Album Description: As the frontman of The Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before. In acclaimed filmmaker Julien Temple's 'The Future Is Unwritten', Joe Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or a musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and the close personal friendship that developed during the last years of Joe Strummer's life, Julien Temple's film is a celebration of Joe Strummer--before, during, and after The Clash.
Amazon.com: Julien Temple, one of the early documentarians of the London punk scene and director of the 2000 Sex Pistols film The Filth and the Fury, turns his attention now to that other seminal British band: The Clash--or more accurately, to the band's co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Joe Strummer. The Future is Unwritten is more than just a biography of Strummer; it is a tribute and exploration of a musician, artist and devoted humanist. Though Temple respects and admires Strummer (his influence is exalted by close friends, peers and fans like Bono and John Cusack), he doesn't romanticize this larger-than-life personality and presents Strummer honestly and not always in flattering light, though the director's fondness for his subject is constant. Most movingly, Strummer himself provides the narration via reassembled excerpts from a variety of interviews and the BBC radio show he hosted during the nineties. In the wrong hands, this could be contrived, but in this masterful documentary it serves as a testament to not just Joe Strummer the myth, but Joe Strummer the man, telling us his story in vivid detail. The Future is Unwritten is a moving and personal portrait of a musician who helped shaped not just punk, but modern music as a whole. --Kira Canny
Quality material, not just another recycle job! This is a very good documentary; lots of great footage. It really seems like a fresh retrospective. Some of the other stuff that's come out between 'Westway' and this, seems to have less to offer than 'This is video Clash', the late '80's quickie compilation. GREAT STUFF, from the beginning to the final incarnation of the band (i think the last album was a little better than the reviews, but not as good as what Husker Du was generating at that time). WHAT A BAND! I think Mick Jones had the right idea musically, during the Combat Rock period. Too bad we couldn't see a continuation of that.
Julian Temple Does Good Here The structure of this doc gives the illusion of being casual and free flowing, but it's a clever structural ride taking us thru Joe Strummer's emotional journey as a struggling artist, cultural hero and disappeared recluse. While it is sort of organized around a 'wake-like' celebration (a sort of street assembly featuring sing-along hootnany clips and open fire-barrels) it's really about Joe's motivations and response to how his political committment is slowly co-opted by the system that he tried to subvert. Temple's directorial effort here - which utlizes lots of stock footage, present-day recollections and Strummer's radio show (as voice overs) is really good. I think it took the production team numerous hours to piece it all together and in the end it explains a lot about Strummer's relationship to music and society. Recommended and a superb rockumentary.
IT'S A ROCKIN WORLD It's a rockin' world make no mistake about it. These are the words of one Joe Strummer. But in my opinion and as this doc will attest the world is a not as rockin' as it was when Mr. Strummer was still with us. The story of the man, his bands and his influence on the world regardless of whether or not they could understand him. As pointed out in the DVD by one fan, "you guys are great but I can't understand the words." Joe replys simply. " That's ashame because the words are really great."
punk rock hippie A must for any Clash fan, or anyone interested in the history of British punk. A little maudlin at times, and a bit sedate as well, but overall a worthy addition to your punk/ rock library.
The Future Is A Bit Dimmer I loved this documentary, it really told the full story of a creative spirit that got his message out and carried on long after the areanas were empty and the pint glasses were washed. Joe Strummer was a unique singer songwritter who embraced the political and social turmoil of the late seventies and put them to a musical score that is as vibrant today in its message as it was then. By telling the mans story through the thoughts and feelings of his friends and aquaintences you truely can understand the mesure of this man and his music, we were lucky to have him on this planet and we miss him dearly this film helps to explain why.
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