Details from IMDB:
Tom Petty Somewhere You Feel Free
- 2021
- 1h 29m
Drawn from an archive of 16mm film, Tom Petty works on his 1994 album Wildflowers.
Initial Thoughts:
I have loved Tom Petty for a long time, and I was fortunate enough to see him in concert here in Newfoundland. While I always thought his best album was “Full Moon Fever,” I’m starting to wonder if I was wrong. I should say that even when I love a singer, I am often very picky about the songs I listen to, and while I knew the Heartbreakers greatest hits, I certainly didn’t know much of Tom’s solo stuff, the song “Wildflowers” being one I had never heard before. Life is strange in a lot of ways. When my dad passed away in 2017, I stumbled upon the song “Wildflowers,” performed by Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. I listened to their version of the song lots of times, which made me think of my dad, and, of course, I listened to the original as well. While I am one who says that 9 out of 10 times the original version of the song is the best, I think Miley Cyrus could hit notes that Tom couldn’t and made it even better. Finally, some nine years later while on a plane (two actually) I finally watched this documentary.
Main Points:
I also wanted to add that, after watching part of this film, I made the wise decision to listen to the “Wildflowers” album before finishing the viewing. I am so glad I did as my listen of the whole album (ok the first version, not the double-one released in 2020) I discovered how great and very personal it was and it enhanced my enjoyment of the documentary. Tom Petty was one of the greatest songwriters of all time, he loved to perform, he was immensely funny and he loved to make people happy. You can tell from watching this documentary how much love and respect everyone who knew him had, and how intensely he is missed.
It was great how his daughters were interviewed; they pointed out how much joy making this album brought to their dad, and yet how it was so clear from the songs that he was ready to end his marriage and the sadness that comes with that. People with true talent are often very humble, and Tom comes across that way, always striving to do better and always wanting to make each song the best it could be. I think it’s wonderful that he was given the freedom to make an album just the way he wanted to, with no pressure, unlimited time and the chance to work with the best people he could find. The documentary is a joy to watch, with great interviews, wonderful behind-the-scenes footage of Tom and a close examination of the lyrics that really make you see how wonderful these songs were.
Final Thoughts:
I really loved this documentary; my only two flaws were that I found it strange that Tom’s ex-wife was never interviewed (though she is often shown) and that it’s on the short side. This could have easily been an extra 20 minutes or more. A very strong 9 out of 10 from me and a huge recommendation if you are a Tom Petty fan. There is a little bit of coarse language, so I would say ages 13+.