Film Reviews

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

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• Details: US/ 139 mins/ no cert).

Let's face it: unless you're already a fan of the shaggy haired metal goliaths, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is unlikely to be top of many people's to see list. Which is a shame, as this film, charting the innermost dysfunctions of a band, is a vivid and informative document. Originally envisioned as a six-part mini-series for VHI (an idea which was later scrapped for fear of looking like The Osbournes), Metallica: Some Kind of Monster sees a documentary crew following the band from 2001 through to 2003, charting their increasingly fractured state as they attempted to finish their first new album in five years, St Anger. Of course, tensions soon rose to the surface with the band requiring the services of 'performance' coach, Phil Towle, who is brought in to smooth over relations at the cost of $40,000 a month. That's right, $40,000. A month.
Although it takes a while to get moving, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is a frank, revealing and sometimes hilarious documentary on the relationships which fuel the creative process in the world's most popular metal band. Despite threatening to descend into a Spinal Tap-like farce on occasion, the film manages captures the complex dynamic at the centre of the band, and one which those even those at the heart of can't seem to get a grasp upon. Rock on, indeed.

Review by Garreth Murphy