Director: Toby L

Features: Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree

Released approximately a year after their triumphant Wembley Arena gigs, this fairly standard rockumentary juxtaposes reminisces from the band – singer, frontman leader Damon Albarn; guitarist Graham Coxon; bassist Alex James; and drummer Dave Rowntree - about their thirty-six years’ together, with footage of the recording of ‘The Ballad of Darren’ album, their first in eight years, as well as the subsequent comeback tour which culminated in the Wembley shows.

It begins with Damon Albarn, easily the most compelling figure here, driving the documentary crew to his house in the Devon coast and nearly having a serious accident in the process. ‘Time is not infinite’ he observers ruefully.

The band get along fine, easily slotting into their old roles, and the rehearsals, while knackering for the veteran band members, go well, so there are no scenes of Spinal Tap-style bickering and mishaps here. The sole bit of real drama comes when Rowntree breaks his leg mere weeks before the tour.

Alongside the banter are stirring observations on ageing and camaraderie, and with Albarn, who has just split up from his partner of twenty-five years, a fascinating profile of a workaholic ploughing on to keep self-refection at bay.

The live footage from the last tour is suitably riotous and celebratory with Albarn and Coxon in particular exhibiting a punky energy that belies their advancing age.

blur: To the End is released on 19th July

David Willoughby

Follow David on Twitter @DWill_Crackfilm