In a big way, the "Beastie Boys Story" movie that aired on Apple Stream won't reveal much new to the band's fans, but it's full of graceful gimmicks

• The Beastie Boys in 2007

  Photo: 

  IP

Beastie Boys fans will learn very little new things about their heroes from "Beastie Boys Story," the new documentary, which is actually a kind of non-musical film directed by the band's longtime creative partner, director Spike Jones ("Being John Malkovich" ). 

The movie, which went on Apple's streaming service, is based on the band's autobiographical bestseller two years ago, and is not much more than an invested PowerPoint presentation presented by two band members, Adam Horowitz (Ad - Roc) and Michael Diamond (Mike D). Third member Adam Yauch (MCA) died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 47, and the band actually broke up upon his death. Horowitz and Diamond refer to this already in the opening, but Yoch is repeatedly mentioned throughout the film, and is always portrayed as the creative force that propelled the band and encouraged it to experiment in new musical directions.

Obviously, Horowitz and Diamond return to Brooklyn in the early 1980s to tell the audience in their own words how it happened that three Jewish boys formed one of the most successful and most influential hip-hop bands in history. But in fact, they read their lines from the teleprometer, and with that they sometimes have trouble. These little mistakes and glitches - some of them real, and some staged - give the film an impromptu vibe that fits him. 

At some point stage workers roll out a tape recorder whose coils are stretched around two microphone stands and a few chairs, and Horowitz and Diamond say this is how Euch first made them the iconic drum loop based on their classic song "Rhymin 'and Stealin'". In another section, some celebrity-planted celebrities (Ben Stiller, David Cross and Steve Bushmy) stand up and remind everyone of how much the band's second album, Paul's Boutique, failed when it came out (it is now considered a revolutionary classic ahead of its time).

VIP Survival: Meet the new survivors

• Katorze: "ashamed of bereaved parents"

• So what if the Marciano Foundation spoke in Moroccan?

• Died "Tiny" and "Rebel" actress

• The record-breaking transmitter: 1 million views on Independence Day

These gimmicks are cute and graceful, but they don't make "Beastie Boys Story" any more interesting. Anyone unfamiliar with the Beastie Boys will find it difficult to understand why he should be impressed. Those familiar with it might enjoy spending two hours "free" with Horowitz and Diamond, and will certainly be excited by the handful of emotional moments scattered throughout the film. But they, too, will have to admit that there is not even a promil of fun here that could be found in the euphoric Boys' euphoria. And they too will probably feel a small pinch in the heart that all that's left of that marvelous band are two rich middle-aged white men who stand on the stage and pat themselves on their shoulders for two hours.