Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten
Joe Strummer, gravel-voiced frontman for the Clash, springs to life in Julien Temple's illuminatingly honest documentary The Future Is Unwritten - Joe Strummer. Fleshed out by super-rare home film, vintage live TV footage, and frank interviews with Strummer himself, every facet of his life comes under intense scrutiny. Especially illuminating are nocturnal campfire soundbites, as well as candid revelations by Clash guitarist and fellow songwriter Mick Jones. Temple's portrayal of the Clash's early idealism and meteoric rise to fame is a celebration of the rebirth and growth of Joe Strummer as a musician and, more importantly, as a human being.
Member Reviews
not 222 minutes - manwithoutaname
Don't miss watching this fabulous documentary based on the advertised length of 222 minutes. That time frame covers all the bonus material, and the feature is a lean 2 hours. Intense film direction, telling the story of an intense life. Strummer, despite his huge flaws, was one of the greats, and this movie does him justice.For hard core fans only... - Cricri7
Like everyone who lived through the 80's, we all have danced and singed to songs from The Clash. I am far from a hard core fan, only a casual one. I usually love music documentaries but I did not care much for this one. It is supposed to start from the beginning but they leave you bored in the meanwhile. I would not recommend it unless you are a true fan of this group...or of Joe Strummer.Passionate, thoughtful, honest - gnox
Besides being a fascinating portrait of Strummer and his times, this is also a penetrating study of what happens when an artist out to challenge all the conventional criteria of success and fame actually becomes famous and successful in those terms. It parallels what happened to Bob Dylan 20 years earlier, as documented in Scorsese's No Direction Home -- but with differences of course. The campfire motif in the film is very effective and appropriate and the interviews with Strummer's associates reveal many sides of his character and of the punk rock scene, without trying to settle on a simple judgment. This is among the best film portraits of a musician i've seen.
Member Reviews
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not 222 minutes - manwithoutaname
Don't miss watching this fabulous documentary based on the advertised length of 222 minutes. That time frame covers all the bonus material, and the feature is a lean 2 hours. Intense film direction, telling the story of an intense life. Strummer, despite his ...For hard core fans only... - Cricri7
Like everyone who lived through the 80's, we all have danced and singed to songs from The Clash. I am far from a hard core fan, only a casual one. I usually love music documentaries but I did not care much for this one. It is supposed to start from the beginning ...Passionate, thoughtful, honest - gnox
Besides being a fascinating portrait of Strummer and his times, this is also a penetrating study of what happens when an artist out to challenge all the conventional criteria of success and fame actually becomes famous and successful in those terms. It parallels ...