METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER

Saturday, May 8, 9:30 PM, Charles Theatre 1

Director: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky

Cast: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newsted, Dave Mustaine, Bob Rock, Phil Towle

Country: U.S.
Year: 2003
Running Time: 139 minutes
Format: 35mm

 

When Metallica went into the studio to record their first album of new material in five years (what would ultimately become St. Anger), they decided to bring in filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky to document the process. What the filmmakers found was a band in turmoil. Beyond the ever popular “creative differences” the band was also working through personal and group problems to the point that they have hired a counselor for the band. The filmmakers were allowed intimate access to the band, including their group therapy sessions.

Whether you’re a long time fan of Metallica or if you think their music just sounds like a bunch of noise or even if you’ve never even heard of them (doubtful considering they’re the most successful heavy metal band ever), there’s no doubt that watching their interaction and introspection during a time of great transition is fascinating. It is stereotype busting to watch these heavy metal icons talk about feelings and confront personal demons.

Some Kind of Monster isn’t a movie about Metallica. It’s a film about a group of people trying to relate to each other personally, professionally, and artistically and find common ground.

-- Dan Krovich

Presented By: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (directors)
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is the fourth feature documentary collaboration between Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky. They met while they both were at Maysles Films, Berlinger as an executive producer and Sinofsky as an editor. Their first documentary, Brother’s Keeper, won the Sundance Audience Award and Best Documentary award from the DGA, the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Board of Review, and the Boston Society of Film Critics. Their second, Paradise Lost, garnered Best Documentary from the National Board of Review, a Peabody Award, and a Primetime Emmy and spawned their sequel, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations.

Joe Berlinger also directed and co-wrote the feature film Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 and his dramatic television directorial credits include Homicide: Life on the Street. He has also executive produced television series and specials for VH-1, Court TV, MSNBC, HBO, and AMC. He is currently working on a documentary chronicling the story of 86-year-old former Nazi, Dr. Heinrich Gross, entitled Gray Matter.

Bruce Sinofsky recently directed Good Rockin’ Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records, which premiered as part of PBS’s “American Masters” series and the AMC special, Hollywood High. He is currently working on a film about Chicago’s legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company for “American Masters.”