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Pearl Jam – Twenty (2011)

Director: Cameron Crowe

Time Out rating

Average user rating

3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

You need to be a devoted Pearl Jam fan to last the course of this new doc on the Seattle grunge act. At two hours, it's a long haul, especially if you don't subscribe to the group's clichéd, overly earnest brand of hair-swinging heavy rock. This film is not a patch on a far superior recent documentary about The Kings of Leon ('Talihina Sky'), but Cameron Crowe's scattershot film is at least a pretty comprehensive resumé of the five-piece's 21-year rise to fame.

There are lots of shaky, grainy handheld archive footage and recent interviews, as well as plenty of live material to keep fans happy. The group has endured its fair share of controversy, and these episodes are lovingly addressed: the death by overdose of their first singer (of Pearl Jam's precursor, Mother Love Bone), their well-documented mud fight with Ticketmaster whom they felt were overcharging fans for their concerts and the tragic death of nine fans during a crush at Denmark's Roskilde Festival in 2000.

Granted, Pearl Jam has bundles of on-stage energy. Singer Eddie Vedder (no Kurt Cobain) often goes into a trance-like state, climbing lighting rigs to perilous heights before freefalling metres onto the crowd below. Just a shame the notes used in their dirge-like songs are mostly in the wrong order.

Author: Derek Adams

Time Out London Issue 2143: 15 – 21 September, 2011

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User reviews of this film

Jeremy said...

Posted on Apr 09 2012 17:50 I loved the film. I am a huge fan - have been since it all began so this was like a glorious 2 hour trip down memory lane. I don't agree with Derek's views, but I know folks who can't stand PJ so I can understand where he's coming from. Each to their own - if you're a fan you'll love it.

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Steve Gerrard said...

Posted on Sep 23 2011 17:30 This review shocks and saddens me. Anybody who calls Pearl Jam's music "dirge-like songs" just doesn't get it and shouldn't be expected to write a balanced review. He probably likes The Kaiser Chiefs!
This movie is an absolute must for any fan of genuine rock music. I don't even think you need to be a Pearl Jam fan to enjoy a movie about one of the most important bands of the past 30 years. A band who write their own rules and always put the music first.

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Rob S said...

Posted on Sep 20 2011 10:44 This review from Derek gives the impression that he isn't the biggest fan of Pearl Jam, so why watch it in the first place only to criticise. Everything in life is objective, as with many band documentary if you're a fan or someone who wants to learn more about a band then go see it...or if you're like the guy who wrote this review it probably won't be your cup of tea.

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