As much as I like a wide variety of music, Jeff Buckley’s music has managed to escape my hunger for the genre for decades. Though I was familiar with his name and had heard his version of “Hallelujah,” that was all I had to work with going into this screener for this documentary. After experiencing this compelling portrait of the artist, I am now a fan of his work and can appreciate the profound impact of his life on the world of music. Director Amy Berg’s documentary about the life and career of Jeff Buckley has inspired me to have a greater appreciation of his talent.
Through interviews with people closest to him, and with the inclusion of rare interviews and recordings offering some insight into the life, mindset, and the limited musical career of such a talented artist, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley proves to be an insightful and moving portrait of a singer/songwriter/musician who never got the chance to become a superstar. Was becoming a superstar a goal of Buckley’s? After learning more about him, I realized that it is not exactly what he wanted, but I do get that he wished to reach out to other people going through what he experienced in his tragically short life.
The film not only reveals a little about Buckley as a person, but it also shows why his tragic death is a significant loss to humanity. The film also reminds its audience that so much great art and talent often comes at a high price. Through interviews with his mother, musician friends, and those who worked with him, we get a look at what usually tortured Jeff, and are reminded about the poor ways mental health problems have been stigmatized and dealt with so poorly for so many years.
To make a greater case for the tragedy of Buckley’s loss, we get to experience his songwriting, his singing, and his talents as a guitarist. Amy Berg does a great job of allowing the audience to experience how Jeff Buckley felt through her use of visuals and selecting the appropriate needle drops that drive her message home.
I feel that this documentary film may not reveal much that his die-hard fans don’t already know. Still, for those, like me, who are lacking in knowledge about the artist, and have a limited perspective, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley is a must-see. I can see what all the fuss is about and am now a fan of his work.