Everyone loves a great underdog story (Rudy! Rudy!); and the story of Canadian heavy metal band Anvil is one of the better ones we’ve seen as of late. Their documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil has received almost purely raving reviews (98% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), and has re-entered the band into the public eye, where they surely deserve to be.

In their re-acquired fame, the band — consisting of Steve Kudlow, Robb Reiner, and Glenn Five — have found themselves playing festivals and shows again, recording a new album, and appearing on many different popular talk shows. Better yet, they’ve apparently even netted themselves another movie gig: a cameo appearance in Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry‘s The Green Hornet adaptation. As it turns out, Gondry is one of the many fans of the band and brought them in to film a brief scene where they actually explode while playing a rock club — likely to be the work of a villain that the Hornet will have to pursue and apprehend.

Even more good news for the band: The Story of Anvil is now officially the very first screener to be sent out to the Academy of Motion Picture Science’s 6,000 voters for Oscar consideration. This honor has been share by movies like Little Miss Sunshine, Junebug, and Frozen River — all of which went on to considerable success in their award runs.

The movie documents the band’s story in full, their highs and lows, all with interviews with members of huge bands in music like Metallica, Guns ‘N Roses, and Slayer talking about how much Anvil inspired them to do what they do.

[Source: LA Times]