Liam Gallagher: As It Was
{{Short description|2019 documentary film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Liam Gallagher: As It Was
| image = Liam Gallagher As It Was.jpg
| alt = A headshot of a man taken from his left side. His head is tilted upwards as he gazes down. The photo is in black-and-white, and he stands against a grey background.
| caption = Film poster
| native_name =
| director = {{plainlist|
- Charlie Lightening
- Gavin Fitzgerald
}}
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| starring =
| narrator =
| cinematography =
| music =
| studio = {{plainlist|
- Lorten Entertainment
- Firepit
- Lightening Films
- Toughnut Films
}}
| distributor = Screen Media Films
| released = {{Film date|2019|06|07|United Kingdom|ref1=|df=yes}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $477,009
}}
Liam Gallagher: As It Was is a 2019 British documentary film directed by Charlie Lightening and Gavin Fitzgerald. The film details singer Liam Gallagher's transition from being a member of band Oasis to a solo musician. It received mixed reviews.
Synopsis
The film showcases musician Liam Gallagher's transition into a solo act following his band Oasis' split in 2009 and estrangement from his brother, Noel Gallagher.
Production and release
The film was directed by Charlie Lightening and Gavin Fitzgerald. Prior to its release, Gallagher claimed his brother, Noel Gallagher, threatened legal action against him if he used footage of Oasis.{{cite web |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |title=Liam Gallagher accuses Noel of legal threat over documentary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/liam-gallagher-accuses-noel-of-legal-threat-over-documentary |website=The Guardian |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608024111/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/feb/18/liam-gallagher-accuses-noel-of-legal-threat-over-documentary |archive-date=8 June 2023 |date=18 February 2019 |url-status=live}} The documentary was released in theatres in the United States on 13 September 2019. It was distributed by Screen Media Films.{{cite web |last1=Scheck |first1=Frank |title='Liam Gallagher: As It Was': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-1238693/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117015327/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-1238693/ |archive-date=17 January 2025 |date=10 September 2019 |url-status=live}} It arrived on video-on-demand platforms on 8 October 2019.{{cite web |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Watch Liam Gallagher Recount Rock & Roll Comeback in 'As It Was' Doc Trailer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-documentary-trailer-874747/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=13 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821231214/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-documentary-trailer-874747/ |archive-date=21 August 2019 |date=21 August 2019 |url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}
Reception
= Box office =
The film grossed $475,877 in the United Kingdom and $1,132 in New Zealand, for a worldwide total of $477,009.{{cite web |title=Liam Gallagher: As It Was (2019) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt10215424/ |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=14 May 2025 |url-status=live |archive-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514162952/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt10215424/ }}
= Critical reception =
Mike McCahill for The Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as a conventional rock documentary that offered a candid look at the singer's post-Oasis challenges and personal growth, highlighting both his enduring charisma and emerging humility.{{cite web |last1=McCahill |first1=Mike |title=Liam Gallagher: As It Was review – rock'n'roll rebel grows up |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jun/06/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-review-music-documentary-oasis |website=The Guardian |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608024108/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jun/06/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-review-music-documentary-oasis |archive-date=8 June 2023 |date=6 June 2019 |url-status=live}} Frank Scheck for The Hollywood Reporter praised Liam Gallagher's "electrifying presence", but criticised the direction of the film, referring to the film as "self-aggrandizing promotional project that the famously arrogant pop star would have once sneered at". Chris Willman for Variety commented that As It Was was a limited documentary that, while benefiting from Gallagher's personality and candid humour, failed to fully explore the complexity of his post-Oasis career and instead becomes a celebratory promotional piece.{{cite web |last1=Willman |first1=Chris |title=Film Review: 'Liam Gallagher: As It Was' |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-review-1203333776/ |website=Variety |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626012754/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-review-1203333776/ |archive-date=26 June 2022 |date=14 September 2019 |url-status=live}}
Ian Freer for Empire noted the film benefits from Gallagher's charisma and humour, but criticised the film for lacking a clear point of view, critical engagement, or stylistic innovation.{{cite web |last1=Freer |first1=Ian |title=Liam Gallagher: As It Was Review |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/liam-gallagher-review/ |website=Empire |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117010526/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/liam-gallagher-review/ |archive-date=17 January 2025 |date=7 June 2019 |url-status=live}} Michael Rechtshaffen for The Los Angeles Times criticised the depiction of Gallagher, suggesting that his personality was santised for the film. He also commented that the film felt like a promotional piece, especially with its release coinciding with the release of Gallagher's second solo studio album, Why Me? Why Not.{{cite web |last1=Rechtshaffen |first1=Michael |title=Review: 'Liam Gallagher: As It Was' profiles post-Oasis rock star |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-09-12/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-review-documentary-oasis |website=The Los Angeles Times |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913053122/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-09-12/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-review-documentary-oasis |archive-date=13 September 2019 |date=12 September 2019 |url-access=subscription|url-status=live}} Jordan Bassett for NME gave the documentary 4 out of 5 stars, praising it as an intimate insight into Gallagher's life since the split of Oasis.{{cite web |last1=Bassett |first1=Jordan |title='Liam Gallagher: As It Was' film review – an intimate portrait of an enduring force of nature |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-film-review-a-hagiographical-account-of-an-enduring-force-of-nature-2505451 |website=NME |access-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905173016/https://www.nme.com/reviews/liam-gallagher-as-it-was-film-review-a-hagiographical-account-of-an-enduring-force-of-nature-2505451 |archive-date=5 September 2024 |date=7 June 2019 |url-status=live}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s).|References}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2020
| Best Music Film | {{won}} |
| scope="row" | 2021
| Best Documentary | {{won}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|tt10215424}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|m/liam_gallagher_as_it_was|Liam Gallagher: As It Was}}
{{Liam Gallagher}}
Category:2019 documentary films
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:British documentary films