Bad Brains Movies
- 2006
Filmmaker A.J. Schnack draws from over twenty-five hours of audio taped interviews to offer an intimate meditation on the life of the man who changed the face of rock and roll in the 1990s in this film that uses materials originally gathered for music journalist Michael Azerrad's book Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. From his early childhood to his discovery of music and his troubled attempts to make sense of his skyrocketing fame as a member of Nirvana, Cobain recounts his life in a series of previously unreleased recordings. By combining the interviews with footage of Aberdeen, Olympia, and Seattle - three Washington cities that played a major role in Cobain's tragically short life - director Schnack assembles a dreamlike journey into the mind of an oft-discussed but widely misunderstood legend. An ethereal score by Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Nirvana producer Steve Fisk, as well as songs by some of Cobain's favorite recording artists including David Bowie and The Melvins, merge with evocative imagery to strip away the legend and portray the subject as a real man whose talents stood in stark contrast to his ability to deal with the hardships of fame. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The lost subculture of America's rebellious, Reagan-era hardcore set is explored in filmmaker Paul Rachman's cinematic adaptation of Steven Blush's book. Disillusioned by politics, angered by greedy record labels, and bound together by a powerful antiestablishment sentiment, bands such as Minor Threat, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, and Bad Brains paved the way for such later bands as Nirvana and Pearl Jam by fearlessly questioning -- and frequently mocking -- the status quo, and proving that you don't need radio play to reach an audience. Whether working for a real change or simply attempting to shake things up in the music scene, these bands gave a voice to the legions of youthful fans who felt their opinions had been neglected in mainstream society. In this documentary, concert footage combines with interviews to offer a comprehensive look at the musical revolution that defined an era. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bad Brains, Black Flag, (more)
- 2003
- Add Afro-Punk: The Rock 'n' Roll Nigger Experience to QueueAdd Afro-Punk: The Rock 'n' Roll Nigger Experience to top of Queue
Director James Spooner takes a look at the lives of four African-Americans involved in various punk rock scenes throughout the country. Delving into the difficulties faced by Tamar Kali, Matt Davis, Moe Mitchell, and Mariko Jonez as young black people in an exceedingly white world, Afro-Punk: The Rock 'n' Roll Nigger Experience features performances by Kali, Ten Grand, Cipher, and Bad Brains, along with interviews with such seminal punk figures as D.H. Peligro from the Dead Kennedys, Chaka Malik from Orange 9mm, and members of Fishbone. The film premiered at the 2003 San Francisco Black Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
