Film.com: Will CBGB movie “work”?

I’ve already written my own post on this general question: Can CBGB spirit be recreated — in Savannah or anywhere?

Now there’s this commentary by Jenni Miller at Film.com: Will the CBGB’s Biopic Actually Work? A New Yorker Breaks It Down

The piece has the predictable angst about CBGB being filmed primarily in Savannah rather than in New York. That’s in keeping with a number of other articles, none of which seem fully in touch with the illusions of film . . .

But anyway, from the piece:

Kristal’s daughter Lisa Kristal Burgman is also one of the producers, and since she’s also the controller of his estate, writers Miller and Savin will probably have a great insight into the time, as well as access to the people portrayed in the film.

On the other hand, building an indoor set in Savannah, GA, that uses the actual bar and toilets from the club will definitely not curry favor with people who actually used those toilets back in the day. Perhaps it’s not that important where the indoor set will be built — obviously, financial concerns play a big part in this — but it undercuts the attempts at authenticity that the movie seems to be reaching for. At least they could have shot it in Brooklyn or Queens.

I feel pretty much the opposite on both those points: Kristal’s daughter’s role as producer will pose some big obstacles to authenticity, especially details that paint herself, her father, or loved musicians in a bad light. At the same time, the authenticity of place was lost with the closing of the club a few years ago, so it really doesn’t matter where it is filmed.