Review of If I Should Fall from Grace: The Shane MacGowan Story (2001) by Ray D — 16 May 2009

If you're a fan of the Pogues, this movie is well worth seeing. If you're not, well, you might be bored or confused, but casual viewers may still get a kick out of Shane McGowan and his teeth, as this documentary, covering the rise and fall of McGowan's band, with a combination of live footage, video clips, and extensive interviews with Shane's family and some close friends, paints a picture of McGowan as a strangely innocent figure who doesn't know how to do much except write a great song.

And has a terrifying laugh. There's some fascinating footage here if you ARE a fan, and it's the sort of film that left me wanting to see more, especially as, in the years since it was completed, the Pogues have continued playing shows with McGowan.

It could have felt like an overlong episode of 'Behind the Music' or some such, but luckily, thanks to McGowan and his family, there isn't a lot of excess sentimentality.