It Might Get Loud

Last updated
It Might Get Loud
Itmightgetloud.PNG
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
Produced by Thomas Tull
Davis Guggenheim
Lesley Chilcott
Peter Afterman
Starring The Edge
Jimmy Page
Jack White
CinematographyErich Roland
Guillermo Navarro
Edited byGreg Finton
Production
company
Steel Curtain Pictures
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • September 5, 2008 (2008-09-05)(TIFF)
  • August 14, 2009 (2009-08-14)(United States)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,807,506

It Might Get Loud is a 2008 American documentary film by filmmaker Davis Guggenheim. It explores the careers and musical styles of prominent rock guitarists Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack White. [1] The film premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, and received a wide release in the United States on August 14, 2009, by Sony Pictures Classics.

Contents

Synopsis

The film documents the varied playing and recording styles of guitarists Jimmy Page, David "The Edge" Evans, and Jack White.

Page's history with guitar traces back to his childhood when he played in a skiffle band. After desiring to do more than play pop music, Page "retires" from guitar playing to attend art school. He later revives his music career as a session guitarist, only to be discouraged by the realization that he is playing others' music and stifling his own creativity. At that point, Page begins to write and perform in the bands The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. Page discusses the skiffle and blues music that influenced him at the time. For many of Page's scenes, he is seen visiting Headley Grange, where several songs from Led Zeppelin IV were recorded, and in one scene, explains how the distinctive drum sound from "When the Levee Breaks" was achieved from the acoustics of the house in which it was recorded.

Edge's history with guitar traces back to building a guitar with his brother Dik and learning to play. In the film, he visits Mount Temple Comprehensive School and recalls forming U2 in his childhood. He also demonstrates his playing technique, in how he eliminates certain strings from chords, as well as his use of echo and delay effects to "fill in notes that aren't there". He also discusses his purchase of his signature guitar, the Gibson Explorer, in New York City and the punk music that influenced him. In other scenes, he plays early demo tapes of "Where the Streets Have No Name", discusses his inspiration for "Sunday Bloody Sunday", and spends time experimenting with guitar effects for the riffs to "Get on Your Boots".

White traces his musical background to his childhood in a rundown neighborhood of Detroit. Living with two drum sets and a guitar occupying his room and sleeping on a piece of foam due to taking out his bed for more room for his music, White struggled to find a musical identity, as it was "uncool" to play an instrument and his nine siblings all shared a musical propensity. His strong interest in blues and roots music ran counter to the hip hop and house music popular in the predominantly Latino neighbourhood at the time. White eventually finds a niche in a garage rock band called The Upholsterers while working as an upholsterer, which paves the way for his future bands The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. White's philosophy is to limit and challenge himself in various ways to force creative approaches to recording and playing.

The touchstone of the film is a meeting of the three guitarists at a Los Angeles soundstage, dubbed "The Summit", on Jan. 23, 2008. [2] In these scenes, the three guitarists not only converse about their influences and techniques, but they also play each other's songs together, showing each other how to play "I Will Follow", "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground", and "In My Time of Dying". The film concludes with the men playing an impromptu cover version of The Band's "The Weight" on acoustic guitars.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 70/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
U2 guitarist The Edge on route to a press conference for the film at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. U2 Guitarist Edge leaves Bay St. Bistro to Tiff 08 Press Conference for It Might Get Loud.jpg
U2 guitarist The Edge on route to a press conference for the film at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, and played at both Sundance Film Festival and the 59th Berlin International Film Festival in 2009. The film received generally favorable reviews, achieving an average critic review score of 70% on Metacritic, [3] and currently holds a rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus of: "An affectionate tribute to rock's most distinctive instrument, It Might Get Loud is insightful and musically satisfying." [7]

According to Phil Alexander, who gave the film a four-star review in Mojo magazine:

"It Might Get Loud is undoubtedly both a triumphant and truly absorbing 90-minute spectacle that provides the viewer with unique insight and entertainment in equal measure." [5]

Barney Hoskyns of Uncut called it an "absorbing film". [6]

