John Foreman of the Christian alternative band Switchfoot is an indefatigable performer (his bandmates say he often continues writing after concerts wrap up, and he is known to entertain waiting fans before and after shows with just his voice and acoustic guitar). Filmmaker Melody League’s documentary 25 in 24 follows Foreman’s "crazy dream" ("What if I could make an entire day of song?"), as he stages 25 performances in 24 hours (working out to about 75 different songs). Naturally, the logistics (targeting locations in and around San Diego) are enormous, and viewers witness some of the behind-the-scenes work in that process, as Foreman draws on a revolving set of bandmates for certain gigs, and sit-ins with others (including his mom on a rarely-played humongous classic organ, high school orchestra musicians, and others). In addition to traditional venues such as clubs and churches, the band also plays at the famous breezy cliffs outside of town, in a Mexican restaurant, on a rooftop (with legs dangling over the side), and elsewhere. Although each performance receives some screen time, the songs are often given short shrift in favor of cutaway interviews with friends, family, fans, and other performers, who often comment on the project being awesome or crazy—an approach that ultimately wears a little thin. Still, this documentary effectively captures a passionate musical adventure that clearly engaged the community. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)
25 in 24
(2018) 65 min. DVD: $24.99 ($299 w/PPR from edu.passionriver.com). Passion River (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 4
25 in 24
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