Rock docs
It's no secret: a transformation has taken place recently in the once thought
"dull n' boring" world of documentary. The most visible example has been
largely credited to the massive commercial success of Michael Moore's Bowling
For Columbine (2002) and Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), which aggressively transformed
political activism from 'stodgy' into highly entertaining.
But before Moore reminded us that documentaries could be riveting pieces of
entertainment about 'real life', there was the 'rock doc', which – thanks very
much - has been rocking along nicely now for decades, showing audiences that
like fiction, non-fiction can be funny, moving and oh yeah, rock us out of our
seats.
Many music documentaries are released every year particularly on DVD. Perhaps
the most striking of late is Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster (2004), an
extraordinary film about one of the world's biggest metal rock bands, where
ironically these very 'blokey' mega rock stars turn to a 'life coach' to see
them through their personal demons and the recording of their latest album, St.
Anger. Only their journey is more 'snag' than angry, a fascinating insight into
group politics.
D.A. Pennebaker's essay on Bob Dylan at the height of his early fame Don't Look
Back (1968) seems to be the rock doc yardstick, but the tradition has been
continued mightily in contemporary music culture docs like Scratch (2001),
Black Picket Fence (2002), Modulations (1998) and Lucky People Center
International (1998). And let's not forget Penelope Spheeris' searing trilogy
on metal, The Decline of Western Civilisation Parts I-III (1981, 1988, 1998).
Plus We Sold Our Souls For Rock n' Roll (2001), her hilarious portrait of
Ozzfest, Ozzy Osbourne's metal festival which predates reality TV series "The
Osbournes" (also available on DVD).
And 2005 ushered in the DVD release of two exciting rock fan documentaries: The
Mayor Of Sunset Strip (2003) about LA's longest-serving rock fanatic Rodney
Bingenheimer, and Plaster Caster: The Rock n' Roll Adventures of Cynthia
Plaster Caster (2001), a fun film about a devoted rock fan who's been
immortalising her favourite band members 'members' in Plaster of Paris. Rock
on.
- Megan
Megan Spencer has spent way too much of her life in the dark, all for a good
cause though - watching movies as a professional film critic. For the last six
and a half years she has been serving the ever-increasing hunger for film and
DVD reviews as radio triple j's resident film critic, and a year ago joined the
new line up of long-running SBS-TV film review program, The Movie Show.
Every now and then she pops up into the light to make her own films,
documentaries (her latest is 'Fantastic Brutality', a documentary about an
obsessed wrestling fan, to be released next year). She has also written about
film for many publications including J-Mag, Limelight, Inside Film Magazine and
the Age Green Guide.
And the impossible question to ask a film critic: what's her favourite film?
"Blue Velvet would be at the top of the list, so would Fight Club... But then
again American In Paris makes me cry every time."
Megan has also been part of the Foxtel's Project Greenlight Australia as an
on-air panelist and judge.
Check out these Rock Docs on DVD:
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DiG! (MA15+) 2004
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DIG! is the feature-length documentary shot over seven years about musicians Anton Newcombe, leader of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Courtney Taylor, head of the Dandy Warhols, star crossed friends and bitter rivals. From the moment they met, The Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre qu...
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Filth And The Fury, The (MA15+) 1999
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THE FILTH AND THE FURY, a film by Julien Temple tells the story of the most notorious band of all time, from the litter-stacked back streets of 70's London to incredible worldwide success and their ultimate self-destruction. Featuring never-before-seen performances and shockingly candid interviews, ...
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Kurt & Courtney (M) 1998
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A characteristically unflinching, daring and contentious work, Nick Broomfield's Kurt and Courtney sheds fascinating new light on the life and death of Nirvana leader and iconic generational spokesperson Kurt Cobain. After interviewing various Cobain associates in an attempt to examine the unexplain...
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Moog (MA15+) 2004
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MOOG is a brand new documentary on the inventor of the modern synthesizer. Shot on location in Asheville, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and London, MOOG delves into the inventor's ideas about creativity, interactivity, spirituality, design and his collaborations with musicians over the...
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Plaster Caster (MA15+) 2001
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PLASTER CASTER is an intimate portrait of legendary artist and groupie, Cynthia Plaster Caster — famous for plaster casting the penises of rock stars, including, most notoriously, Jimi Hendrix. The film explores how Cynthia developed her unique pursuit, follows the ups and downs of casting s...
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Ramones, The-End of the Century: Story of the Ramones, The (M) 2005
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In 1974 the New York City music scene was shocked into consiousness by a band of misfits from Queens called the Ramones. Playing in seedy Bowery bar to a small group of fellow struggling musicians, the band struck a chord of disharmony that rocked the foundation of the '70s music scene. Tracing the ...
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Rock School (M) 2005
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Everyone at some point in their life dreams of being a rock star--to feel the roar of the crowd; the adoration of the fans; and the trials of life on the road. One can only imagine fulfilling this fantasy as a kid. Well, leave your imagination at the door and come live vicariously through the studen...
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Scratch (E) 2001
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A feature length documentary film about the hip-hop DJ and today's turntablist movement. From the South Bronx in the 70's to San Francisco now, the world's best scratchers, diggers, party-rockers and producers on beats, breaks, battles, and the infinite possibilities of vinyl.
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