Bono: Stories of Surrender

This is an entertaining and emotionally engaging mix of music and song that will play well to both die-hard fans and newcomers alike, with Bono proving charming company throughout the film’s 87 minute running time.

While it’s not quite the same as actually being there, Bono: Stories Of Surrender shines a new, personal light on his dramatic performance.

While chiefly serving as an engaging conversation piece for those already familiar with the man and his band, director Andrew Dominik’s film is also an artistic, effectively streamlined celebration of reflection.

The musical interludes — which include gorgeous versions of such songs as “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “Vertigo,” “Desire” and “Beautiful Day,” among others — provide a welcome contrast to the film’s inevitable talkiness. Ditto the kinetic cinematography and editing, which give the proceedings an arresting cinematic quality.

It’s a confident, often engaging mix of music and no-frills theatrical performance, with Bono often coming across like some forgotten character that Samuel Beckett created but then suppressed due to undue levels of rock’n’roll pizzazz.

If Bono is melodramatic, Mr. Dominik is an enabler. Thom Zimny’s matter-of-fact direction of another paternally damaged rock star’s concert confessional, “Springsteen on Broadway,” let its star’s charisma shine through. “Stories of Surrender” is more like an epic of self-parody.

Bono may be his own worst enemy in the one-man show Stories of Surrender, but only just. His second worst is Blonde director Andrew Dominik, who has turned it into a more excruciating film than you might even have surmised.

Bono gives us an excellent performance. What started asa tour in support of his book has developed in a one-man-show (or quartermen show as he calls it) that tickles the senses. With a tear and a smile Bono focusses on some of the most important people in his life in conversation with them and himself. Last but not least: the music is sublime with beautiful renditions of U2 classics. Highly recommended!

Exclusively available on AppleTV+ in the U.S., this new documentary film chronicling the book tour for Bono's Stories of Surrender is an incredible piece of art. There are stories interwoven with stripped down music performances. The thing I liked most about the movie is that there are several moments when the emotion truly welled up in me as Bono recounted the stories of his life. Any U2 fan will enjoy this, but even casual documentary lovers have much to relish here.

This was like a powerful poetry and an inspiration speech combined into a story with musical aesthetics to expand the emotions. It was honestly really cool and interesting, but also wasn't the most entertaining to watch. This is much more of a listening piece. While the written words and lights can give some extra tone to what is written here, this is made more for your ears. I would have had chills if I saw this live.

Bono quer manter a fama de bom moço fazendo um mea culpa, assumindo-se parte de uma lógica imperialista e privilegiada de artistas que comprrendem o lugar de fala, mesmo que pra isso se utilize de certa verborragia. O ponto alto acaba sendo as músicas mesmo, e a relação com o pai. No mais, é como um show em stand-up, uma ou outra tirada interessante, mas num formato burocrático demais. AInda bem que é curtinho e passa voando.

It lacks the most important thing about Bono and U2: Why did they cut Mercy from How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb?r