Last Days Here
Encyclopedia
Last Days Here is an 2011 American documentary film featuring Bobby Liebling, lead singer of the American heavy metal band Pentagram
. The film is directed by Don Argott
and Demian Fenton
. Last Days Here had its world premiere at the film festival South by Southwest
on , 2011, and Sundance Selects will distribute the documentary to the public.
. In the documentary, Liebling is in his 50s, lives in his parents' basement, and ingests illegal drugs
. When Pentagram's music is rediscovered by the heavy metal underground scene
, Liebling begins to recover from his lifestyle. His friend and manager Sean "Pellet" Pelletier attempts to help overcome his drug addiction and escape his old life.
and Demian Fenton
directed Last Days Here. Fenton first became familiar with Bobby Liebling when he listened to cassette tapes that were 1970s recordings of Liebling's heavy metal band Pentagram
. Fenton also listened to the 2001 compilation First Daze Here
and enjoyed the early Pentagram material. He heard rumors about Liebling, including living in his parents' basement and ingesting illegal drugs
. When Fenton and Argott began filming Liebling, they were not sure if a documentary could result. Fenton said, "It really seemed like he was going to smoke himself to death in his parent's basement, something we weren't interested in documenting." When Liebling attempted to recover from his lifestyle, the directors saw potential as a documentary.
The directors filmed hundreds of hours of footage over three years with very little budgeting. Fenton said about addressing the swift changes in Liebling's life, "Many times we had to finesse the rapid shifts in Bobby’s life so the viewer wouldn’t be left confused." He said that Liebling had shown multiple sides of himself, which the directors tried to balance for their documentary.
on , 2011. In the following month, Sundance Selects acquired the rights to distribute Last Days Here in North America. It will distribute the documentary in theaters and on its video on demand
platform.
Stephen Saito of Independent Film Channel
said Liebling's story was typical of most rock star stories and that his story would normally not be interesting to mainstream viewers since the band Pentagram
never had a mass audience. Saito said, "Yet Fenton... and Argott spent six years waiting for the story to reveal itself and that patience has been rewarded with a tale that's sad, sometimes frustrating and ultimately triumphant." The critic applauded Fenton and Argott's use of supporting characters to share stories about Liebling. Saito noted, "Last Days Here isn't weighed down by history, or much of anything for that matter as it uses a traditionally straightforward, slightly shaggy narrative to tell of Liebling's rise and fall."
Eric Kohn of indieWire
wrote that the story felt incomplete: "Almost exclusively set in the present day, Liebling’s struggles lack a cogent origin story or enough outside voices to contextualize the talent that the onscreen fans take for granted." Kohn described the documentary's first half hour as having "a frighteningly visceral power" depicting Liebling's rock star lifestyle and thought the momentum faltered afterward. Kohn said, "The stakes never go too high," and that Liebling made the rock stars in the similar documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil
look even better. The critic concluded, "Culminating with his well-received performance at New York's Webster Hall, 'Last Days Here' implies that the rocker has finally figured out what to do with himself, a result that leaves much to be desired once the credits roll."
Pentagram (band)
Pentagram is a American heavy metal band from Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost...
. The film is directed by Don Argott
Don Argott
Don Argott is an American documentary filmmaker and musician originally from Pequannock, New Jersey, and currently residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Argott has directed several documentary films and has also worked as a producer and cinematographer. He co-owns the production company 9.14...
and Demian Fenton
Demian Fenton
Demian Fenton is an American filmmaker and musician originally from the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, and currently residing in Philadelphia....
. Last Days Here had its world premiere at the film festival South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
on , 2011, and Sundance Selects will distribute the documentary to the public.
Synopsis
Last Days Here follows Bobby Liebling, lead singer of the American heavy metal band PentagramPentagram (band)
Pentagram is a American heavy metal band from Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost...
. In the documentary, Liebling is in his 50s, lives in his parents' basement, and ingests illegal drugs
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
. When Pentagram's music is rediscovered by the heavy metal underground scene
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
, Liebling begins to recover from his lifestyle. His friend and manager Sean "Pellet" Pelletier attempts to help overcome his drug addiction and escape his old life.
Production
Don ArgottDon Argott
Don Argott is an American documentary filmmaker and musician originally from Pequannock, New Jersey, and currently residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Argott has directed several documentary films and has also worked as a producer and cinematographer. He co-owns the production company 9.14...
and Demian Fenton
Demian Fenton
Demian Fenton is an American filmmaker and musician originally from the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, and currently residing in Philadelphia....
directed Last Days Here. Fenton first became familiar with Bobby Liebling when he listened to cassette tapes that were 1970s recordings of Liebling's heavy metal band Pentagram
Pentagram (band)
Pentagram is a American heavy metal band from Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost...
. Fenton also listened to the 2001 compilation First Daze Here
First Daze Here (The Vintage Collection)
First Daze Here is the first of two compilations that Pentagram have released through Relapse Records that feature 70s material. It was released by 2001 and followed by First Daze Here Too in 2006. This release is the first time these early Pentagram recordings were released with a worldwide...
and enjoyed the early Pentagram material. He heard rumors about Liebling, including living in his parents' basement and ingesting illegal drugs
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
. When Fenton and Argott began filming Liebling, they were not sure if a documentary could result. Fenton said, "It really seemed like he was going to smoke himself to death in his parent's basement, something we weren't interested in documenting." When Liebling attempted to recover from his lifestyle, the directors saw potential as a documentary.
The directors filmed hundreds of hours of footage over three years with very little budgeting. Fenton said about addressing the swift changes in Liebling's life, "Many times we had to finesse the rapid shifts in Bobby’s life so the viewer wouldn’t be left confused." He said that Liebling had shown multiple sides of himself, which the directors tried to balance for their documentary.
Release
Last Days Here had its world premiere at the film festival South by SouthwestSouth by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
on , 2011. In the following month, Sundance Selects acquired the rights to distribute Last Days Here in North America. It will distribute the documentary in theaters and on its video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
platform.
Stephen Saito of Independent Film Channel
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
said Liebling's story was typical of most rock star stories and that his story would normally not be interesting to mainstream viewers since the band Pentagram
Pentagram (band)
Pentagram is a American heavy metal band from Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost...
never had a mass audience. Saito said, "Yet Fenton... and Argott spent six years waiting for the story to reveal itself and that patience has been rewarded with a tale that's sad, sometimes frustrating and ultimately triumphant." The critic applauded Fenton and Argott's use of supporting characters to share stories about Liebling. Saito noted, "Last Days Here isn't weighed down by history, or much of anything for that matter as it uses a traditionally straightforward, slightly shaggy narrative to tell of Liebling's rise and fall."
Eric Kohn of indieWire
IndieWire
indieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
wrote that the story felt incomplete: "Almost exclusively set in the present day, Liebling’s struggles lack a cogent origin story or enough outside voices to contextualize the talent that the onscreen fans take for granted." Kohn described the documentary's first half hour as having "a frighteningly visceral power" depicting Liebling's rock star lifestyle and thought the momentum faltered afterward. Kohn said, "The stakes never go too high," and that Liebling made the rock stars in the similar documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Anvil! The Story of Anvil is a 2008 documentary film about the Canadian heavy metal band, Anvil. The film is directed by screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, whose previous credits include The Big Tease and The Terminal....
look even better. The critic concluded, "Culminating with his well-received performance at New York's Webster Hall, 'Last Days Here' implies that the rocker has finally figured out what to do with himself, a result that leaves much to be desired once the credits roll."