Ashes of American Flags: Wilco Live

The Wilco doc I Am Trying to Break Your Heart captured the band in a particularly rough patch, fighting with its label while recording the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Rather than compete with that film’s artistic black-and-white and deep look at backstage intrigue, directors Brendan Canty and Christoph Green have opted to present a concert film. Not satisfied with capturing one night on stage, they’ve culled great performances of a variety of songs from a whole tour and created their own set list. It’s a bit jarring when two songs in a row early in the film are the final numbers of different concerts, but you’ll get over it. The little time spent trying to characterize the band members is frankly wasted; this film is at its best when the band is on stage. Wilco fans will love it, but those looking for more insight should seek out I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.