:
Metallica,
Metallica,
James Hetfield,
more...
:
Bruce Sinofsky,
Joe Berlinger,
Joe Berlinger,
more...
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Paramount
: Documentary, Music, Documentary, Music
: English
: English, Spanish
see additional details...
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Award-winning filmmakers Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger (of the Paradise Lost films on HBO) direct Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, a documentary about rock stars in therapy. After 20 years of heavy metal, a few members of Metallica decide to hire psychologist Phil Towle to work out some group tensions during the making of their album St. Anger. Most of the therapy sessions involve drummer Lars Ulrich and singer/guitarist James Hetfield, with some input from guitarist Kirk Hammett. Also included are former band members Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and ex-bassist Jason Newsted. The band works through difficulties in group dynamics, personal demons, and relationship issues. The film shows recording sessions as well as therapy sessions, including the recruitment of bassist Robert Trujillo. The much-publicized controversies of Internet file-sharing and Hetfield's drug rehabilitation are also discussed. In 2003, Metallica released the album St. Anger on Elektra Records. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 as part of the American Spectrum competition. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
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| Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (Bonus Disc) (2003) |
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| An interesting character study
by Neutron
February 14, 2005 - 12:46 AM PST
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4 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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I don't believe I would recommend this movie to somebody who did not enjoy heavy metal or Metallica's music. But it its nonetheless an interesting as a character study of a band in crisis, a documentary of one of the biggest rock bands around, and, perhaps best as a series of profiles of people, who... although have found their creative outlet, are fundamentally flawed in some way, but manage to overcome to this.
I think one of the most poignant scenes, and one that had NOT been talked up much (unlike the therapy thing), is when Hetfield was speaking to the inmates at the prison they were shooting the video at. Clearly he had not prepared anything and was ad libbing what he had to say, the banter is not all that, but the reaction shots of the inmates, many of which likely are longtime Metallica fans was very poignant. As James himself says, under different circumstances he could have ended up there or worse, but he chose to live.
It might sound schmaltzy, but it works, and it works beyond your standard "rock documentary" thing, not in a behind the music way.
Yes a lot of these are the problems of millionaires, but it is interesting.
I had lost a lot of respect for them over the years, but I think i've gained a good deal of it back and understand them a lot more now.
Does it make me want to go out and rebuy Load? uh... no.
Definitely worth watching though. |
| Some Kind of Monster? Oh, Yeah...
by talltale
January 25, 2005 - 8:20 PM PST
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8 out of 17 members found this review helpful
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| I have to admit knowing almost nothing about the music group Metallica before going into METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER, the documentary made by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky. These two made the excellent docs "Brother's Keeper" and "Paradise Lost," and so, even though I don't follow rock music-- particularly heavy metal--I wanted to learn what all the fuss was about and why so many intelligent critics seemed to love this film. Why indeed. I lasted 75 minutes before giving up and seeking sleep as a more intellectually stimulating state. Watching these guys compose (musically, lyrically) their infantile, simple-minded schlock was funny for a time--as was watching them work with their "therapist." But when they begin feeling SO sorry for themselves (the lead guy actually takes time off to kill a bear in Russia and then goes into rehab; another muses about all the band's problems, while gazing out from his multi-multi acre ranch), all bets are off. Yes, I realize that, to the rich, their troubles are every bit as important as those of the homeless, unemployed and uninsured--but please. Watching this piece of pointless onanism, you may begin to understand what certain Muslim cultures have against America. And I say that sadly--not with any pleasure at all. |
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