At Any Cost (film)

At Any Cost is a 2000 television film directed by Charles Winkler that was broadcast on VH1 as part of its "Movies That Rock" series^[2] at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time^[3] on August 16, 2000.^[4]

The band Beyond Gravity from Austin, Texas, consisting of vocalist Lance, his wife Chelsea on bass, his brother Mike on guitar, and his best friend on drums, is looking to make it big and signs with manager Ben of the small independent label Psychotrope. The label management is uncomfortable with Mike's drug use and wants him out of the band.

Mike attempts to quit cold turkey in order to stay in the band, but Ben facilitates Mike's hasty exit by bringing heroin to his apartment and witnessing him overdose. Ben stays silent about his role in Mike's death as he hastily negotiates a record release and tour for the band. Chelsea sacrifices her place in the band to stay home and raise her and Lance's son Pete.

With two new band members, Beyond Gravity sets out on tour. Chelsea visits Lance at his hotel when he is in New Jersey but finds him in his room with a different woman, causing the two to split up. Beyond Gravity gains radio airplay, only to find that they cannot obtain any sales because stores are not stocking their album. Lance complains to Ben, who says that they should leave Psychotrope and join his new label Huge Records, which he recently created in order to be able to sign an exclusive deal with the hot new act Strange Divas and obtain a distribution deal with Warner Brothers. Ben gets a call from the Strange Divas and leaves the room to take it, then Lance argues with Mike's former girlfriend Rebecca about the fact that she is now Ben's girlfriend.

Chelsea gets in a car crash and Pete ends up in the hospital. Lance goes to the hospital and attempts to reconcile with Chelsea. Ben calls and demands that he return for the remaining dates of the tour, but Lance refuses. At an industry party, a Warner Brothers executive congratulates Ben on the success of Strange Divas and inquires about the sophomore album by Beyond Gravity, but Ben replies that the band is on hiatus. Ben introduces himself to Juliette, a new artist, and gives her his home phone number.

Lance sings some of his new songs to Chelsea, winning her over and getting back together with her. She sends a tape of the songs to producer Dennis Berg, who shows interest. Meanwhile, a Treasury Records executive offers to buy Huge Records from Ben for 10 million dollars. He tells Ben that Treasury Records is about to be purchased by ZN Media and suggests that he sell Huge Records for stock instead of cash, since he expects that the value of the stock will increase significantly with its purchase by ZN Media, but warns Ben that it is insider trading and that he could go to jail for it. Ben agrees to the deal anyway.

Dennis Berg offers to produce Beyond Gravity's next album, so Lance and Chelsea visit Ben to discuss having Berg be the new producer. Chelsea finds Rebecca doing cocaine to compensate for her dissatisfaction with her relationship with Ben. Ben rejects the idea of bringing in Dennis Berg and instead shows Lance the artwork for a new album of live tracks and three unapproved demos that Ben mixed himself for the release. Lance is upset and threatens to sue Ben if he releases Gravity Live.

Ben begins sleeping with Juliette. Rebecca notices Juliette giving Ben attention and argues with him. When she says that Mike was twice the man Ben will ever be, he asks her why she aborted his baby. Rebecca breaks up with Ben and goes to stay with Lance and Chelsea. She tells them that she only told Mike about the abortion the night he died. Lance wonders how Ben knew about it and pieces together that Ben must have been with Mike the night he died.

Lance storms over to Ben's house and breaks in through a glass door, causing Ben to call the police. He accuses Ben of murdering Mike and taking his girlfriend out of jealousy. During a physical fight, Ben throws Lance over a railing, leaving him unconscious. Ben grabs a phone to call 911. The police arrive and mistake the phone for a gun, then shoot and kill Ben. Lance wakes up in the hospital, where Chelsea tells him that Ben is dead. Chelsea joins the band again and they continue their musical career together.

Some scenes were shot in Houston, Texas.

At Any Cost was broadcast on VH1 as part of its "Movies That Rock" series^[2] at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time^[3] on August 16, 2000.^[4] The film was rated R.^[5]

The website southcoasttoday.com wrote, "With a solid, good-looking cast, it's a shame that 'At Any Cost' takes itself just so seriously. While Franco makes the most of his shaggy-dog junkie role, Mill's Lance is earnest beyond endurance."^[3]

The German website kinofilmwelt.de wrote, "The success and suffering of the group 'Beyond Gravity' will not necessarily surprise viewers with its dramaturgy that is typical for TV. But with its numerous stage sequences and watchable actors, the movie is an enjoyable evening filler, not just for music lovers."^[6]

The website movies.jrank.org gave the film a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, calling it a "Typical price-of-fame cable drama."^[7]

The film was nominated for a 2001 Prism Award for TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special.^[5]

The soundtrack At Any Cost - Music from the VH1 Original Movie was released on August 8, 2000, in advance of the film's broadcast.^[8] The songs attributed to Beyond Gravity were co-produced by Andrew Rollins and Steve Plunkett.

The Barenaked Ladies song "Pinch Me" appeared on the soundtrack album one day after being released as a single and one month before appearing on the band's Maroon album.^[8]

1. Barenaked Ladies – "Pinch Me" 4:47
2. Eagle-Eye Cherry – "Been Here Once Before" 3:51
3. Beyond Gravity – "Beat from Undergorund" 3:13
4. Beyond Gravity – "Meant for You" 3:11
5. Beyond Gravity – "Don't Look Back" 3:24
6. Beyond Gravity – "Happens Every Day" 3:26
7. Andreas Johnson – "Glorious" 3:32
8. Deckard – "What Reason" 3:15
9. Kevin Martin – "Thoughtless Innuendos" 4:25
10. Beyond Gravity – "Talking with Your Eyes" 2:58
11. Beyond Gravity – "It's over You" 2:52

• At Any Cost at IMDb
• At Any Cost at Rotten Tomatoes
• At Any Cost at Letterboxd
• At Any Cost - Music from the VH1 Original Movie at Discogs