Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey
(2013, dir. Ramona S. Diaz)
For me, documentaries that stand out from the pack are typically either incredibly rewarding or thoroughly depressing. Thankfully, Don’t Stop Believin’ is one of the more inspirational documentaries that you’re apt to view. Some are already familiar with the story of Arnel Pineda, a vocalist from Manila who Journey guitarist Neal Schon discovered on Youtube. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of Journey, though I do like a lot of their music. They’re one of those bands that have never bothered me, but despite some affection for their sound, I never went all out for them. I also had some knowledge of Arnel’s story, but I didn’t know enough about either Journey or Pineada to foster any solid expectations for this movie. In the end, I came away quite pleased, and I think Don’t Stop Believin’ is a nifty documentary.
Director Ramona S. Diaz provided the picture with a style that was very up-close and personal. I think the filmmakers worked really hard to bring the viewer into the mix. It feels like you’re discovering Pineada online alongside Schon. Then it feels as if you’re in the room with the band when Arnel initially journeys to the U.S. for what amounts to a week-long audition. After that, you’re travelling with Journey on the road, and it all culminates with a front-row seat for a huge show on Pineda’s turf in Manila. Of course, Diaz closes out the picture with Journey playing “Don’t Stop Believin’” (reportedly the top-selling song in iTunes catalog as of 2011) for a roaring crowd, while Arnel basks in the spotlight.
The real star of the show here is Arnel, and his incredible talent is the documentary’s biggest asset. Journey fans will certainly be pleased, but the documentary is about Arnel Pineda. That’s a good thing, as he’s extremely captivating and likable. He’s also one hell of a lead singer, and he was certainly a tremendous find. His story is equally compelling. Hearing him talk about his youth is touching, and hearing him speak about his disbelief when the band originally reached out to him is quite amusing. He goes on to discuss the dread that nearly overwhelmed him prior to the his first gig with the group, a fifteen song set in front of 18,000 people in Chile, and that portion of his commentary is positively invigorating. Seriously, his warmth and charisma have you rooting for the guy within minutes.
In fact, while it was necessary to clue newcomers like myself in, I thought the documentary lost some serious momentum whenever the filmmakers veered away from Arnel’s tale to offer up a series of retrospectives on the band, fleshing out their history and touching on many of their various incarnations. I actually came away from the pic with a much greater appreciation for Journey, but Arnel’s story held more meaning for me, and that’s the primary reason Don’t Stop Believin’ works.
Similar efforts to flesh out Arnel’s youth rank among the most potent sequences in the picture, unveiling a humbling depiction of poverty. Arnel recounts singing at burials in the hopes of being fed, after being turned out into the street shortly after his mother’s death. Like many before him, Arnel found both comfort and hope in music--and later, he found a better life, though the fifty pesos he made each night and the single room he shared with his loved ones are surely no match for his current digs.
Journey’s work with Pineda winds up being both lucrative and well-received, and perhaps even more surprising is the way he is accepted into the band. While the challenge he faces in attempting to fill onetime vocalist’s Steve Perry’s shoes are extremely daunting, Arnel is always up to the challenge. His efforts seem to inspire the rest of the band, and at times you feel like they’re feeling some pressure to avoid being overshadowed by their new star vocalist. While some members of the group are initially skeptical about Pineda, it isn’t long before his talent and personality win them over. In the end, he seems to have found a place in the band not just as a singer, but also as one of the guys.
Now, the subject material and the direction of this film are on point, but there are some flaws. I think the filmmakers were perhaps a bit too enamored with both Journey and Arnel Pineda, and there are some sections of the film that could stand to be trimmed. At approximately 125 minutes, Don’t Stop Believin’ is a bit too long, and there are some pacing issues along the way. A shorter runtime could have yielded a tighter picture with greater impact that didn’t threaten to stretch itself too thin.
Having said that, it’s a fun documentary that offers up a lot of joy and celebrates the power of music, so I can’t be too hard on it. I have no qualms about recommending this to anyone who enjoys a good documentary, and any opinions regarding either Journey or the band’s relaunch with Arnel Pineda shouldn’t stand in the way. Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a relative newcomer to Journey, and whether you like the idea of attempting to replace a beloved singer with an internet find or not, you’ll find something to enjoy in this stirring survey of an incredibly unlikely rise to fame.
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Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey will be playing at Richmond's Criterion Cinemas at Movieland, located at 1331 N. Boulevard, for a weeklong run starting Friday, March 8. Check their website for showtimes and tickets.