Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

rdoyle29 I love The Minuteman, so it would be very hard for me to dislike this documentary. Still, I thought it had some pretty serious structural problems. The backbone of the film is Mike Watt telling the story of the band in chronological order, using primarily clips from two lengthy interviews. This part of the film tells a compelling story. It is inter cut with performance footage and snippets of interviews with dozens of other major and minor figures in the band's story. This talking head footage has a tendency to undermine the film at time. The director obviously collected so much interview footage that he seems compelled to use it, but what's being said is often repetitive and not pertinent to the point that Watt's story has reached. It gives the film a disorganized, scatter shot feel that really undermines its effectiveness at times.

pm-52 Always did love this band. Can't believe D Boon's been gone 20 years now (that's the spoiler). Saw it last night at the ICA in London. Many laughs, and a few teary eyes. The film really does capture their passion for music and their utter passion for their own music.There is quite a lot of live footage. Hopefully a DVD release will have these in full. The comments from folks around at the time are funny, insightful, charming, touching and so on. I'd love to show this to someone who has never heard these guys - I have a feeling the film would still be compelling viewing as, as I say, it really does communicate the intensity of this unique trio.PM

devojane-2 I saw this picture at its world premiere in San Pedro at the historic Warner Grand Theatre on Feb. 25. The place was packed with Minutemen fans, (1500 seats, and it sold out!) and everyone was waiting to see if the filmmakers had done the band justice. We had nothing to worry about, because this is an awesome documentary! The selection of interviewees, the great archival performance and band interview footage, and editing which contributed to a coherent chronological storyline all came together to make this a definitely superior doc! If you don't know that the Minutemen were one of the greatest bands ever, you should see this film and be converted!

megasquid I just attended the premier for this last night at San Pedro's historic Warner Grand Theatre, and man - what a beautiful film. I know that "time sensitive references" are not smiled upon by our IMDb benefactors, but I believe that in this case it is entirely appropriate to put the film in context in this way. A documentary is, by definition, a time sensitive thing - and this one intentionally so as it's release marks the twenty year anniversary of D. Boon's passing. What I experienced last night at the premier is, I think, an integral part of what this film is all about: celebrating the life, and mourning the loss of this tremendous artist. I first heard the Minutemen in 1985, just months before D. Boon's tragic and untimely death, and so for me, as well as for so many others younger than myself, my love affair with this band has been one of grieving from the very beginning - a grieving which, for Angelenos like myself, is a deeply personal and palpable thing, and one from which it seems we have never fully recovered. ---Until last night. The opening of this movie was like the memorial service for D. Boon that most of us never had. All of LA's punk rock luminaries were in attendance (and in the film!), along with as many of her fans and enthusiasts as the theater could hold, and the feeling was one of - at last - a proper, collective acknowledgment of the contribution made by the Minutemen to punk rock, to DIY, to music period, to each of us; an exhale, if you will, followed by a whoot and a raised fist. The audience cheered and hollered as each of their friends and idols graced the screen to share the myriad ways in which this band touched and transformed their lives, booed at the villains, wept openly at the final goodbye's to D... and this is, I think, what this movie ultimately is: finally, after twenty years, a "time sensitive reference" of the greatness and importance of this band - something which everyone over here knows down in their soul, but which now can be shared with the rest of world with the same level of intimacy - in Mike Watt's own words as he drive's his van around Pedro, in the amazing and extensive live footage of the band, in the very spirit of celebration with which the film was made.So, see this movie, buy a copy, share it with your friends - then go form a band, make a record, make a movie, start your own label or production company or zine ---or just go drink and pogo! RIP, D. We love and miss you.