Waiting: The Van Duren Story
Waiting: The Van Duren Story

Waiting: The Van Duren Story

2018Movie79 minEnglish

Born out of the ashes of Big Star, arguably the greatest cult band of all time, Memphis local Van Duren joined forces with ex-members Chris Bell & Jody Stephens to form a band and become regulars on the 70s Memphis bar circuit. In little time they got the attention of Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, who then started managing Van Duren. Van was tipped to be the next Paul McCartney but instead faded into obscurity. Forty years later, two friends from Australia (a band manager and musician) chance upon the mysterious musician’s lost album. They fall hopelessly in love with the music and set out to discover why Van Duren isn’t a household name.

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Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Director: Ryan McGuffieGenres: Documentary, Music

Plot Summary

This documentary explores the enigmatic life and career of singer-songwriter Ron Van Duren. Despite a promising start in the late 1970s and early 1980s with critically acclaimed albums, Van Duren mysteriously vanished from the music scene. The film attempts to uncover the reasons behind his disappearance and his subsequent quiet life.

Critical Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its intimate portrait of a lesser-known musical talent and its exploration of the transient nature of fame. Audiences appreciated the engaging narrative and the rediscovery of Van Duren's music.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for shedding light on an underappreciated artist.
  • Appreciated for its melancholic yet compelling narrative.
  • Found to be a fascinating look into the music industry's impact on artists.

Google audience: Information not available.

Fun Fact

The documentary features interviews with fellow musicians and fans who recount their experiences with Van Duren's music and personality, highlighting his impact despite his limited commercial success.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

It’s easy to draw comparisons between this film and ‘Searching for Sugar Man’, the foremost example of a documentary that detailed a quest to seek out a lesser-known musician. Maybe it’s the scrappiness of Carey and Jackson, the curiosity t...