ITS NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY
(director/writer: Amy Berg; cinematographers: Wolfgang Held, Jenna Rosher, Curren Sheldon, Alex Takats; editors: Brian A. Kates, Stacy Goldate; music: Jeff Buckley; cast: Rebecca Moore, Joan Wasser, Mary Guibert, Mick Grondahl, Matt Johnson, Parker Kindred; Runtime: 108; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Amy Berg, Ryan Heller, Christine Connor, Mandy Chang, Jennie Bedusa, Matthew Roozen; Magnolia Pictures; 2025)
“Touching music-bio on the late singer from the 1990s.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Amy Berg (“Prophet’s Prey”/”Deliver Us From Evil”) affectionately directs this touching music- bio on the late singer from the 1990s, Jeff Buckley. In 1994, the singer with the voice of an angel, released his acclaimed international hit debut album Grace and became a cult icon in his 20s. In 1997, at the age of 30, with just this one album, the son of the popular folk singer Tim Buckley, drowned.
Jeff’s mom, Mary Guibert, gave her approval of the project to Berg (a devoted fan of her son’s music), and provided a heartfelt film interview).
The conventional but emotionally stirring biopic follows Jeff’s move to NYC and his waiter gig, as he began his musical career.
The film includes his songs such as “So Real,” “Grace,” “Last Goodbye,” and “Everybody Here Wants You.” Also interviews, archival footage, and comments from friends, lovers, colleagues and his close admirers. Through Berg’s skilled filmmaking, the viewer gets a good feel for the complicated singer’s life story.
Jeff was not helped when his dad was alive and ignored him, but was able to help himself make his way in the music world.
The sensitive singer was disillusioned by the business side of the musical world, but he never veered from being a true artist. He was recognized as an interpreter of artists such as Nina Simone, MC5 and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. There’s footage of him singing early on in his career at the coffee shop Sin-e. He’s perhaps best known for his illustrious cover of Leonard Cohen’s best album Hallelujah.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 9/4/2025 GRADE: A-
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