Spike Jonze’s Beastie Boys Story is a completely unexpected and thoroughly delightful blending of live performance and documentary that allows the surviving members of the Beastie Boys to tell their own story with warmth, honesty, and a surprising amount of humor. It’s fun to see that Jonze is becoming a skilled director of live performance pieces for film. The film’s use of live oral history is a joy to watch in front of the live audience as Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz are both incredibly compelling storytellers. The inclusion of archival footage in the live stage production is a nice choice, and there are some fun gags they’re able to use that Jonze takes full advantage of for this film version – such as coming in for a close up as they pantomime walking against street footage. But the most compelling part of the film is their reflection on the mistakes of their early career, the growing awareness of their own privilege and the sexism in their early work, and the ways they have tried to rectify those mistakes and push back against the sexism they once helped perpetuate. It’s a surprisingly hopefully story of continued growth and change and maturity. And the celebration of the life and creativity of Adam Yauch throughout the film is incredibly moving. Whether you’re a fan of the Beastie Boys or new to their work, this is a wonderful ode to their creativity and music, as well as our capacity to grow and change.