Film #13: Rattle and Hum
Reviewed on December 21, 2011
So today, we examine the documentary “Rattle and Hum”. It is stars the members of U2, and is directed by Phil Joanou.
The Plot:The film tracks the movements of U2 on their North American tour to promote their blockbuster album “The Joshua Tree”. We get to tag along with Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen as they travel from concert venue to concert venue, playing the hits from “Joshua” and throw backs from their earlier albums. We also get to see footage of them exploring the roots of American music (visiting Graceland, playing with BB King, tributes to Jimi and Billie Holiday, etc). Of course, it is U2, so there is quite a bit of political commentary (IRA, apartheid, etc)
The Review:First I must say that anyone who knows me, also knows that Shawn+ U2 = true love. I have had some of the most amazing, enlightening, and profound experiences at u2 concerts. I first saw u2 live in the “PopMart” tour of ’97 at Mile High Stadium, and it changed the way I look at concerts, artists, and music. Thinking back, I feel like I was there for days and that Bono sang every song they had ever written. THERE WERE LIKE 4 ENCORES!!!! Plus, Rage Against the Machine opened for them, so you had a mixture of music fans sitting on the field. That field in Denver that was the epicenter of two back to back Broncos Superbowl wins and Elway’s retirement. It was magical. The music was as sweet and pure as anything I ever heard. Hey, I came home from that concert and I was offered a job while in an elevator, The Edge still rocking in my head. I saw U2 perform from the front row at President Obama’s inaugural concert (don’t ask..you wouldn’t believe) and I was able to introduce my oldest son to Bono. “In the name of Love” was the echoing anthem of that weekend, and the music was as sweet and pure as I remembered it to be. That being said, I am torn on this film. If you are coming to this film looking for a “behind the music” experience…don’t bother. This film is a visual album promotion. In fact, U2 used this film as a way to record a companion record, “Rattle and Hum”. The few times that you feel like you are close to any new insights on the band, it is snatched away by more concert footage or a band that stonewalls at interviews. There is one scene where the guys literally refuse to answer the interview question. They sit there, staring at the question asker and then start giggling when he persists. There were a few insights I picked up from the film. I did learn a lot about what Brat Packer fashion was inspired by, with the long overcoats and Australian Cowboy hats. I couldn’t help but flash to images of John Cryer in “Pretty in Pink” , John Cusack in “Say Anything”, Patrick Dempsey in “Can’t By Me Love”. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the plethora of scenes with Bono setting fashion trends I must have been missing in the 6th grade; shirtless in a leather vest or shirtless with suspenders. Another “aha” moment came when The Edge had more speaking time then Bono. The Edge speaks? Bono is silent? This has blown my mind. At what point did the roles reverse? There are also a few noteworthy non music scenes. At one point Bono grabs a can of spray paint and vandalizes a sculpture in San Francisco with “Rock and Roll stops the traffic”. (An event that I have been reading about that had U2 temporarily banned from the city. Another scene finds the group playing with BB King who admits that he is not good with chord playing. They record an album in Sun Studios in Memphis, record a version of “Where the Streets have no Name” with a Gospel Choir, and rail against the IRA with some Bonorific colorful language. (I guess this led the IRA to plan an attack on Bono).
So, like I said, I am torn. I think my problems with the film are my own. For one, I had just watched “Imagine” and gained the deepest insights about John Lennon, so I expected the same thing out of a concert film that opens with Bono introducing “Helter Skelter” by saying “Charles Manson took this song away from the Beatles and now we are taking it back”. Secondly, I am watching this film almost 25 years after the “Joshua Tree” tour. Of course, I didn’t gain new insights…this film showed U2 at the awakening of their American popularity. This was their Ed Sullivan show moment. I have been following this band for almost 2 decades and already know much about them. I have grown up watching Bono travel around the world and speak out about debt and AIDS. Why wouldn’t I be stunned to learn that they are political? Perhaps, if I had watched this in 1988 I would be stunned. Even so, the film did not last long in US release, it didn’t make much money, and I have even read reviews where the band and the director are critical of the finished result once it had been taken over by Paramount. So, I am left confused. I love the music (best version of “With or Without” you I have heard), the settings (McNichols Arena in Denver where I used to watch “Sesame Street on ice” with my Oscar the Grouch flashlight and Sun Devil Stadium)but the story is not a story, it has no flow, no sense of purpose. But, maybe it is all about rock and roll stopping traffic and I am thinking too much. Maybe it is meant to be a time capsule to show me a time when Bono rarely wore sunglasses and the Edge was chatty. Long live U2!
Link to a Washington Post Article that is written much like many of the criticisms of the film. The author believes that the band is trying to put themselves up with the level of kings and queens of music. I just felt like they were on a journey to find a new sound.
Rated PG-13
6 out of 10 stars
EXTRAJust for fun I put up my inaugural concert clip of U2…see the President sitting to my left behind the glass..see George Lopez standing in front of me? Nice!!!!
