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freddysdead2002
Reviews
Global Metal (2008)
Some of the most horrible narrative execution of all-time
I am appalled at the high rating for this film, especially those claiming this is MORE metal than Dunn's previous effort -- "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey." At least "Headbanger's Journey" had a point. This is documentary film-making at its worst.
The thesis of the doc is quickly abandoned by spending 75% of its time on American and European bands. Nothing new is discovered... We spend our time chock full of Maiden, Slayer, Deep Purple. We go to precious few locations and discover in all of South America -- home to legions of awesome death metal -- just ONE band? SEPULTURA!? In Japan, we listen endlessly to Marty Friedman (!?!?). We profile X-Japan, one of the crappiest pop metal bands in existence, and then barely skim over the only EXTREMELY popular Japanese black metal band -- Sigh. Not only do we only see them briefly recording in the studio, we don't even HEAR the actual recording session or talk with them about how they are one of the pioneers of the immense genre.
What is this guy out to discover? It's pretty obvious that the filmmakers are not privy to the vast expanse of amazing metal bands, numbering in the hundreds of 1,000's worldwide. We get very little indication of what the music in each country sounds like, and instead, we're subjected to Mr. Dunn walking along famous landmarks with underscores by Slayer and other American metal. Discussions are not probing.
Everything in this documentary is simply WRONG.
I've visited many of these areas and can attest that there are metal heads out there.. everywhere, bursting at the seams. There are SO many bands out there -- extreme, weird, interesting -- and movements waiting to be discussed. The political nature of these areas is simply glossed over and would've provided a much more in-depth and engrossing piece.
This needed to be WAY more full of bands NATIVE to each area, and entire continents are skipped over.
It's fairly clear that the filmmakers did most of their miniscule research on the internet (they even state this when they go to China) and didn't even dig deep into sites such as Encyclopaedia Metallum, which illuminates instantly more about this world than this documentary could've ever hoped to achieve.
This film is an abomination to metal and should not be pushed onto the public as true information. At least "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" was a decent primer on the subject. I watched it with my girlfriend at the time, and she instantly understood what I saw in the genre. This film is simple tripe. Under-researched, over-funded, and without substance.
The Sweetest Sound (2001)
This one comes recommended - *** out of ****
I was luckily able to attend a showing of Alan Berliner's new 'The Sweetest Sound' last night for free with a following Q&A by the director.
The Sweetest Sound -- as has been stated -- is about the director's obsession with his own name, and his selfishness of wanting to be the only one to have that name. He goes through a process of interviewing friends, studying old footage, and eventually having a dinner party with the 12 other Alan Berliners of the world (which he obsessively tracks down). A very fun experience, well written by Berliner.
The only gripe is that it dragged in parts as the subject matter never veers.
The director's father is the greatest interviewee, and it's sad to hear that he passed away a month and a half ago. There is however a movie that Berliner completed on his father a few years back which is also recommended entitled Nobody's Business.
Berliner has been touring the country showing this fine piece of work off, and all his movies can also be seen on PBS. He was very genial, and even stopped in the middle of answering questions to say 'Bless You' to those who sneezed or 'Thanks for coming' to people who left.
The one thing that didn't ring true with me however was Berliner's claims to not be a documentarian, as this clearly fits in with such other notables in insight as Ross McElwee and Errol Morris. I guess he's not willing to succumb to genres, but this movie is very reminscent in style of a light-hearted Thin Blue Line. It still comes highly recommended.
And in case you're wondering, this movie floors all of Alain Berliner's combined.