With Peter Case: A Million Miles Away, director Fred Parnes delivers one of the best music docs since 20 Feet From Stardom. While the latter told the story of an army of talented artists, the former focuses on singer-songwriter Peter Case. The film covers his rise to early 80s heights, a floundering post-hit career, and subsequent redemption on account of a tenacious artistic drive. This is typical Rock-Doc territory but Parnes understands the narrative and how it applies to a more universal story.

The doc follows the established structure. We are introduced to how we might know Case, leading a group called The Plimsouls with their hit “A Million Miles Away.”  Of course, we know that Case and The Plimsouls vanished into pop obscurity soon after that hit, but what happened? Furthermore, why do we care? We get answers to those questions along with a rewarding rumination on art and commerce.

The first third of the film pulls from archival pics and grainy VHS footage to piece together Case’s origins. Growing up just outside of Buffalo, New York, Case’s main outlet was getting out to see bands perform live. When the time was right, he hightailed it out of his childhood prison to chase dreams of a music career in San Francisco. Here we learn how The Plimsouls came to be, along with the respect they garnered in the music community. Soon thereafter, other artists were covering their work and cashing in huge. That’s when the studio system took note and David Geffen snapped Case and The Plimsouls up. After a radio-friendly hit, Case wanted to go in another direction.

With Peter Case: A Million Miles Away we don’t just get the cold, archival documentation of a career. We get the origins of a talented creator. We learn of his internal and external struggles. At one point Case recalls meeting with Geffen in his office and asking for the studio’s millions to help promote and sell a very different type of record than what the public was used to hearing. Geffen promptly agrees yet Case is still dissatisfied. Geffen tells Case, “Take YES for an answer.” As Case recalls the moment we see the conflict between art and commerce wash over his face. What is there to rail against if things go your way?

Peter Case: A Million Miles Away delivers a clear profile of the subject; Peter Case and the music industry. This, ultimately, produces a documentary that provokes the viewer to find themselves in the narrative. If you have even the slightest interest in music, heck, even if you don’t, Peter Case: A Million Miles Away is an outstanding piece of work.

8 out of 10