Synopsis
Drawn from a newly discovered archive of 16mm film showing Tom Petty at work on his 1994 record Wildflowers, considered by many including Rolling Stone to be his greatest album ever, Somewhere You Feel Free is an intimate view of a musical icon.
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Cast
- Tom PettyHimself (archive footage)
- Mike CampbellHimself
- Benmont TenchHimself
- Howie EpsteinHimself (archive footage)
- Steve FerroneHimself
- Rick RubinHimself
- Stan LynchHimself (archive footage)
- George DrakouliasHimself
- Adria PettyHerself
- Alan "Bugs" WiedelHimself
Recommendations
- 90
Film Threat
Instead of stitching together interviews and footage into a chronological plot, Wharton goes with the proverbial flow. - 83
The Film Stage
A vivid, compelling documentary. - 82
TheWrap
The old footage puts us in the studio in 1994, the new moments supply some valuable context and the ragged nature of the film eventually begins to feel of a piece with the ragged nature of the album. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
Somewhere You Feel Free is a love letter to Petty, but also to that most mysterious of alchemies, the chemistry of a rock 'n' roll band. - 80
Little White Lies
It’s a film that simply enhances the feeling that America has been prematurely deprived of one of its finest musical ambassadors. Irrespective of location, however, we’re all poorer without him. - 75
Consequence
Somewhere You Feel Free is a beautiful musical tribute to one of rock’s greatest figures, gone all too soon. Just don’t expect to learn too many deep dark secrets about the man in the process. - 67
The Playlist
Somewhere You Feel Free certainly captures the spirit of the time, the sadness, the warm-heartedness, and the creative openness, but one could easily argue it doesn’t really add that much substantive value, beyond some of the making-of stories and what’s already there in the poignant grooves of the music. - 60
Variety
It’s so removed from having a dark side that you know you’re getting the feel-good version of a Tom Petty portrait.
