What Do You Do For An Encore? - Pulp Film Thread

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 10:24 AM

I think for the likes of us, something comprehensive would not be commercial enough to make a film out of! Especially if it's primarily a concert film with cute narrative and archive bits in between.

I was curious as to how they'd manage both elements when it was said they were going through the archives.

Having chosen that way of doing it, and sticking to an economic running time, I don't think it could have been done much better. And for me, it's more watchable this way than if it had been a pure concert film with the 7 or 8 missing live songs.

I loved the use of photos and press cuttings overlaid on the screen and the animated drawings of Good Pop Bad Pop and the band timeline coming to life. All very appealing visually and faithful to the Pulp scrapbook ethos.

One thing I mentioned in my spoiler review (hidden above) is that if there was a glaring omission, it was a bit more chat and archive about the breakthrough years.

My brother watched it with me last night and he said he felt the pacing was off as the rise to success was quickly narrated and he'd love to have seen Countdown.

Obviously they didn't play that live but I do agree that the performance of OU or Acrylic Afts (Razzmatazz too if it had been performed) could have been added to flesh-out the giddy '92 to '94 years more.

liltman · Sep 19, 2026, 10:43 AM

Yeah, they missed a trick by not talking more about the early 90s... I thought they might during the Barry White segment... they could have had fun with the link between his space obsession/Countdown etc.

What I'd give to get my hands on all the archive footage... they did a great job and the surprises in your spoilered review were lovely. I don't think I've seen that clip of the 2011 reunion sugar conversation before, it was great to see Russell sat with them and I want to see more!

The animation of the band was nice and I think Jennings was a great fit for the tour and this film. He seems like a lovely guy.

I enjoyed the 2012 film too and I think it's nice to have two very different approaches to the two reunions.

Grateful more than ever for Sturdy's book though - would be great for a TV equivalent - though as was said earlier here, they don't seem to want that. Maybe something for the 50th anniversary?

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 10:56 AM

The Catcliffe sugar chat was from the 2005 BBC documentary The Story of Common People:

https://youtu.be/h3wUANrCwmU?si=Qn7MaF-8LyBRfshQ

saw119 · Sep 19, 2026, 11:22 AM

Quote from: eamonn on Sep 19, 2026, 10:56 AMThe Catcliffe sugar chat was from the 2005 BBC documentary The Story of Common People:

https://youtu.be/h3wUANrCwmU?si=Qn7MaF-8LyBRfshQ

And that's one of the best Pulp docs out there. They used an awful lot of No Sleep Til Sheffield in the new film. I might give Fanfare For The Common People another watch. There was a weird section where it was 1980 then it was 1985 and then it was 1981! I suppose only idiots like us notice that though.
Anyway, I snapped this on my early walk to work this morning

It's just up the road from where the former venue of the Ritblat club used to be.

liltman · Sep 19, 2026, 11:32 AM

Quote from: eamonn on Sep 19, 2026, 10:56 AMThe Catcliffe sugar chat was from the 2005 BBC documentary The Story of Common People:

https://youtu.be/h3wUANrCwmU?si=Qn7MaF-8LyBRfshQ

So it was! Shame on me, it's ages since I've seen that

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 12:01 PM

I noticed the same on the jump cut from '81 to '85 but I guess that can be explained by the lack of footage of any type til '85 which is a real pity. Sounds like they scoured the archives and that the "It" era will forever be under-served for moving image and live audio.

JohnPaul_II · Sep 19, 2026, 12:44 PM

Did anyone make it to Bar Italia to see the guys hanging around there? Apparently after the screening they all went there for a drink. Can't imagine they wouldn't have been mobbed. Maybe it was for a photoshoot or something?

Shame, as an adopted Italian I can vouch for the quality of the coffee in that place. Always worth a detour whenever I'm in central London.

saw119 · Sep 19, 2026, 01:00 PM

Quote from: JohnPaul_II on Sep 19, 2026, 12:44 PMDid anyone make it to Bar Italia to see the guys hanging around there? Apparently after the screening they all went there for a drink. Can't imagine they wouldn't have been mobbed. Maybe it was for a photoshoot or something?

Shame, as an adopted Italian I can vouch for the quality of the coffee in that place. Always worth a detour whenever I'm in central London.

I went there in the mid 90s and had a coffe there at 2 in the morning. Good coffee but it was heaving.

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 03:21 PM

Yeah, had a look-in about half an hour after the Q&A. Nick was on the pavement outside and I could see Miranda Sawyer in the doorway. Looked very much exclusive. Here's my brother posing outside.

HoltbyCity · Sep 21, 2026, 09:03 AM

I've only seen it once, but are a couple of the songs not from the London gig, but other shows on the tour? The first thing I noticed was continuity issues - Jarvis going from fairly clean shaven to more stubly and I think a jacket/shirt colour change too. I don't know if e.g. This Is Hardcore was possibly inserted from Birmingham a few nights later (where there were also cameras)?

saw119 · Sep 21, 2026, 09:08 AM

Quote from: HoltbyCity on Sep 21, 2026, 09:03 AMI've only seen it once, but are a couple of the songs not from the London gig, but other shows on the tour? The first thing I noticed was continuity issues - Jarvis going from fairly clean shaven to more stubly and I think a jacket/shirt colour change too. I don't know if e.g. This Is Hardcore was possibly inserted from Birmingham a few nights later (where there were also cameras)?

