I know many of you think Metallica is all about long hair, tattoos and screaming about the devil, I for one can say that is not true at all, but this film will definitely show this is not the case.
The story begins in a VERY dark time for Metallica. Long time bassist, Jason Newsted, has left Metallica because lead singer James Hetfield would not allow him to play music outside the Metallica universe. Metallica is about to begin recording their new album, so they rent out a former army base and set-up a makeshift studio. To play bass, Metallica asks longtime producer and friend, Bob Rock, to fill in.
Well, it just so happens that a filmmaker, Joe Berlinger, has been hired by Metallica to film them during the recording process for an “infomercial”. What Joe and his crew end up filming is not an infomercial, but one of the most bizarre and uplifting stories to ever unfold in the heavy metal universe.
You see, Elektra Records (Metallica’s record label) and Q Prime (their management team) thought the band was on the verge of break-up after Jason’s departure. Relationships between Hetfield and remaining members, Lars Ulrich (drums) and Kirk Hammett (guitar), were not all that strong. So Elektra and Q Prime hired a performance coach (i.e. therapist) to help the band through this time. Yes folks, the heaviest band in the world is on film going to therapy!!!
But right after the recording process and the therapy began, disaster struck. James Hetfield returned from a hunting trip in Russia and after a brutal fight with his wife and with Lars he left the recording studio and checked himself into rehab. Six months of rehab turned into a year. Lars, Kirk and Bob Rock had no clue what was going to become of Metallica IF James decided to return to the band, but Berlinger kept on filming.
Finally, James returned. The band bagged the army-base idea and built their own studio, dubbed HQ. Recording began again and James rejoined the therapy sessions. BUT James had strict rules he had to live by in order to ensure his recovery, and the rules did not bode well with the rock n’ roll lifestyle of the other members. Things were still looking bleak for the band. Recording was taking forever. Was the world going to accept the non-drinking James Hetfield? Would the world accept a new, therapy-induced Metallica?
Over time, relationships mended and the album started to take shape. Metallica felt more proud of this record than anything else they had ever released. But, there were two new problems. Their therapist was trying to convince the band they couldn’t live without him, and the band needed a new bass player.
The band held auditions and hired former Suicidal Tendencies bassist, Robert Trujillo. And after many arguments, they finally let go of their therapist.
The film ends with the release of the album and the start of the band’s world tour.
To see Metallica go through this is truly amazing. Therapy, break-ups, hirings, firings…it all seems pretty typical, except for the fact that it is Metallica going through this.
I encourage everyone to go check this film out. Even if you have never heard of Metallica, it really is a great movie.
On the DVD:
A fantastic commentray by the band. To hear their reactions to all the things they went through is priceless.
A moderate commentary by the filmmakers.
LOTS of deleted scenes. Some are very interesting: Metallica planning to play the parking lot of a Raiders playoff game, Metallica playing at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Others are kind of boring.
The music video for the song Some Kind of Monster.
SEE THIS DVD.
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