Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

Plot

Award-winning filmmakers Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger (of the Paradise Lost films on HBO) direct Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, a documentary about rock stars in therapy. After 20 years of heavy metal, a few members of Metallica decide to hire psychologist Phil Towle to work out some group tensions during the making of their album St. Anger. Most of the therapy sessions involve drummer Lars Ulrich and singer/guitarist James Hetfield, with some input from guitarist Kirk Hammett. Also included are former band members Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and ex-bassist Jason Newsted. The band works through difficulties in group dynamics, personal demons, and relationship issues. The film shows recording sessions as well as therapy sessions, including the recruitment of bassist Robert Trujillo. The much-publicized controversies of Internet file-sharing and Hetfield's drug rehabilitation are also discussed. In 2003, Metallica released the album St. Anger on Elektra Records. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 as part of the American Spectrum competition. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Review

VH1's Behind the Music became a hit television show by trivializing the problems of famous rock stars. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is just about as strong a reply to that series as one could possibly imagine. Having almost three years worth of footage (including material from intimate group therapy sessions involving the band members) must have made for a nightmare in the editing room; however, directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky are confident enough to take their time with the finished film. The viewer slowly learns the psychological makeup of each of the individual members. We see Lars Ulrich's self-absorbed perfectionism and learn how his relationship with his father colors it, Kirk Hammett's passive quest for calm, and James Hetfield's self-destructive qualities as well as his inner-strength in getting clean and figuring out how best to live his life. The genius of the film is how the audience gets to see how each of the three main band members interact with each other, and how they work together as a trio. The effect is so subtle that the viewer may not notice how much they know about the band until the point when Kirk Hammett subtly confronts the other two about how little they listen to him. Although it is a minor altercation, the audience understands how hard it was for Hammett to do what he does, and they understand what the other two are hearing when it happens. Although the psychological insights are the best reason to recommend this film, it also works as a look at how modern rock records are made, and as an endorsement for therapy. Some Kind of Monster reminds the audience that for all the goofy excesses (and the film certainly shows the goofy excess) of celebrity musicians' lives, they are fascinating and complicated three-dimensional people. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Cast

• Metallica
• James Hetfield
• Lars Ulrich
• Kirk Hammett
• Robert Trujillo

Jason Newsted; Dave Mustaine; Cliff Burton; Bobby Rock; Phil Towle

Credit

Michael Bonfiglio - Associate Producer, Rachel Dawson - Associate Producer, Joe Berlinger - Director, Bruce Sinofsky - Director, Doug Abel - Editor, Miki Watanabe Milmore - Editor, Joe Berlinger - Executive Producer, Frank Scherma - Executive Producer, Jon Kamen - Executive Producer, Metallica - Composer (Music Score), Echobrain - Composer (Music Score), Robert Richman - Cinematographer, Cheryll Stone - Production Manager, Joe Berlinger - Producer, Bruce Sinofsky - Producer, Michael Emery - Sound Recordist, Wolfgang Held - Additional Cinematography, David Zieff - Supervising Editor, Robert Fernandez - Supervising Producer

Previous:	Metallica: S&M (1999 Film), Metallica: Rock Warriors Unauthorized (2000 Film)
Next:	Metallica: The Halcyon Days (2006 Film), Metallica: Up Close and Personal (Film)