(M) Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out (Stewart Copeland, 2006)
Grade: B+
Comprised almost entirely from Super 8 tour footage shot by drummer and director Stewart Copeland, this documentary follows the rise and dissolution of The Police, one of the biggest bands in the ’80s. Copeland doesn’t delve too deeply into how the band formed, how they developed their music or the reasons behind their unofficial break-up in 1984. Rather, Everyone Stares is a personal, home video-style account of the band’s meteoric rise from obscurity to worldwide fame. Copeland peppers the rough, amateurish footage with such wry commentary as, “We soon came to enjoy the cheerful rhythm of eager fans flapping against the car,” following the band’s attempt to drive away from a mob of screaming fans. Copeland is witty and a touch self-deprecating, but he also provides some insightful commentary about fame (“adulation becomes obligation”) and his growing separation from reality (“We bought houses and tried to make families, but it’s just going through the motions.”). Those unacquainted with The Police should look elsewhere for a more historical and informational account on the band. Seasoned fans, however, will find every little thing in Everyone Stares magic.