|
“Metallica:
Some Kind of Monster”
|
 |
Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Documentary
|
| Video: |
1.33:1 Full
screen |
| Audio: |
5.1 Dolby
Digital, 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo |
| Languages |
English |
| Subtitles |
None |
| Length |
140 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
1/25/05 |
| Studio |
Paramount
Home Video |
| Commentary:
|
by the band
and filmmakers |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
None |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
Interviews
with members of Metallica |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
2 theatrical trailers
|
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
40 additional
scenes |
| Music
Video: |
Music video |
| Other:
|
Highlights
from festivals and premieres, “This Monster Lives”, filmmaker
bios |
| Cast
and Crew: |
James Hetfield,
Lars Ulrich, Mirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newsted, Bob
Rock, Dave Mustaine |
| Written
By: |
None |
| Produced
By: |
Joe Berlinger
and Bruce Sinofsky |
| Directed
By: |
Joe Berlinger
and BruceSinofsky |
| Music:
|
Metallica
|
| The
Review: |
A midlife crisis can be a problem
for anyone but for a rock band with four volatile personalities
it can be deadly. Metallica went through a difficult time
during the late 90’s. After selling 90 million albums worldwide
their bassist of 14 years left the band after conflicts with
other band members, fans turned against the band due to the
Napster lawsuit, their lead singer/guitarist went into rehab
and the group as a whole had to go through therapy. Shot in
2001 during the band’s rehearsal for their St Anger album,
this was clearly a band in the throes of its own demons. This
unscripted glimpse into a band struggling to stay together,
remain relevant and reinvent itself allows the fans to be
flies on the wall. Are they going to go out on top or drown
on their own self importance? Some Kind of Monster comes across
as Metallica’s Let It Be. Watching this movie you’re not exactly
clear where they’re going. Even though the band completed
the album, it’s not clear if the band will be going anywhere
after this. It’s pretty fascinating to watch the group therapy
session featuring former Metallica and Megadeath founder guitarist/singer
Dave Mustaine confront Lars Ulrich in a therapy session about
his ousting of the band nearly twenty years before. ---
|
| Image
and Sound: |
Shot in
full screen format the film looks terrific on DVD with pleasing
fleshtones, rich blacks and bright colors. Featuring vintage
footage of the band in concert going all the way back to the
beginning of the band’s first appearance twenty years ago the
quality of the image varies of course depending on the age and
source material but the current footage looks exceptionally
good. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix makes exceptionally
good use of the format it’s a pity that more of the band’s music
isn’t available to play by itself in the 5.1 format. The stereo
mix although not as expansive also sounds crisp, clear and with
solid presence. --- |
| The
Extras: |
We get
forty additional scenes cut from the documentary. There’s
also one-on-one interviews with the band members about the
film and its impact on their relationship. There’s two trailers
for the movie included and a music video for the album St
Anger included as well. This Monster Lives consists of outtakes
of the band discussing the making of the album and other issues.
---
|
| Commentary:
|
With two
honest, blunt and fascinating commentary tracks by the band
members and the filmmakers. For example, one confrontation between
drummer Lars Ulrich and Dave Mustaine was shot days after 9/11.
Lars Urlich reveals that the last time he spoke with former
bandmate Jason Newsted was shortly after seeing his new band
in concert. The awkwardness of friends divided by the change
in their priorities once again and Lars’ own comments on their
difficulties makes this midlife crisis the band experienced
not all that different from what the average person experiences
in their relationships. --- |
| Final
Words: |
A fascinating
glimpse into a band in freefall that, ultimately, pulls it together
for at least one more attempt, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
shows that every artist even at the top of their game can stagger,
fall and fail before picking themselves up and pulling it back
together again. Singer/guitarist James Hetfield’s blunt assessment
of his difficulties and slide into an alcoholic haze, Lars Ulrich’s
attempts to come to grips with issues from the past and Kirk
Hammett’s difficult role as the buffer in the band makes the
film both difficult to watch and as hypnotic watching a car
wreck. |
