Metallica - Some kind of Monster
Discussion
What a cracking movie/documentary.
I was kind of expecting it to be a little bit like "a year and a half in the life of..." but boy was I wrong.
I've never seen a more open account of what really happened whilst trying to get the St.Anger album made.
There is pretty much nothing taboo on this film, you see some really deep (& pretty band threatening) disagreements. James disapearing from the band for the bast part of a year when he checks himself into rehab and returning a hugely changed man, and a pretty frightened one at that, needing his recovery program routines stuck to so he stays on the wagon.
Ego's clash big time (Lars/James, Kirk seems to have no ego whatsoever, totally planted calm guy) and by the end of the movie my respect for them as normal people as well as a band is huge.
Ok, I was a fan before, but after seeing James et all totally open and honest with how they feel/fear/anger etc it kinda makes them so much more human. Much more than just the loud Metallica I've always liked listening too.
Its also quite sureal seeing James (or "the mighty Het" as I've heard him been called in the past) sitting in his very young daughters Ballet class with such an inflated chest and look of absolute pride on his face. Touching to see that side of him.
And its not filmed for effect either as at one point they actually have a sit down to discuss ending filming as things are getting a bit too heavy to continue. and only rarely during the movie do they actually even acknowledge the cameras are there.
But the biggest compliment comes from the fact that a mate of mine (who is far from a Metallica fan) also really loved the film. Its two and a half hours long, but really didnt seem it.
Fan or not, 2 thumbs up and well worth the watch.
I was kind of expecting it to be a little bit like "a year and a half in the life of..." but boy was I wrong.
I've never seen a more open account of what really happened whilst trying to get the St.Anger album made.
There is pretty much nothing taboo on this film, you see some really deep (& pretty band threatening) disagreements. James disapearing from the band for the bast part of a year when he checks himself into rehab and returning a hugely changed man, and a pretty frightened one at that, needing his recovery program routines stuck to so he stays on the wagon.
Ego's clash big time (Lars/James, Kirk seems to have no ego whatsoever, totally planted calm guy) and by the end of the movie my respect for them as normal people as well as a band is huge.
Ok, I was a fan before, but after seeing James et all totally open and honest with how they feel/fear/anger etc it kinda makes them so much more human. Much more than just the loud Metallica I've always liked listening too.
Its also quite sureal seeing James (or "the mighty Het" as I've heard him been called in the past) sitting in his very young daughters Ballet class with such an inflated chest and look of absolute pride on his face. Touching to see that side of him.
And its not filmed for effect either as at one point they actually have a sit down to discuss ending filming as things are getting a bit too heavy to continue. and only rarely during the movie do they actually even acknowledge the cameras are there.
But the biggest compliment comes from the fact that a mate of mine (who is far from a Metallica fan) also really loved the film. Its two and a half hours long, but really didnt seem it.
Fan or not, 2 thumbs up and well worth the watch.
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