REVIEW: Justin Timberlake dazzles in special Netflix concert film

Almost three years after the release of the revolutionary double album The 20/20 Experience, Justin Timberlake returned with a concert documentary film showcasing the world tour in support of his album. The film, titled Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids, premiered on Netflix on Oct. 12.

The documentary began with Timberlake and his bandmates preparing for the final tour stop in Las Vegas. The opening scenes showed the group’s preparation, and it intimately followed each member of the band readying themselves for what would be the last time they performed together. While the film was undoubtedly a showcase of Timberlake’s unparalleled talents, it also showed the individual contributions of every performer that made the tour possible.

The set opened with “Pusher Love Girl,” the opening track of 20/20. Timberlake shone throughout the song. He was undeniably in his element, and the camera work paralleled his swagger with swift and smooth visuals. Jonathan Demme, the film’s director, recorded the concert with ease, never putting style over substance. Instead, he allowed Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids to wow the audience with their musical skills.

Unlike several other modern concert films, like Taylor Swift’s The 1989 World Tour LIVE or Justin Bieber’s Believe, Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids did not rely on flashy visuals and excessive edits. Instead, Demme flaunted the performers’ raw talents by filming in a raw, documentary-style manner.

After “Pusher Love Girl,” Timberlake took the audience into the past with a few of his older songs. Included in the setlist were fan favorites “Rock Your Body” and “LoveStoned.” The most fascinating part of each song was that Timberlake used his old-fashioned style and talent to astonish the audience.

Not only did Timberlake include a diverse setlist, with songs from his latest and oldest records, but he also covered a fair amount of songs. Most notable were Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison.” With “Human Nature,” Timberlake strummed the guitar and slowed down the heavily energetic show.  “Poison” came not long after, and featured some of Timberlake’s best dance moves.

After “Poison,” Timberlake and company closed the show with a trio of his biggest hits: “Suit & Tie,” “SexyBack” and “Mirrors.” While “SexyBack” was forgettable when sandwiched between two recent hits, it was still a great performance. With “Mirrors,” however, Timberlake reached a new peak. He barely had to sing it at this point, with the audience taking over several times. Timberlake seemed emotional at this point, as he knew it would be the end of an era. With the finale, though, he left his audience with thousands of smiles on their faces.

Throughout the concert, Timberlake and his entourage were constantly shown smiling at each other in between singing lines, laughing at each other’s crazy dance moves and applauding each other’s riffs. To say that the group was comfortable with one another is an understatement — it was clear that they were a family, and the love they shared on stage was tangible. These emotions could be felt both on the screen and at the show.

While the film was advertised as a documentary with a decent amount of behind the scenes footage, there were only a few minutes in the beginning and closing moments of the film. This, however, did not take away from the film, as the concert itself was a treat.

With Jonathan Demme’s organic and unprocessed direction, Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids captured the joy and essence of the concert. The documentary, while nostalgic, will excite Timberlake fans as they anticipate the release of his upcoming studio album.