Pulp’s Encore Victory Lap Britpop Misfits Review
The Masterplan: How Dreams Shaped the Legends of Pulp
What prevents a superstar from joining the legion of lost souls? For Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, the answer, as explored in their new documentary What Do You Do For An Encore?, lies in the band itself. Shot during their victory lap tour supporting their celebrated album More, this delicate and personal film dives deep into the source of Pulp’s success: Cocker’s childhood dreams.
The film kicks off with the energetic track Spike Island, a perfect reinstatement of the group’s core philosophy: “I exist to do this/Shouting and pointing”. With telescopic fingers and twitchy wiggles in his signature suit, Cocker embodies the spirit of his devoted fans—the self-proclaimed “Mis-shapes, Mistake, Misfit” tribe.
Director Garth Jennings weaves together a fascinating tapestry, flashing through a bricolage of Pulp memorabilia—flyers, stickers, and backstage footage—to illustrate the band’s rise. This visual journey celebrates the classic line-up of Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey, Russell Senior, Mark Webber, and Nick Banks, those figures who brilliantly queered up the Britpop stage.
But the real magic lies in the realm of fantasy. Obsessed with space and Dr Who, young Cocker lived full-time in a world of imagination. Into this dream factory, he visualised Pulp by the age of fifteen. We peer into his notebook, which already featured the band’s name and sketches of potential outfits for the members—a secret blueprint he lovingly calls “The Masterplan.”
The documentary tracks the turbulent journey from Sheffield wannabes to national treasures, stitching together live footage with decades-old interviews. Early footage reveals the chaotic reality of the band’s early years, showing them circumnavigating potential electrocution and poorly paid university gigs, before cutting to the triumph of achieving Number One status with More.
The subsequent ascent into fame brought a dizzying montage of high and low moments, featuring alien puppets, broadcasters, and iconic figures like David Bowie, Cher, and Van Morrison. As Cocker noted, while the Masterplan was manifested, he still felt like an outsider. This period culminated in the artistic masterpiece This Is Hardcore, framed as a kind of career turning point.
The film culminates by shifting focus to the present, showcasing the sheer cinematic joy of live performance. Viewers are treated to over twenty live performances, including hits like Babies, Sorted For E’s & Wizz, Disco 2000, and the powerful Common People. These are shots of pure, unadulterated stage exhilaration, perfectly capturing the ongoing smile of a man who has found his place.
‘Pulp: What Do You Do For An Encore?’ is currently showing in UK cinemas for one night only on September 18, and streams on MUBI from September 25.
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