Paul Elliott of Classic Rock describes the movie as: "...a bold, unique and insightful exploration into the lives of three very different guitarists with three very different stories to tell...All highly mouth-watering stuff." [4]

Box office

It Might Get Loud opened at #37 (shown in 7 theaters with $13,240 average) and took in a gross income of $92,679 in the opening weekend. The final domestic gross income was $1,610,163 while the foreign gross income was far lower at $197,343 for a worldwide gross income of $1,807,506. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>This Is Spinal Tap</i> 1984 mockumentary film directed by Rob Reiner

This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 American mockumentary comedy film co-written and directed by Rob Reiner. The film stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer as members of the heavy metal band Spinal Tap, who are characterized as "one of England's loudest bands". Reiner plays Martin "Marty" Di Bergi, a documentary filmmaker who follows them on their American tour. The film satirizes the behavior and musical pretensions of rock bands and the perceived hagiographic tendencies of rock documentaries such as The Song Remains the Same (1976) and The Last Waltz (1978), and follows the similar All You Need Is Cash (1978) by the Rutles. Most of its dialogue was improvised and dozens of hours were filmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Page</span> English guitarist (born 1944)

James Patrick Page is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Prolific in creating guitar riffs, Page's style involves various alternative guitar tunings and melodic solos, coupled with aggressive, distorted guitar tones. It is also characterized by his folk and eastern-influenced acoustic work. He is notable for occasionally playing his guitar with a cello bow to create a droning sound texture to the music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Edge</span> British-Irish rock musician, U2 guitarist

David Howell Evans, better known as the Edge or simply Edge, is a British-Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist of the rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 15 studio albums with them as well as one solo record. His understated style of guitar playing, a signature of U2's music, is distinguished by chiming timbres, use of rhythmic delay, drone notes, harmonics, and an extensive use of effects units.

Skiffle is a genre of folk music with influences from American folk music, blues, country, bluegrass, and jazz, generally performed with a mixture of manufactured and homemade or improvised instruments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack White</span> American musician (born 1975)

John Anthony White is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer who achieved international fame as the guitarist and lead singer of the rock duo the White Stripes. As the White Stripes disbanded, he sought success with his solo career, subsequent collaborations, and business ventures.

<i>Desperado</i> (film) 1995 film by Robert Rodriguez

Desperado is a 1995 American neo-Western action film written, co-produced, edited and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It is the second part of Rodriguez's Mexico Trilogy. It stars Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi who seeks revenge on the drug lord who killed his lover. The film was screened out of competition at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. Desperado grossed $58 million worldwide. It has been cited as featuring Salma Hayek's breakout role.

<i>School of Rock</i> 2003 film directed by Richard Linklater

School of Rock is a 2003 comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Scott Rudin, and written by Mike White. The film stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman. Black plays struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is fired from his band and subsequently poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After witnessing the musical talent of the students, Dewey forms a band of fourth-graders to attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands and use his winnings to pay his rent.

<i>The Last Waltz</i> 1978 concert film directed by Martin Scorsese

The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group The Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The Last Waltz was advertised as the Band's "farewell concert appearance", and the concert had the Band joined by more than a dozen special guests, including their previous employers Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, as well as Paul Butterfield, Bobby Charles, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Wood, and Neil Young. The musical director for the concert was the Band's original record producer, John Simon.

<i>Raise Your Voice</i> 2004 film by Sean McNamara

Raise Your Voice is a 2004 American teen musical drama film directed by Sean McNamara and starring Hilary Duff. Canadian rock band Three Days Grace makes a cameo appearance in the film, performing the songs "Are You Ready" and "Home". Upon release, the film received negative reviews and grossed $14.9 million against a $15 million budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground</span> 2002 single by the White Stripes

"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is a song by American garage rock band the White Stripes, featured on their 2001 third studio album White Blood Cells. Written by the band and produced by vocalist and guitarist Jack White, "Dead Leaves" was released as the third single from the album in July 2002, charting at number 19 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Braithwaite</span> Scottish musician

Stuart Leslie Braithwaite is a Scottish musician, singer and songwriter. He is the guitarist of post-rock band Mogwai, with whom he has recorded ten studio albums. He is also a member of the British alternative rock supergroups Minor Victories and Silver Moth. He has used the name Plasmatron in the credits of Mogwai's debut album Mogwai Young Team, as a social media handle, and as the name of his signature guitar pedal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Marsden</span> British guitarist (1951–2023)

Bernard John Marsden was an English rock and blues guitarist. He is primarily known for his work with Whitesnake, having written or co-written with David Coverdale many of the group's hit songs, such as "Fool for Your Loving", "Walking in the Shadow of the Blues", "Ready an' Willing", "Lovehunter", "Trouble", and "Here I Go Again".

