“Jimi: All is By My Side,” distributed by Xlrator Media and written and directed by recent Oscar winner John Ridley, is a documentary that seemed to be both often talked about but rarely discussed in the media. However, all of that is changing thanks to the upcoming release of the Jimi Hendrix biopic March 12 at SXSW before its theatrical release this summer.
“Jimi: All is By My Side” stars André Benjamin (“Idlewild,” “Semi Pro”), Imogen Poots (“Need for Speed,” “That Awkward Moment”), Hayley Atwell (“Captain America: The First Avenger”), Andrew Buckley (“Borgia”), and Ruth Negga (“World War Z”) and is written and directed by Academy Award Winner John Ridley (“12 Years a Slave”). The film will take place between 1966 and 1967, when Hendrix made his big splash overseas in the UK. The film will feature Benjamin’s covers of some of Hendrix’s covers of Muddy Waters, the Beatles and others, but none of Hendrix’s own songs–Experience Hendrix, LLC, which manages the Hendrix estate, didn’t allow for his songs to be used in the film.
The film made its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and currently has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also listed as Entertainment Weekly’s top four films from the festival. With that kind of resume, it’s expected for the film to do just as well at SXSW.
If you’re going to SXSW to see the film, make sure to get there at 9 p.m. at the Paramount Theater. Attendees include Ridley, Poots and music supervisor/producer Danny Bramson.
Below is a clips from the film and a still of Benjamin as Hendrix. What do you think about the film? Talk about it in the comments section below!
