Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
The explosive trajectory and tragic demise of iconic music retailer Tower Records, and the legacy of its rebellious founder Russ Solomon. Two hundred stores in thirty countries on five continents. In 1999 it made $1 billion. In 2006 it filed for bankruptcy. What went wrong?
A solid, warmly nostalgic documentary about Tower Records that captures the chaotic entrepreneurial spirit of Russ Solomon and the rise-and-fall arc of an iconic music retailer. The storytelling is engaging and the interview subjects are colorful, but the film follows a fairly conventional rise-and-fall documentary structure without pushing the form in new directions. Cinematography is functional rather than distinctive, relying on archival footage and talking heads. The ending is bittersweet and fitting given the subject matter, but doesn't offer surprising conclusions. A competent, affectionate tribute that will resonate deeply with music lovers but doesn't break much new documentary ground.