One of the Best Reviewed Films of 2025 Is Also a Hilarious Takedown of the Musical Biopic

It’s become very common for films about the lives of beloved musical artists to simply glaze over their greatest achievements without adding any depth or creative insights; in addition to largely generic biographical films like Bohemian Rhapsody or A Complete Unknown, there’s been a plethora of streaming documentaries that don’t challenge their subjects of any controversies or confusions within their careers. While there’s not necessarily anything wrong with this form of nostalgia, it’s unfortunate that the lives of interesting artists can’t be adapted into more creative stories. Thankfully, Alex Ross Perry’s genre-spanning satire Pavements combines fact, fiction, and recreation in its analysis of one of the most important indie rock bands of the 1990s.

‘Pavements’ Isn’t a Standard Music Film

Pavements consists of three different narrative threads that are woven together creatively by Perry. Part of the film consists of actual documentary footage, including interviews conducted with lead singer and guitarist, Stephen Malkmus, as well as the other members of Pavement. While it’s unclear how much of these interviews are scripted, there is another section that examines the creation of a fictional production called Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical, a jukebox musical in which Michael Esper stars as Essem, a character who is obviously inspired by Malkmus. There is also a comical recreation of key scenes from a straightforward biopic of Pavement that includes Joe Keery as Malkmus, as well as Jason Schwartzman as Matador Records founder Chris Lombardi. Perry, Malkmus, and many of the other interview subjects break the fourth wall, but the film does not indicate at what point it is intended to be taken seriously.

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“I don’t think they want to hear what I want to play.”

An unusual approach was the best way to reflect the legacy of Pavement, a band that has always been praised for its clever, sarcastic lyrics and ironic fan base. While films like Straight Outta Compton or Rocketman deal with artists that were massively popular all over the world, Pavement was always a rather niche group that had a more selective fan base. Exaggerating the impact that Pavement actually had on the music industry gives the film some of its best jokes, as it regularly satirizes the self-importance of many biographical films and documentaries. The film even goes one step further to acknowledge how films about artists are received by critics and awards season pundits; due to a recurring joke about Keery doing “Method” acting to play Malkmus (in what is a very funny lampoon of Austin Butler’s dedication during the making of Elvis), it is mentioned where the performance fits into his career arc, and whether he could be in contention for award season nominations.

‘Pavements’ Is Both Satirical and Sincere

Pavements is a very complex film that is nonetheless accessible because it allows different audiences to appreciate it based on their awareness of the surrounding culture. While many in-jokes reference specific moments in Pavement’s history, there are also broader bits of satire that look at trends within theater and film. Although many of the performances are delivered in a fictional context, the music is still genuinely great, as Perry has proven himself capable of getting great concert footage with his coverage; he previously directed Elizabeth Moss in a career-best performance in the punk rock drama Her Smell. Pavements still finds emotional power in seeing the band reunite on stage for the first time in years, and shines a spotlight on why their idiosyncratic, didactic style of songwriting was such a breath of fresh air compared to other indie groups of the 1990s.

Pavements doesn’t conform to any standards regarding celebrity media, but it does offer insight into the ways that artists are perceived; while it may be easy to condense the entire career of a famous group into a convenient, three-act structure, real life can take many twists and turns. It’s a credit to the members of Pavement that they accepted such a satirical, playful analysis of their past achievements, but Pavements also suggests that the band still has a future, as it concludes by hinting at what their next act might be. Although lifelong fans of Pavement are bound to appreciate a film that is so exclusively tailored to their sensibilities, those who are unfamiliar with the band before seeing Pavements may walk away wanting to learn more about them.

Pavements is now playing in select theaters.