This Netflix doc hits its mark with an interesting character leading and innovating the EDM world. I've never been a big fan of EDM, but this doc made me want to check out the history of the genre more. I have a good friend who constantly goes to EDM concerts or raves and I've never gone with him, but no I have the urge to see the spectacle. Steve Aoki comes from a background relatable to punk rockers and their upbringing. Interestingly, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead parallels these two stories together to show how new music genres are often created. I also learned a lot from the film about Aoki's father, who was apparently the founder of Benihana. Those are clearly hard shoes for Steve to follow, but it's nice to see his development of pride throughout the feature film.
Aside from the story, the mise-en-scene and cinematography are both top-notch in the film. Slow motion shots take us into the mind of Aoki, contemplating what his life is all about. Most of the time, the tone of the film comes off as reflective, fitting Aoki's thought process perfectly. Montages also occur occasionally to give us the daredevil attitude that he inherited from his father. EDM is all about getting the crowd moving to the beat of the DJ. The film at times made me want to dance and enjoy the art, but emotional moments hit hard at times as well. Towards the end of the flick, the death of a DJ hits Aoki and the viewer hard. We grow through the success and struggles of Aoki's career, putting ourselves in his footsteps. His career may not be a proud moment for his father, but it certainly shows us a hard-working and successful person who deserves all of the credit that he has gotten.
The Bottom Line: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead solidly places its audience in the shoes of one of the most hard-working and introspective musical artists to ever walk the earth.
Score: 9.6/10
Aside from the story, the mise-en-scene and cinematography are both top-notch in the film. Slow motion shots take us into the mind of Aoki, contemplating what his life is all about. Most of the time, the tone of the film comes off as reflective, fitting Aoki's thought process perfectly. Montages also occur occasionally to give us the daredevil attitude that he inherited from his father. EDM is all about getting the crowd moving to the beat of the DJ. The film at times made me want to dance and enjoy the art, but emotional moments hit hard at times as well. Towards the end of the flick, the death of a DJ hits Aoki and the viewer hard. We grow through the success and struggles of Aoki's career, putting ourselves in his footsteps. His career may not be a proud moment for his father, but it certainly shows us a hard-working and successful person who deserves all of the credit that he has gotten.
The Bottom Line: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead solidly places its audience in the shoes of one of the most hard-working and introspective musical artists to ever walk the earth.
Score: 9.6/10