The Plot:The film tracks the movements of U2 on their North American tour to promote their blockbuster album “The Joshua Tree”. We get to tag along with Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen as they travel from concert venue to concert venue, playing the hits from “Joshua” and throw backs from their earlier albums. We also get to see footage of them exploring the roots of American music (visiting Graceland, playing with BB King, tributes to Jimi and Billie Holiday, etc). Of course, it is U2, so there is quite a bit of political commentary (IRA, apartheid, etc)
The Review:First I must say that anyone who knows me, also knows that Shawn+ U2 = true love. I have had some of the most amazing, enlightening, and profound experiences at u2 concerts. I first saw u2 live in the “PopMart” tour of ’97 at Mile High Stadium, and it changed the way I look at concerts, artists, and music. Thinking back, I feel like I was there for days and that Bono sang every song they had ever written. THERE WERE LIKE 4 ENCORES!!!! Plus, Rage Against the Machine opened for them, so you had a mixture of music fans sitting on the field. That field in Denver that was the epicenter of two back to back Broncos Superbowl wins and Elway’s retirement. It was magical. The music was as sweet and pure as anything I ever heard. Hey, I came home from that concert and I was offered a job while in an elevator, The Edge still rocking in my head. I saw U2 perform from the front row at President Obama’s inaugural concert (don’t ask..you wouldn’t believe) and I was able to introduce my oldest son to Bono. “In the name of Love” was the echoing anthem of that weekend, and the music was as sweet and pure as I remembered it to be. That being said, I am torn on this film. If you are coming to this film looking for a “behind the music” experience…don’t bother. This film is a visual album promotion. In fact, U2 used this film as a way to record a companion record, “Rattle and Hum”. The few times that you feel like you are close to any new insights on the band, it is snatched away by more concert footage or a band that stonewalls at interviews. There is one scene where the guys literally refuse to answer the interview question. They sit there, staring at the question asker and then start giggling when he persists. There were a few insights I picked up from the film. I did learn a lot about what Brat Packer fashion was inspired by, with the long overcoats and Australian Cowboy hats. I couldn’t help but flash to images of John Cryer in “Pretty in Pink” , John Cusack in “Say Anything”, Patrick Dempsey in “Can’t By Me Love”. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the plethora of scenes with Bono setting fashion trends I must have been missing in the 6th grade; shirtless in a leather vest or shirtless with suspenders. Another “aha” moment came when The Edge had more speaking time then Bono. The Edge speaks? Bono is silent? This has blown my mind. At what point did the roles reverse? There are also a few noteworthy non music scenes. At one point Bono grabs a can of spray paint and vandalizes a sculpture in San Francisco with “Rock and Roll stops the traffic”. (An event that I have been reading about that had U2 temporarily banned from the city. Another scene finds the group playing with BB King who admits that he is not good with chord playing. They record an album in Sun Studios in Memphis, record a version of “Where the Streets have no Name” with a Gospel Choir, and rail against the IRA with some Bonorific colorful language. (I guess this led the IRA to plan an attack on Bono).
So, like I said, I am torn. I think my problems with the film are my own. For one, I had just watched “Imagine” and gained the deepest insights about John Lennon, so I expected the same thing out of a concert film that opens with Bono introducing “Helter Skelter” by saying “Charles Manson took this song away from the Beatles and now we are taking it back”. Secondly, I am watching this film almost 25 years after the “Joshua Tree” tour. Of course, I didn’t gain new insights…this film showed U2 at the awakening of their American popularity. This was their Ed Sullivan show moment. I have been following this band for almost 2 decades and already know much about them. I have grown up watching Bono travel around the world and speak out about debt and AIDS. Why wouldn’t I be stunned to learn that they are political? Perhaps, if I had watched this in 1988 I would be stunned. Even so, the film did not last long in US release, it didn’t make much money, and I have even read reviews where the band and the director are critical of the finished result once it had been taken over by Paramount. So, I am left confused. I love the music (best version of “With or Without” you I have heard), the settings (McNichols Arena in Denver where I used to watch “Sesame Street on ice” with my Oscar the Grouch flashlight and Sun Devil Stadium)but the story is not a story, it has no flow, no sense of purpose. But, maybe it is all about rock and roll stopping traffic and I am thinking too much. Maybe it is meant to be a time capsule to show me a time when Bono rarely wore sunglasses and the Edge was chatty. Long live U2!
Link to a Washington Post Article that is written much like many of the criticisms of the film. The author believes that the band is trying to put themselves up with the level of kings and queens of music. I just felt like they were on a journey to find a new sound.
Rated PG-13
6 out of 10 stars
EXTRAJust for fun I put up my inaugural concert clip of U2…see the President sitting to my left behind the glass..see George Lopez standing in front of me? Nice!!!!