Anvil

No one expects the notoriously unreliable Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to get it right. But jaws still hit the floor following news that Anvil! The Story of Anvil—the acclaimed doc that follows a long-forgotten Canadian heavy-metal band on its quixotic quest for credibility and a second chance—failed to make the Oscar shortlist of 15 films nominated as this year’s Best Documentary.

Back in the real world, audiences continue to be won over by the funny, moving and ultimately inspiring film. Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) was so struck by the movie he now screens it for actors, and he’s even cast Anvil’s Robb Reiner and Steve “Lips” Kudlow in his upcoming flick Green Hornet.

After a promising first few albums of lean, mean thrash—particularly 1982’s Metal on Metal—the band’s music quickly gave way to disc after disc of silly anticlimactic plod. Anvil’s career then consisted mostly of frustrating setbacks. “Lips” was slopping food in school cafeterias.

With its recent high-profile rebirth, the charming band must be loving every minute of renewed attention, both good and bad. Anvil’s recent comeback record, This Is Thirteen, was surprisingly solid, but if the charming group’s heart ultimately overshadows its unexceptional hard rock, that’s fine: We have plenty of the latter but not nearly enough of the former.

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