I have already put down my thoughts on one of Davis Guggenheim's films ("Waiting for Superman). While the last one was a controversial and emotional film, this film is a great breath of fresh air. It reminds us why we spend so much time listening to music and finding out about the artists who make music. We do it because the stories behind people are fascinating, and when the person whose story is being told is someone whose art we love, we are immediately interested.
The film depicts the life stories and musical philosophies of three musical giants. They each represent different generations as well as different approaches and inspirations. The common thread that they share is the instrument that has become the passion of their life: the electric guitar. In depicting these three artists, we gain a new appreciation for what makes each of them unique. We also are entertained as we watch professional musicians' appreciation for other practitioners of their craft, and we get to see them play together.
The three guitarists who are the subject of the film are Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, The Edge of U2, and Jack White of the White Stripes. The diverse backgrounds of these three alone could warrant a film. Jimmy Page grew up in working class England. The Edge grew up in turbulent Dublin Ireland in the 60's and 70''s. And Jack White came of age in a Mexican neighborhood in Southwest Detroit. Each of them give their story, and how they ended up coming up with the style with which they are now synonymous.
To me, what makes a great documentary is also what makes a great film of any other type. The film needs to tell a story and tell it in a way that engages me. There is a lot more to my philosophy of film watching, but a lot of it does come back to those two factors. In these two ways, this film works very well. It is about these three individuals, but it is also about what inspires all of us. For each of these musicians, inspiration was vital. Each of them get a chance to play some of their favorite music for the film, and we can see how it affects them. In my book, the most entertaining line comes from The Edge. The line is a reflection after seeing the film "This is Spinal Tap" for the first time, and on what he views as the excesses the 1970's. He states, "I didn't laugh. I wept." Here, we see that The Edge's story has to do with a different kind of inspiration. In part, he was inspired to do something different than what was going on rather than being inspired to do something similar.
At the end of the film, and interspersed throughout the film, the three of them sit in a studio and reflect on their work. It is fun to watch the Edge teach Jimmy Page how he plays "I Will Follow". And when Jimmy Page reflects on the construction of "Stairway to Heaven", you watch the two younger guitarists sit in awe of the guitar god.
Whether you love rock guitar or not, this is a great movie. That fact illustrates why it is great movie. If a filmmaker can take a subject, and then engage audiences with varying levels interest, that filmmaker has truly accomplished something.
