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Heaven Adores You
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Wikipedia article
'Heaven Adores You' is a 2014 documentary about the life and music of indie rock singer-songwriter Elliott Smith (19692003). It premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival on May 5, 2014.Jonathan Kiefer and Sherilyn Connelly, [http://www.sfweekly.com/2014-04-23/film/san-francisco-international-film-festival-20000-days-on-earth-nick-cave/ No No Is a Good Thing: Your Guide to Navigating This Years San Francisco International Film Festival,] 'SF Weekly', April 23, 2014.
Synopsis
The film focuses on Smith's life in the three cities he lived in during his music career (Portland, New York and Los Angeles),Miriam Coleman, [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/elliott-smith-documentary-unearths-new-unreleased-songs-20140524 Elliott Smith Documentary Unearths New Unreleased Songs,] 'Rolling Stone', May 24, 2014. highlighted by his five solo albums from 19942000 and his 1998 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Miss Misery" in 'Good Will Hunting'.Josh Terry, [http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/04/elliott-smith-documentary-heaven-adores-you-to-feature-unreleased-music-photos/ Elliott Smith documentary Heaven Adores You to feature unreleased music, photos,] Consequence of Sound, April 1, 2014. It features personal photos, concert footage, and recorded conversations and interviews with Smith, his friends and collaborators. Participants include Smith's sister Ashley Welch, Jon Brion, Larry Crane, Tony Lash, Joanna Bolme, Rob Schnapf, and Kill Rock Stars founder Slim Moon.Evan Minsker, [http://pitchfork.com/news/54990-elliott-smith-film-heaven-adores-you-teaser-released/ Elliott Smith Film Heaven Adores You Teaser Released,] 'Pitchfork Media', April 30, 2014.Erik Adams, [http://www.avclub.com/article/watch-trailer-elliott-smith-documentary-heaven-ado-204094 "Watch the trailer for the Elliott Smith documentary Heaven Adores You"], 'The A.V. Club', May 1, 2014.
In addition to having at least one song from each of his albums,Katie Rose Quandt, [https://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/05/elliott-smith-documentary-heaven-adores-you Elliott Smith: Its Just, I Like Music, You Know,] 'Mother Jones', May 12, 2014. the track listing contains over a dozen previously unreleased Elliott Smith songs, spanning the length of his career. 'Heaven Adores You' is the first documentary to gain permission to use Smith's music.
Production
Director [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0744274/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Nickolas Rossi] first became familiar with Smith's music in the mid-'90s while living in Portland. He started contemplating making a documentary about him in 2007 after receiving positive response from a short tribute video he shot at the Figure 8 wall, following Smiths death in 2003.Bernard Boo, [http://waytooindie.com/interview/nickolas-rossi-on-honoring-the-musical-legacy-of-elliot-smith/ Nickolas Rossi On Honoring the Musical Legacy of Elliott Smith,] Way Too Indie, May 14, 2014.
In the fall of 2009, fellow filmmaker [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1393762/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Jeremiah Gurzi] teamed up with Rossi, and in January 2010, they traveled to Portland. In 2011, a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise awareness of the film and to help supplement the initial funds needed to officially start the project.Dan Reilly, [https://www.spin.com/2014/04/elliott-smith-documentary-heaven-adores-you/ Elliott Smith Film to Include New Songs, Unseen Footage,] 'Spin', April 1, 2014. Following the successful launch, they received an email from [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1200986/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1 Kevin Moyer], who attended the same high school as Smith, offering to help. Moyer came on as a producer and music supervisor, and arranged most of the interviews.Logan Lynn, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/logan-lynn/heaven-adores-you-elliott_b_5749346.html/ Heaven Adores You, Elliott Smith: An Interview with Filmmakers Nickolas Dylan Rossi and Kevin Moyer] 'Huffington Post', September 2, 2014. A majority of the shooting took place in 2012. By the fall of 2013, longtime colleague and multi-award winning veteran producer [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810625/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Marc Smolowitz] officially joined the team, helping steward the project through post-production and to a prominently placed world premiere at the 57th San Francisco International Film Festival.Evan Minsker, [http://pitchfork.com/news/54594-elliott-smith-film-heaven-adores-you-to-feature-unheard-music-lost-footage// Elliott Smith Film Heaven Adores You to Feature Unheard Music, Lost Footage, Interviews With Collaborators Premiering at the San Francisco International Film Festival] 'Pitchfork Media', April 1, 2014. After a year-long global festival run, the film was acquired by Eagle Rock Entertainment for worldwide distribution in the summer of 2015.Eagle Rock Press Release, [http://heavenadoresyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/hay-press-release.pdf Eagle Rock Entertainment Acquires Worldwide Rights to Elliott Smith Documentary Heaven Adores You -- Partners with SpectiCast on Global Theatrical Release, beginning May 7th, 2015,] SpectiCast, March 24, 2015.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 6.22/10. The 'San Francisco Bay Guardian' described the film as "an artfully crafted study of a unique talent."Cheryl Eddy, [http://www.sfbg.com/2014/04/22/reel-ality Reel-ality,] 'San Francisco Bay Guardian', April 22, 2014. Way Too Indie called it "a tasteful, haunting portrait," while 'Ground Control' magazine praised it as "a celebration of the fullness of the life [Smith] lived."Daryl Barnett, [http://groundcontrolmag.com/detail/4/3797/ Reviews: Elliott Smith Film,] 'Ground Control', May 16, 2014.
Soundtrack
'Heaven Adores You Soundtrack' is the soundtrack album to the 2014 documentary 'Heaven Adores You' about the life of Elliott Smith. The album, produced by Kevin Moyer and released by Universal Music Group, comprises demos and alternate versions of songs, and includes the previously unreleased "True Love." Some of the songs on the album had been shared via bootlegs, but most tracks included on the soundtrack release hadn't been previously heard or released. The soundtrack album artwork includes extensive information from contributors about the songs included
References
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