Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police

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Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police
Cant stand losing you.jpg
Poster
Directed byAndy Grieve
Based onOne Train Later: A Memoir by Andy Summers
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyTom Hurwitz
Edited byAndy Grieve
Music by The Police
Production
companies
Distributed byCinema Libre Studio
Release date
  • November 9, 2012 (2012-11-09)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Andy Grieve on the subject of the English rock group The Police. [1] The film is loosely based on One Train Later: A Memoir written by guitarist Andy Summers. The title references one of the song titles from the band's debut album, Outlandos d'Amour .

Contents

Synopsis

The film focuses on Summers' experiences with the band, starting with his earliest days in the 1960s music scene. Summers was the guitarist for the band The Animals at that time, only briefly encountering Sting and Copeland by chance a few times here and there. Eventually these chance encounters led to the formation of the punk band The Police. Through the use of photography, often candid, and the recounting of his own memoirs, Summers captures the rise to popularity and eventual collapse of the band in the mid-80s. The band then reunites in 2007 for a global reunion tour and Summers captures the memories and perspectives of the other members of the band as well.

Production

In early 2015, after the film had premiered at Doc NYC in 2012 and First Time Fest in 2013, Cinema Libre Studio purchased the film for distribution in the United States. It is director Andy Grieve's debut film and is produced by actor Nicolas Cage and his production company, Saturn Films. Summers provided the original score for the film and executive produced the film as well. [2]

Release

Theatrical

The film was initially released in 2012 at the Doc NYC film festival, but later received a theatrical run in American cinemas in 2015 ahead of the film's physical release. [3] [4]

Home media

The film was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 14, 2015 through Cinema Libre Studios. [5]

Reception

Box office

The film grossed $23,262 in the United States and Canada. [6]

Critical response

The film has received generally negative reviews. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 39% of 18 critics have given the film a positive review, with a 5.1 out of 10 average rating. [7] According to Metacritic, the documentary received "generally unfavorable reviews", based on an average score of 33 out of 100 from eight critic reviews. [8] Many criticisms cite the film's slow pacing, lack of exciting information, and complete focus on guitarist Andy Summers. [9]

Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times refers to the film as a "rather dull documentary" and states that the film is "Mr. Summers’s show all the way". [10]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Police</span> English rock band

The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. Within a few months of their first gig, the line-up settled as Sting, Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland, and remained unchanged for the rest of the band's history. The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s. Emerging in the British new wave scene, they played a style of rock influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz.

<i>Outlandos dAmour</i> 1978 studio album by the Police

Outlandos d'Amour is the debut studio album by British rock band the Police, released on 17 November 1978 by A&M Records. Elevated by the success of its lead single, "Roxanne", Outlandos d'Amour peaked at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and at No. 23 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned two additional hit singles: "Can't Stand Losing You" and "So Lonely".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Summers</span> British guitarist

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References

  1. "Legendary Guitarist Andy Summers Reveals All in New Documentary 'Can't Stand Losing You, Surviving The Police'". KTLA. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  2. McNary, Dave (2015-01-27). "Cinema Libre Buys Andy Summers' The Police Documentary". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  3. "Can't Stand Losing You: A Memoir of The Police". DOC NYC. 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  4. Grow, Kory (2015-03-26). "Andy Summers on the Police and Playing With Hendrix". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  5. "Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police DVD". store.cinemalibrestore.com. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  6. "Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  7. Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police , retrieved 2021-09-28
  8. Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving the Police , retrieved 2021-09-28
  9. Lewis, David (2015-04-09). "Can't Stand Losing You' a dull look at the Police". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  10. Catsoulis, Jeannette (2015-03-20). "Review: 'Can't Stand Losing You,' Andy Summers's Version of the Police". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-09-28.