No matter how good they are, concert films always seem like films of concerts. U2 3D puts viewers at the concert.
Seamlessly blending footage from several shows during the “Vertigo” tour, U2 3D was shot primarily in South America at packed stadiums bursting with energy.
That electricity is captured in what’s billed as “the first-ever live-action 3-D film.”
Aside from opening shots of fans racing into an arena and well-timed crowd-reaction shots, directors Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington focus on pure performance. There are no backstage interviews, no scenes depicting the grind of the road.
Being crammed amid thousands of sweaty bodies has its charms, but this is the ultimate concert experience.
Is it possible to buy concert tickets that not only put Bono close enough to touch but also offer him in triplicate?
The 3-D imagery by 3ality Digital comes on strong at first, and it’s incredible. Bono is literally singing in your face. It seems as if you’re in the crowd as hands fly up in front of you.
There’s a show-offy aspect to the first two or three songs, but once the filmmakers have proved their point — that this is the best way to shoot a concert — they settle down and use their toys more judiciously. That way, shots such as one of the crowd undulating and intimate close-ups of the band have a knockout impact.
The 3-D cameras put you up close with guitarist the Edge and bassist Adam Clayton. Larry Mullen Jr. is the only band member who doesn’t benefit from the visual magic. Perhaps because he’s seated behind his drums, the cameras can’t get in to isolate him.
Consequently, the filmmakers repeatedly approach him with overhead cameras, creating a perspective that’s distracting rather than impressive. But Mullen gets his moment of 3-D glory when he’s standing on a curved stage extension.
The set list is a mix of recent and classic songs. At a tight 85 minutes, the film doesn’t have time to include everyone’s favorites, but there’s no filler. You get a healthy mix of activism and unsurpassed rock ‘n’ roll.
By Betsy Pickle, SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
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