He definitely wears two different outfits on stage during the film. One is predominantly blue and one predominantly brown. They played 2 nights at the O2 and I just presumed they used performances from both nights in the film.

Fran · Sep 21, 2026, 05:25 PM

So much for "one night only" - I'm off to my local cinema in a few minutes. Should be fun!

saw119 · Sep 22, 2026, 06:25 AM

Quote from: Fran on Sep 21, 2026, 05:25 PMSo much for "one night only" - I'm off to my local cinema in a few minutes. Should be fun!

So, what did you think?

Cehora · Sep 22, 2026, 05:32 PM

QuoteHe definitely wears two different outfits on stage during the film. One is predominantly blue and one predominantly brown. They played 2 nights at the O2 and I just presumed they used performances from both nights in the film.

They all wore the same outfits both nights, but Jarvis changed his during the intermission. The first night, a camera was on one side of the stage, and the second night it was on the other. So I suppose they combined footage from both nights.

lucyduck · **Yesterday** at 03:33 AM

I couldn't make it on Wednesday night (Canada), can't wait to see it on Mubi tomorrow.

arrgee · **Yesterday** at 06:38 PM

https://mailchi.mp/811e1a9d55ec/you-deserve-more-pulp-live-18004516?e=3efff6c7e8

Pulp - What Do You Do For An Encore? Out Now on MUBI

Following premieres in London and New York, the Garth Jennings-directed film is now available for streaming.

Exclusive FREE access for Pulp fans!!!

lucyduck · **Today** at 04:59 AM

I love the film. Really great. It sounds great. Do they consider release the O2 concert or this movie for dvd or blueray?!

HoltbyCity · **Today** at 07:59 AM

Quote from: arrgee on Yesterday at 06:38 PMhttps://mailchi.mp/811e1a9d55ec/you-deserve-more-pulp-live-18004516?e=3efff6c7e8

Pulp - What Do You Do For An Encore? Out Now on MUBI

Following premieres in London and New York, the Garth Jennings-directed film is now available for streaming.

Exclusive FREE access for Pulp fans!!!

The opening segement in the taxi seems to be missing - presumably that was for cinemas only (and may reappear on the DVD)?

eamonn · **Today** at 09:28 AM

The taxi talk is on Youtube - Mubi put it up the other day before the film started streaming.

Jarvis was in NY for the American premiere on Thursday night and there was another Q&A there which will probably be uploaded at some point.

Curious as to what they put on the blu-ray, assuming it happens.

The missing songs from the O2 gigs, surely?

Were there fan interviews at both the O2 and RFH shows?

I'd love if there was a segment of interviews with the new Pulp five. I don't think I how any of them sound apart from Emma who I once met.

And archive... I guess the obvious ask is more footage from the Chesterfield '86 gig with Jarvis in a wheelchair which the Dogs Are Everywhere clip in the film is taken from. It looks a lot more viewable than the black and white footage live from "Gotham City" (also Chesterfield?) that came with The Beat Is The Law DVD. That also contained wonderful clips from a Leadmill '91 show which is now probably the earliest existing video of the classic Pulp sound available commercially - replete with Jarvis' chicken jumper.

saw119 · **Today** at 11:29 AM

Quote from: eamonn on Today at 09:28 AMThe taxi talk is on Youtube - Mubi put it up the other day before the film started streaming.

Jarvis was in NY for the American premiere on Thursday night and there was another Q&A there which will probably be uploaded at some point.

Curious as to what they put on the blu-ray, assuming it happens.

The missing songs from the O2 gigs, surely?

Were there fan interviews at both the O2 and RFH shows?

I'd love if there was a segment of interviews with the new Pulp five. I don't think I how any of them sound apart from Emma who I once met.

And archive... I guess the obvious ask is more footage from the Chesterfield '86 gig with Jarvis in a wheelchair which the Dogs Are Everywhere clip in the film is taken from. It looks a lot more viewable than the black and white footage live from "Gotham City" (also Chesterfield?) that came with The Beat Is The Law DVD. That also contained wonderful clips from a Leadmill '91 show which is now probably the earliest existing video of the classic Pulp sound available commercially - replete with Jarvis' chicken jumper.

I know it will almost certainly never happen but I'd really love to see all of the Day That Never Happened footage. I'm just not sure in what context they could actually release this old footage. There was no Hole Dolebusters footage in the movie.

FarmerMatty · **Today** at 11:57 AM

Watched the movie last night, felt quite emotional at the end and during the bit about Steve, he was such an inspiration for me growing up.

It made me appreciate how good the live 'show' looked, I saw them at Tramlines (and it was incredible) but to see them with the full light show and visuals was mega.

Loved the fact it really locked in with Good Pop / Bad Pop style as it made it a very unique style in terms of a concert film/doc. Come to think of it there were segments that could have fit in well with the shorts from (not gunna type it properly, Feeling Called Live.

Anyway, my free Mubi subscription has been cancelled now (sorry Mubi, you have been wonderful though).

JohnPaul_II · **Today** at 10:55 PM

Just finished watching and... me and the other half laughed out loud a few times at just how overt and preposterous the autotune on Jarvis's voice is at some points.

Its a really well put together, lovely little concert film. With audio post production so bad it's comical.