Andrew McMurtryREVIEW: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2003)
November 29th 2008 06:38
“Some Kind of Monster” is the documentary of heavy metal band Metallica making their latest album St Anger. This film is a chronicle of their song writing and jamming as well as coming to terms with, first of all, their bassist Jason Newstead leaving the band and then dealing with themselves. This film is not done with great style, mostly just being a fly-on-the-wall, except when it is filming interviews and the therapy sessions that the band needed to be able to do this album. During the therapy and interview sections of the filming, the camera is painfully clear and the band are obviously aware of the camera’s presence. Some views of the band are interesting when they are talking about themselves, for example, James Hetfield, the lead singer of the band, says “It’s kinda weird to be a famous guy.” There are several off-the-cuff statements that are surprising in this film. It loses some of its truth and integrity with in the interviews like when they begin statements with “I feel” which just makes the camera seem more obvious.
The best part of this documentary is the live jamming sessions and the search for their new bass guitarist. This is because these are relaxed and doing what they do best. Also the look into the song writing process of Metallica is interesting, since they are trying to collaborate with all people putting input into all facets of the new album. “Now I can further express myself with these lyrics now that, you know, James has opened that door for Lars and I.” said Kirk Hammett, the Lead Guitarist, who has finally got a chance to express his song writing talent to the band. The real-fly-on-the-wall filming shows the real integrity of the band and the genuine feelings, if they were caught in the right moment. Despite this there is still a feeling that they are hiding their true feelings from the camera and each other. “Those things we throw out to each other are bullshit.” is a quote that James used but it refers to the way they are talking to each other with the camera around them. Lars especially, as he becomes more aware of the camera, begins to regurgitate ideas from therapy. The therapists view and the therapy sessions detract and make the filming less pure than if they actually spoke unprovoked feelings.
The truth of this film is muddied. The truth is in what they say when they seem unaware of the camera. When they are unaware of the camera, the open up and actually speak their true feelings and thoughts. There was a lot of anger and resentment within the band structure going into this album but this is not allow to present itself because of the camera crew. I have no doubt that the little bursts of anger which bubbled meekly to the surface during this film would have exploded had it not been for the camera crew and the documentary. This probably would have produced a different kind of album. The bad side of this documentary, which I enjoy watching by the way, is that it does not represent a true reality of life inside the biggest heavy metal band of all time because of all of the therapy and superficial interviews. But I do like this documentary as they get through all their problems and produce a good album, even though it was critically slammed.
This album that Metallica were working on came about due to the revelations and the healing that went on during the making of this documentary. While we don't get to see everything they went through and there were obviously other fights and issues that Metallica overcame, it is a good documentary. You don't really have to be a great fan of Metallica to enjoy the film but an interest in music does help. The pain and baggage Metallica have picked up over the years of touring and recording culminate in this documentary. It was an important album as it has now helped them move on to bigger and better things and hopefully more great albums in the future. I'd give this film 3 out of 5, but it is worth watching to se the self implosion such a legendary band who then dust themselves of and start again. The hiring of a new bassist in Ozzy Osbourne's former bassist, Rob Trujillo, is influentiual in keeping the band moving forward. It also looks at how Metallica write their music, which was fairly interesting.
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