A formally straightforward documentary about Da Brudders, this was really interesting, if sad - three of the band (plus interviewee Joe Strummer) are now dead after all (and the fourth appears to have morphed into an extra from "Lord of the Rings"). I don't know if the film managed to capture the reason the Ramones were so great - there was very little about the music, more about the interpersonal relationships in the band - but for those who are already devotees the film is unmissable.
Interesting that the filmmakers, and apparently the band themselves, considered their career a failure. I always regarded the Ramones as an overwhelming success - they changed music, made great records for 21 years and were one of the best live acts in the world.
I always felt that Joey was the Ramone I would have liked most as a person and that was borne out here - while Johnny was a right-wing control freak, Joey was a radical liberal and a romantic. Finding out he was Jewish puts a bit more of a spin on "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" (his song about Reagan visiting an SS veterans' cemetery). And finding out Johnny 'stole' and then married the love of Joey's life puts a lot more spin on "The KKK took my Baby Away".
I also had no idea Joey suffered from full-blown Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Danny Fields' description of trying to get him down the stairs and into the tour bus was one of the comic highlights in a film with plenty of laughs. Much of the humour revolved around Dee Dee it has to be said, for example his attempt to become a rap artist, the account of his relationship with his girlfriend, and just listening to him talk.
It would have been good to see more concert footage - particularly a barnstorming stadium gig in Brazil and the New Year 1977/8 gig at the London Rainbow which I was at and remember very fondly. Hopefully this will become available elsewhere in some form.
Perhaps the saddest part of the film was confirmation of how much the band hated each other, particularly Johnny and Joey ("Joey could really hold a grudge" someone said, apropos of the Linda affair). Yet they knew they had something really special together and stuck at it for 21 years. It's hard enough working in an office with people you don't like...
Score - 8/10 for the film, 10/10 for the band. Shine on, guys...
Interesting that the filmmakers, and apparently the band themselves, considered their career a failure. I always regarded the Ramones as an overwhelming success - they changed music, made great records for 21 years and were one of the best live acts in the world.
I always felt that Joey was the Ramone I would have liked most as a person and that was borne out here - while Johnny was a right-wing control freak, Joey was a radical liberal and a romantic. Finding out he was Jewish puts a bit more of a spin on "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" (his song about Reagan visiting an SS veterans' cemetery). And finding out Johnny 'stole' and then married the love of Joey's life puts a lot more spin on "The KKK took my Baby Away".
I also had no idea Joey suffered from full-blown Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Danny Fields' description of trying to get him down the stairs and into the tour bus was one of the comic highlights in a film with plenty of laughs. Much of the humour revolved around Dee Dee it has to be said, for example his attempt to become a rap artist, the account of his relationship with his girlfriend, and just listening to him talk.
It would have been good to see more concert footage - particularly a barnstorming stadium gig in Brazil and the New Year 1977/8 gig at the London Rainbow which I was at and remember very fondly. Hopefully this will become available elsewhere in some form.
Perhaps the saddest part of the film was confirmation of how much the band hated each other, particularly Johnny and Joey ("Joey could really hold a grudge" someone said, apropos of the Linda affair). Yet they knew they had something really special together and stuck at it for 21 years. It's hard enough working in an office with people you don't like...
Score - 8/10 for the film, 10/10 for the band. Shine on, guys...