Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams

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Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams
Coldplay - A Head Full of Dreams.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Mat Whitecross
Based on Coldplay
Produced by
  • Hannah Clark
  • Fiona Neilson
  • Stefan Demetriou
Starring
Cinematography Marcus Haney
Edited byMarc Richardson
Music by
Production
companies
  • Mint Pictures
  • My Accomplice
  • The Firepit
Distributed byTrafalgar Releasing
Release date
  • 14 November 2018 (2018-11-14)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3.5 million

Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams is a music documentary directed by Mat Whitecross about British band Coldplay, documenting their beginnings and rise to fame. The film received a single-day release on 14 November 2018 in select cinemas globally and was made available to stream on Amazon Video two days later. It combines previously unseen footage along with performance takes from the A Head Full of Dreams Tour. It was met with generally mixed reviews upon release.

Contents

Production

The film documents the band's history, from their first rehearsal in a student bedroom to their A Head Full of Dreams Tour. [1] It was filmed over 20 years by longtime friend of the group Mat Whitecross and was compiled after he had directed Oasis documentary Supersonic . [2] In an interview with Vulture, Whitecross revealed that the lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin, was unenthusiastic about the idea of a film being made about the band. Martin eventually allowed it to be made, but was unwilling to watch it himself. [3]

Release

Coldplay announced the documentary on their official website on 12 October 2018. [4] The film was released worldwide in 2,650 cinemas in more than 70 countries for a single day, 14 November 2018. [5] It grossed $3.5 million worldwide, [6] selling more than 300,000 tickets and reached number 1 at the box office in the Netherlands, number 2 in the United Kingdom, Australia and Italy and number 5 in the United States. [7] It was available to stream on Amazon Video two days later after three live songs had been premiered on Amazon Music on 26 October. [8] The film is also included as a DVD in Coldplay's sixth compilation album, The Butterfly Package (2018).

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 6 reviews, and an average rating of 6.5/10. [9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average of 64 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [10]

Peter Bradshaw, writing for The Guardian , gave the film three stars out of five and wrote "This is a watchable, if blandly celebratory and unchallenging portrait of a massive rock institution." [11] Time Out's Phil de Semlyen gave the documentary the same score, saying "It may not win over the haters but this Coldplay doc-stroke-concert film packs in plenty of story and spectacle." [12] Owen Gleiberman was generally disappointed with the film, writing "Mat Whitestone[ sic ] shot footage of Coldplay for 20 years. His kaleidoscopic rock doc shows you a lot but reveals too little of the band's pop passion" and added "Even if you're a fan of the band (which I am), the movie may leave you wanting." [13]

David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a B+ grade, saying "While nothing in your life may come as easily to you as everything in Coldplay’s lives seems to have come to them, this delightful and unexpectedly inspiring documentary has a funny way of making your dreams seem closer than they might appear." [14] Ben Travis, writing for Empire, gave the film three out of five, summarized his review thus: "Mat Whitecross draws compelling lines between Coldplay’s past and present in a documentary as colourful and optimistic as its namesake album. It’s one for the fans — even the ones too reluctant to admit that they are." [15] Junkee and E! Online listed it among the best live music films available on streaming. [16] [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997, consisting of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey. They are best known for their live performances, having also impacted popular culture with their artistry, advocacy and achievements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coldplay discography</span>

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<i>A Head Full of Dreams</i> 2015 album by Coldplay

A Head Full of Dreams is the seventh studio album by British rock band Coldplay, released on 4 December 2015, by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and by Atlantic Records in the United States. Coldplay recorded the album from early to mid 2015, right after the completion of their previous album Ghost Stories, with a markedly different style and sound from its predecessors. For various songs, Coldplay collaborated with Beyoncé, Noel Gallagher, Tove Lo, Khatia Buniatishvili and Merry Clayton. The album was produced by Rik Simpson and Stargate. The album also features a sample of President Barack Obama singing "Amazing Grace" at Clementa C. Pinckney's funeral on the song "Kaleidoscope".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Head Full of Dreams Tour</span> 2016–2017 concert tour by Coldplay

The A Head Full of Dreams Tour was the seventh concert tour undertaken by British rock band Coldplay. It was announced on 27 November 2015 in support of their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams, and marked a return to live performing at stadiums following the intimate shows from Ghost Stories Tour (2014), which saw the band playing in venues such as the Beacon Theatre and Royal Albert Hall. With exception of "Fun" and hidden track "X Marks the Spot", all songs from the album were played. The band combined extensive use of laser light and pyrotechnic special effects with raw, acoustic segments between stages, complementing performances with a new version of the Xylobands from Mylo Xyloto Tour (2011–12).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coldplay videography</span>

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References

  1. Reed, Ryan (October 12, 2018). "Coldplay Prep Career-Spanning Band Documentary 'A Head Full of Dreams'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  2. "A Head Full of Dreams documentary celebrates 20 years of Coldplay". The Independent. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  3. Ducker, Eric. "The Story Behind Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams". Vulture. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  4. "A Head Full Of Dreams film announced". Coldplay. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  5. McNary, Dave (November 16, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Coldplay Documentary 'Head Full of Dreams' Grosses $3.5 Million in One Day". Variety. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  6. "Documentary Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Takes $3.5M Box Office in One Night for Trafalgar Releasing". Deadline. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  7. "Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams sells 300k tickets in one night". IQ Magazine. November 16, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  8. "Coldplay Prepping 20-Year Anniversary 'A Head Full Of Dreams' Movie". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  9. "Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  10. "Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  11. Bradshaw, Peter (November 7, 2018). "Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams review – schooldays to stadiums". The Guardian. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  12. "Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams (2018), directed by Mat Whitecross - Film review". Time Out London. November 9, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  13. Gleiberman, Owen (November 18, 2018). "Film Review: 'Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams'". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  14. Ehrlich, David (November 16, 2018). "'Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams' Review: A Fun Movie for Fans and Haters". IndieWire. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  15. Travis, Ben. "Coldplay: A Head Full Of Dreams". Empire. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  16. "The Biggest And Best Live Music Films To Watch While You're Stuck Inside". Junkee. March 20, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  17. "The 10 Best Concert Films Available for Music Lovers to Stream Right Now". E! Online. April 19, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2023.