got the email from “Harper”, Will decided that they should take a road trip together and figure out what that meant for their friendship.

Will decided to film it and make a documentary out of their trip. They hit the road accompanied by a film crew starting in New York where Harper picks up Will at the airport in her vintage Jeep Cherokee. They head out for a 16 day road trip across the country to California. Along the way they visit the NBC Studios, travel Route 66, go to a basketball game, car races, Washington, D.C., The Grand Canyon, numerous Mid West bars and diners, sing Karaoke at a Karaoke bar, drink cheap beer and eat a lot of Pringles. Along the way they meet up with a lot of their old SNL Alumni, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colin Jost, Tim Meadows, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Molly Shannon and Kristen Wiig.

They call Kristin and ask her to write a theme song for the film. It is played at the end of the documentary. It is a great song and really sums up the whole Documentary.

Harper and Will go west
Just a couple old friends and a couple brand new breasts
They’re off to see America
Not sure what they’ll find
Open to the open road
Only to be reminded
That a friend is a friend is a friend
Till the end

Coast to coast
Takes three thousand miles to get this close
Did Lewis and Clark dare to go to these emotional places?
This is a greater unknown so I think my two are the greatest

Harper and Will go west
Like Thelma and Louise but with a lot less death
They’re off to see America
Just one girl and a guy
Open to the open road
Only to be reminded
That a friend is a friend is a friend
Till the end

They’ll find their way
Even when they don’t know what to say
Known each other for forever and a day
They’ll have to find themselves
A magical woman right with her grown-up elf
And oooh, this is the jazzy part
I assume there’s no room in the car
Or I’d have been invited
But I’ll play my part
This once from the heart

Like Will when he got the email from Harper explaining he was now a Transwoman, I had questions, about the movie and whether I should watch it, and should I review it. Up until now I have only reviewed full length feature films from major studios and this is a full length Documentary. I added a new category for this: Documentary. I decided I should watch it, and after watching it I decided I should review it. I think it is important to watch. I thought that it would answer a lot of the questions that I had mainly about the Trans experience/movement/thing.

What, where, how, and why? It is outside of my experience and like Will I wondered, what does all that mean. As a friend, what does that mean for a friendship? Are you a friend or do you draw the line at an experience your friend is having and say no way, Jose. I have to say that after watching it I have more questions than answers, but this film is more about a friendship than a Transwoman and their journey or struggle. It does touch on the experience Harper is going through and the personal struggle that led to this documentary, but watching the two old friends explore, discuss and navigate the new territory together was heartwarming. That’s a friend.

That’s a friend is a friend is a friend till the end. No matter what. Ok, so there’s some really life changing things going on in your life….well old friend, let’s figure it out together.

WE ALL NEED FRIENDS LIKE WILL FERREL.

If you don’t have one….go get one.

Watching Will be there for his friend was very touching and heartwarming.

The Trans issue is a very touchy one for a lot of people.

Don’t let that stop you from watching the movie. I think you should.

And Kristin Wiig should win an Oscar and a Grammy for Harper And Will Go West.

That’s it, that’s all I’ve got.

Yes, I recommend it.

Two thumbs up.