Music Docos 


Watched two great music docos this week.

The first was part of SBS’s excellent ‘Hot Docs’ series (screening Tuesdays around 10pm) called Punk Attitude. I think it screened last year at the Melbourne International Film Festival for those that missed it? Yes it did. For a lesson in the history of early 80s punk music take this 101 class. Interviews with members of MC5, The Sex Pistols, Sonic Youth, The Clash, The Ramones, The Pretenders, Siouxsie & The Banshees, etc… plus the always insightful Henry Rollins. Kudos to SBS! (Next Tuesday is last years Oscar winner for Best Documentary - Born Into Brothels).

The second documentary was a 30-minute glimpse into the life of rarely interviewed musician Elliott Smith. Called Strange Parallel, this 1998 short is actually quite haunting because it was filmed prior to his death yet everyone speaks of Elliott in past tense. There’s a scene at the beginning where Elliott plays ‘Waltz #2′ in front of the camera with a dirt filled guitar, in the woods and it reminded me of Gus Van Sant’s Last Days. At the beginning of that movie, you have Blake wondering through the woods is a hazy state and Van Sant being a friend of Elliott’s, obviously bridged a visual gap there. After all Van Sant has said that Last Days isn’t necessarily about Kurt Cobain but a collection of musicians he’s known and admired. Anyway, the documentary wasn’t particularly in-depth but it was a nice tribute to the brilliant but troubled artist.

 
 
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Thursday, February 23 2006
 
Film Review