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On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone
Movie

On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone

2017 • Unknown

Woke Score
1.2
out of 10

Plot

One man's search for the prolific funk legend, Sly Stone.

Overall Series Review

On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone is a traditional music documentary centered on director Michael D'Onofrio's decade-long quest to locate the reclusive funk legend Sly Stone. The film functions primarily as a piece of investigative journalism and a tribute to musical genius. It avoids modern political traps, focusing instead on the history of funk, the mechanics of the music industry, and the personal tragedy of a superstar lost to addiction. The narrative is driven by a fan's passion for the art rather than a desire to deconstruct social hierarchies. While the film acknowledges the groundbreaking racial and gender integration of Sly and the Family Stone, it treats these elements as historical facts of a bygone era's optimism rather than a platform for contemporary lecturing.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The film documents a band that was revolutionary for its diversity, but it approaches the subject through a historical and musical lens. The director, a white fan, focuses on merit and the impact of the music rather than systemic grievance or intersectional hierarchies.

Oikophobia1/10

The documentary celebrates a quintessentially American art form. It views the cultural shifts of the 1960s as a period of creative explosion rather than an excuse to demonize Western civilization or ancestors.

Feminism1/10

The narrative highlights the female members of the Family Stone as talented musicians and vital parts of the band. It avoids 'girl boss' tropes, perfect female leads, or the disparagement of masculinity.

LGBTQ+1/10

The film follows a standard biographical and investigative structure. It contains no references to queer theory, gender ideology, or the deconstruction of the nuclear family.

Anti-Theism1/10

The subject matter is secular, focusing on the music industry and drug culture. The film does not display hostility toward religion or promote moral relativism as a virtue.