Imagine Dragons Live in Vegas

This is a straight-up concert video with musician interviews peppered in, but the sense of joy and integrity the band members convey make it appealingly unique for its kind. Imagine Dragons Live in Vegas is slickly structured, with a talking-heads intro that sets up the place (lead singer Reynolds' hometown of Vegas), the background (how the band members came together to create a successful group), and the context (stadium-size homecoming concert). Director Matt Eastin carefully drops in a comment from guitarist Sermon about Reynolds' infinite energy on stage, prompting viewers to anticipate what's to come. The concert itself is relatively bare-bones, allowing the focus to stay on the music and its makers, though fans might not learn a lot they didn't already know about the musicians. The band's biggest hits are spread over two acts, and the film's halfway point is marked by an extended jog that Reynolds takes among fans on the stadium floor. We know this is uncommon in concerts because we're told so.

The interviews, which slowly whittle down to a few comments here and there between songs, continue to feel very deliberately edited to match the speakers' reflections to the concert set list. The message that these are nice guys who haven't forgotten where they came from is complemented by Reynolds' onstage effort (the man can jump) and the gratitude he constantly expresses (to his family, his hometown roots, to life). He recommends therapy, tears up talking about those he's lost, encourages choosing life over death in hard times, and calls for joy over division in society. He even holds a baby mid-set. The bandmates all come across as refreshingly clear-eyed, clean-cut, and tight-knit. They might not be everyone's cup of tea stylistically or even musically, but it would be hard to argue against their work ethic or positivity, all conveyed concisely in this documentary.