This may have been my most anticipated film of the summer.

At this point, many of you will reflect that this says something… unflattering… about the crop of movies coming out this summer, and in one sense, you’d be correct.  It’s not a great summer for movies. On the other hand, as someone who dearly loves Rush, you could drop this documentary into any film season and it’s topping my list.

The music of this band has literally changed my life.  More than once.  Prone though I may be to hyperbole, I say this with complete sincerity.  That’s where I am on a personal level.

On a slightly more professional level, this is a band with a huge base of fans, most of whom feel the same way I do.  The list of Rock musicians directly influenced by Rush is… every band that started after 1976.  Ask any rock bass player or drummer, and they probably honed their chops learning Rush.  Some of the guitar players will deny it.  This is a band that has had complete creative control of their music since their 4th studio album.  Why have they been almost completely ignored by the media?  Where’s the love?  I was hoping that Beyond the Lighted Stage would be that love.  And it was.  Almost.

This is not a documentary that will earn the band the respect they’ve always deserved but rarely received.  Very few people who aren’t already fans of the band will see this film, and few of them will be converted.  It’s not that movie.  It’s a movie for the fans.

Some of you might think that’s preaching to the choir.  Well, what you really mean is “preaching to the converted”.  Furthermore, the religious overtones of your statement trouble me.  But that’s not important right now.  You’re actually right.  Beyond the Lighted Stage is indeed preaching to the converted.  Sometimes that’s what preaching is for.  It’s a celebration, it’s a reminder, it’s a lesson that teaches you something you didn’t know before.

The film itself was a nice blend of the band members, managers, producers, and family telling stories, edited into a timeline of the band’s history, albums, and significant events;  I walked away feeling like I had gotten a deeper look into the men behind the music, one that adds new layers of meaning to some of the music.  All this was interspersed with other musicians (Trent Reznor, Kirk Hammett, Tim Commerford, Billy Corgan, and Jack Black, among others) testifying to the band’s influence, be that on their own music, or on music in general.

And of course, you’re were treated to concert footage, glorious concert footage, some of it never before seen.  Home movies.  Early recordings.  And my favorite, Neil’s hand written lyric sheets.  Looking at those, I finally grasped the meaning of the word covet.

When I started this piece, I was afraid I was writing a useless review.  If you’re a Rush fan, you’re already excited about seeing this doc.  If you’re not, you’re not going to want to see it, and I can’t in good faith send you, because… it’s not for you.  Unless… Do you know a Rush fan?  If you do, you’ve probably had a hard time understanding it all.  You’ve asked yourself, “What is it about this band that gets him (and let’s be honest, it’s almost always a him) so excited?  Where does the passion come from?  How can he like that?”

My friend, it brings me great pleasure to inform you that this documentary is, indeed, for you.  It may not change your mind about the band, but it will help you better understand your friend.  It might even make you feel bad about all those times you made fun of him.  Jerk.

RUSH – Beyond The Lighted Stage [Blu-ray], available June 29th, 2010.