A decade on from the incredible Supersonic documentary charting the rise and split of Oasis, Don’t Look Back in Anger acts as a spiritual sequel, capturing the long-awaited reunion of Liam and Noel Gallagher after ending their 15 year feud. Written by new James Bond movie scribe Steven Knight, the documentary concert film follows the pair from rehearsals through their sold-out Live’ 25 world tour. It all feels tense prior to arrival, yet Liam wastes no time in their behind-the-scenes preparations, jumping right in where they left off as though nothing had happened between them. In their first joint interview in over 15 years, which runs throughout the film, Noel confesses that all was forgiven immediately, without anything needing to be said between them.
The banter is back from the off, with Noel admitting he’d forgotten just how funny Liam was, as the singer effortlessly makes one hilarious comment after another throughout, before his brother simply sums him up in one word as “delightful”. It’s the recurring theme throughout the film: the brothers’ reunion embodies a “biblical” (as Liam would say) form of forgiveness, as viewed through a number of religious motifs and, of course, the titular song. None more so for fans, especially through those who didn’t get tickets for the Oasis Live’ 25 tour, when viewing footage of the lucky few who did experience it all at those titanic stadium gigs, belting out the band’s hits (they all feature) right back at them.
Audience vox pops (most incredibly funny and emotional) express the joy of the band reuniting. Meanwhile, segments with fans around the world, from South Korea to Argentina, share what Oasis means to them on an everyday level that borders on the religiously fanatical. But it’s not just reduced to the Gallaghers, with returning guitarist Bonehead getting his well-deserved praise as “the sound of Oasis” and Noel sharing the profound meaning he gets from performing, the mammoth pay cheque aside. At one point, he confesses that he occasionally has to turn away from the crowd when spotting fathers and sons who’ve come together, as he delights in how the band has found a new audience with a younger generation.
Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger hits UK cinemas and IMAX on Wednesday.
