Sign 'O' the Times (1987) poster
1987 · documentary · music

Sign 'O' the Times

Directed by Prince1h 24m1987
ElsewhereIMDb8.03kRT80%Metacritic72TMDB7.454
  • cosy
  • kinetic
  • intense
  • redemptive
  • tender
  • signature
Movie DNA

Cosy, breathless, measured documentary / music, grounded in texture. Redemptive, intimate, tender, hand-scored across twelve axes of taste.

How every film is hand-scored →

In 1987, to capitalize on his growing success in Europe, Prince toured extensively to promote the album of the same name and sales increased accordingly. However, the United States remained resistant to his latest album, and sales began to drop; it was at this point that Prince decided to film a live concert promoting the new material, for eventual distribution to theaters in America. Featuring the band that accompanied Prince on his 1987 Sign o' the Times Tour, including dancer Cat Glover, keyboardist Boni Boyer, bassist Levi Seacer, Jr., guitarist Miko Weaver, drummer Sheila E. and former member of The Revolution keyboardist Dr. Fink, the film sees the group perform live on stage (although "U Got the Look" is represented by its promotional music video).

Our read · Sign 'O' the Times (1987) reads as a cosy, breathless, grounded documentary · music entry — measured in intensity, intimate in scope, tender in temperature, redemptive in outlook, with a strong directorial signature. Hand-scored on twelve axes of taste — mood, pacing, weirdness, hope, stakes, humour, reality, density, warmth, auteur, intensity, and era — with a derived palette drawn from its dominant cinematography.

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The shape of Sign 'O' the Times

Tonight, this looks like

What watching it is actually like.

You want high-energy Prince concert film at his creative and performance peak.

ends upliftingyou’ll feel glowing aftergrabs you earlygrips from the openattention 3/5breezes by
Date nightWith friendsSoloWith parentsKids around
Heads-upnuditydrug usestrobe

Skip it tonightYou dislike concert movies or Prince's sensual 80s style and flashing lights.

DNA · twelve axes

The reading.

Each axis is hand-scored — not derived from votes or genre averages. The marker shows where this film sits; the gradient fill uses the film's own cinematography palette.

Mood · HeavyCosy
Pacing · Slow-burnKinetic
Intensity · GentleExtreme
Weirdness · ConventionalSurreal
Hope · NihilisticRedemptive
Stakes · IntimateEpic
Humour · NoneBroad
Reality · GroundedFantastical
Density · SparseTwisty
Warmth · ColdTender
Auteur · TransparentSignature
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