American Hardcore (2006)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Paul Rachman

Writer:

Steven Blush (writer)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

The History of American Punk Rock 1980-1986

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Punk Rock | Skinhead | Indianapolis Indiana | Reno Nevada

Cast

Lucky Lehrer	...	Himself
Vic Bondi	...	Himself
Joe Keithley	...	Himself (as Joey 'Shithead' Keithley)
Keith Morris	...	Himself
Angie Sciarappa	...	Herself
Nancy Barile	...	Herself
Mike Watt	...	Himself
David Markey	...	Himself (as Dave Markey)
Jordan Schwartz	...	Himself
Howard Saunders	...	Himself
Perry Webb	...	Himself
Ian MacKaye	...	Himself
Bobby Steele	...	Himself
Greg Hetson	...	Himself
Richard 'Crispy' Crammer	...	Himself

Also Known As:

American Hardcore: The History of American Punk Rock 1980 - 1986 (USA) (long title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language including sex and drug references.

Runtime:

USA:100 min | Canada:100 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:100 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

AHC Productions LLC

Movie Connections:

References Frankenstein (1931)

A Good Time Capsule of the Eighties Hardcore Movement but...

Fans of this short window in time of musical history will surely enjoy it for its nostalgic merit alone. The footage is raw and accurately depicts the dingy and often violent world of Post "Germs, Sex Pistols" and Pre-metal years of hardcore. Many important bands of that era were not depicted in the film for various legal reasons IE: The Dead Kennedy's, and The Misfits, but the variety of bands presented is a noble effort. Surprising to me was what I considered a LACK of music in the film, as most of it came in the form of the final ten seconds of a songs performance, then cutting into the next scene. The film IS about music so it's not like there isn't any, however I would have enjoyed more extended live footage. My harshest criticism of the film is that it simply shrinks away as to the real explanation of how this movement really came to an end. While it glorifies many great bands that created some extremely potent and visceral music, it ultimately brushed aside why the hardcore scene seemed to sputter and almost vanish. The film near its summation briefly touches upon the influence of heavy metal and how some bands evolved into that new sound. They seem to suggest that the "atmosphere" had changed but in reality the bands changed. Kids showed up a year later and all their favorite bands had grown long hair and seemed to be interested little in their hardcore roots. Sad but true.. but this was a genre praised for its dedication to "Doing It Yourself" but in the end they chose to find a way to pay the bills instead. I have never faulted bands for deciding they wanted to eat more than a package of Dorrito's in the back of a tour van, and I do not view metal as a lesser form of art, but the fact remains that the bands create the music, which in turn produces an environment. I was all too happy to indulge in the personal trip down memory lane, but I would have liked a more probing response as to its demise. I have to review this film positively because I am biased as to the musical content and to the time in which it represents, but to omit that money and industry influence is what truly ruined this scene,(As in most others due to over exposure, parody and more seemingly lucrative musical paths) is a strange and unsatisfying oversight. Having just praised its unyielding, anti-conformist roots I was then expected to forget it ever happened. As I stated all in all it's an absorbing film and a greatly accurate depiction of a highly influential point in the musical landscape. It should be viewed if for no other reason than its tribute to the contribution that American Hardcore had to musical history.