(2011) dir Cameron Crowe w/Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell, Neil Young [120 min]Pearl Jam is a fascinating band if you think about it… They started from the ashes of a Seattle band that was destined for greatness (Mother Love Bone) but didn’t have any high aspirations at the start – they didn’t even really have a name for a long time. Once people started paying attention to them, however, fame and massive popularity were breathlessly quick to follow. Their debut album, Ten, is still a classic but, since that meteoric rise, the band has faced some serious challenges that go way beyond the “it’s so hard to be famous” complaint. And, throughout, they have remained a strikingly reli- able rock band, playing music for themselves and their fans without much consideration for radio play or kissing-up to an industry increasingly dominated by corporations and greed.
This band-sanctioned documentary by famed director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) is, first and foremost, a love letter to Pearl Jam, but it does- n’t shy away from the issues that plague most bands – artistic differences, dis- sent, substance abuse, erratic behavior – and those that are unique to Pearl Jam – tragic death, a mercurial lead singer, their status as “second-best” grunge band, their failed stand against Ticketmaster, and more. Of course, there is also a wealth of live footage from all stages of the band’s twenty year history that are weaved throughout – including a lot from a triumphant anniversary concert and a little from an infamous, MTV-sponsored party for Crowe’s film Singlesfeaturing perhaps their worst and most embarrassing performance ever. Ultimately, this is a story about a band that makes some- times-dark, sometimes-lovely but always-uncompromising songs whose only devotions are to their fans and the integrity of the music they produce.
Pearl Jam Twenty
Area Premiere September 23–30!
Added Show!
Buy Tickets Brattle Passes OK
(2011) dir Cameron Crowe w/Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell, Neil Young [120 min]Pearl Jam is a fascinating band if you think about it… They started from the ashes of a Seattle band that was destined for greatness (Mother Love Bone) but didn’t have any high aspirations at the start – they didn’t even really have a name for a long time. Once people started paying attention to them, however, fame and massive popularity were breathlessly quick to follow. Their debut album, Ten, is still a classic but, since that meteoric rise, the band has faced some serious challenges that go way beyond the “it’s so hard to be famous” complaint. And, throughout, they have remained a strikingly reli- able rock band, playing music for themselves and their fans without much consideration for radio play or kissing-up to an industry increasingly dominated by corporations and greed.