Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten

Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten Review



Overall 4.00 of 5 (by 1 user)
 




Staff
kevin
Chicago, IL

Every music fan should see The Future Is Unwritten

4 star rating

waiting for the DVD, record collector

AUG
19
2008
 
 
Love 'em or hate 'em, The Clash had something to say.  They said it through their politically charged lyrics, through their incendiary music, and their refusal to compromise.  Joe Strummer was in most respects the front man and voice of that band and it's attitudes.

Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten (2007) is a documentary focused on the life and ethos of Strummer.  Director Julien Temple weaves together the story by editing together still photos, live performances, interviews, voice overs, and "campfires" (lots of old acquaintances sitting around campfires reminiscing).  Strummer's story is told from his childhood, his squatter, hippy years in London, the forming of The Clash, their eventual demise, his wandering period, and finally his musical reemergence with The Mescelaros.  We see the hippy-ness of the late 60s London turn into the race riots and anti-Thatcher-ism of the late 70s and 80s.

My only complaint through it all was the inclusion of some celebrity interviews (Johnny Depp, John Cusack, Matt Dillion, etc.) talking about what the music meant to them.  They added no more to the film than if myself or a million other fans had been interviewed.  I have to wonder why include them when Strummer was such a populist in life.  Other celebrity cameos made more sense -- musicians such as Bono, Flea, and Anthony Keidis, and Steve Buscemi and Jim Jarmusch, both of whom worked with Strummer on film projects.

Outside of that little complaint though, this film gives a great overview of the man, his music, the way he lived his life, and inspired those around him and those who heard his music.  Definitely worth checking out if you are at all a fan of punk or rock music in general.



I_thumb_up Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten is recommended by kevin

5
helpful
votes
Did you find this review helpful?
 
 



add kevin to my friends list add to my favorites subscribe to feed

I_comment_shdw24 Comments about kevin’s Review

 


scarywoodwitch wrote on Nov 3, 2009 at 1:38PM

I think I shall!

kevin wrote on Sep 22, 2008 at 9:21AM

In response to alicat8's comment from Sep 21, 2008 at 10:38PM:

Thanks. "Lost In the Supermarket" is an appropriate classic!

alicat8 wrote on Sep 21, 2008 at 10:38PM

Great review. I work at a grocery store and the Clashes "I'm lost in the supermarket" is my "at work" theme song :-)

kevin wrote on Aug 21, 2008 at 9:51AM

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Aug 20, 2008 at 6:20PM:

Nice! It fits well with Strummer since he was a big believer in the people fighting for change and being able to make a difference.

GeorgeChabot wrote on Aug 20, 2008 at 6:20PM

That quote is sorta from Lawrence of Arabia's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the Arabs kept saying to him It is written to indicate their acceptance of some tragedy or other as if it were inevitable and Lawrence would say, "Nothing is written." :>


More reviews by kevin
add kevin to my friends list

4 star ratingLittle Dieter Needs to Fly Review - "An interesting documentary about a...
5 star ratingNespresso D290 Espresso Machine Review - "A great espresso maker for the...
4 star ratingHannah's Bretzel - Chicago, IL Review - "Great sandwiches come at great...
3 star ratingThe Bristol - Chicago, IL Review - "The Bristol doesn't offer anything we...
reviews by kevin »
view more in Movies & DVDs view more in Movies & TV