<i>Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story</i> 2007 US comedy film by Jake Kasdan

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is a 2007 American biographical musical comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan, and written by Kasdan and co-producer Judd Apatow. It stars John C. Reilly, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows and Jenna Fischer. A parody of the biopic genre, Walk Hard is the story of a fictional early rock and roll star played by Reilly.

The Upholsterers were an American garage punk band in 2000, from Detroit, Michigan. The two-piece band was composed of Jack White and Brian Muldoon of The Muldoons. Muldoon provided drums, while White played on guitar and created sounds with a worm gear saw. They were originally called Two Part Resin.

The Dancing Did were a British post-punk/folk punk group formed in Evesham in 1979, who were described as "a cross between the Clash and Steeleye Span". They released an album in 1982 and split up the following year.

<i>Hedwig and the Angry Inch</i> (film) 2001 American musical film by John Cameron Mitchell

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a 2001 American musical comedy-drama film written for the screen and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. Based on Mitchell's and Stephen Trask's 1998 stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, it accompanies Hedwig Robinson, a gay East German rock singer. Hedwig subsequently develops a relationship with a younger man, Tommy, becoming his mentor and musical collaborator, only to have Tommy steal her music and become a rock star. The film follows Hedwig and her backing band, the Angry Inch, as they shadow Tommy's tour, while exploring Hedwig's past and her forced sex reassignment surgery. Mitchell reprises his role as Hedwig from the original production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve "Lips" Kudlow</span> Canadian guitarist and singer

Steven Barry "Lips" Kudlow is a Canadian musician, who is the guitarist and lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Anvil. He co-founded the band with drummer Robb Reiner in 1978, having played together since 1973.

<i>Ricki and the Flash</i> 2015 film directed by Jonathan Demme

Ricki and the Flash is a 2015 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Jonathan Demme and written by Diablo Cody, about a woman who leaves her family to become a rock star and later gets a chance to make amends. The film stars Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer, Kevin Kline, Sebastian Stan, Rick Springfield, and Audra McDonald. The film marks Streep and Kline's third collaboration after Sophie's Choice (1982) and A Prairie Home Companion (2006). It was Demme's final narrative film before his death in April 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolf People</span> English rock band

Wolf People are an English psychedelic rock band, formed by singer and guitarist Jack Sharp in Bedford in 2005. The band announced an indefinite hiatus in January 2020.

<i>Ancient Astronauts</i> (Motorpsycho album) 2022 studio album by Motorpsycho

Ancient Astronauts is a studio album by Norwegian rock band Motorpsycho. It was released on 19 August 2022, through the record labels Rune Grammofon, Motorpsychodelic Tunes and Stickman Records. It was released on vinyl, CD, and digital media.

References

  1. Gallo, Phil (2008-05-05). "'Loud' rocks guitar documentary; Davis Guggenheim to unveil film at Cannes". Variety.
  2. "DOCUMENTARY FIRES OFF ELECTRIC POWER CHORDS". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  3. 1 2 "It Might Get Loud Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  4. 1 2 Elliott, Paul (February 2010). "It Might Get Louder". Classic Rock . No. 141. p. 97.
  5. 1 2 Alexander, Phil (February 2010). "One Louder!". Mojo . p. 77.
  6. 1 2 Hoskyns, Barney. "It Might Get Loud". Uncut . IPC Media. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  7. "It Might Get Loud Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  8. MOVIES: IT MIGHT GET LOUD 2009. Box Office Mojo . Retrieved January 30, 2010.