Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Julien Temple

Release Date:

18 May 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

A celebration of Joe Strummer - Before, during and after The Clash

Plot:

As the front man of the Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death...

Plot Keywords:

Clash | London 1960s | Boarding School | London England | London

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Brigitte Bardot	...	Herself (archive footage)
Bono	...	Himself
Steve Buscemi	...	Himself
Terry Chimes	...	Himself
John Cooper Clarke	...	Himself
John Cusack	...	Himself
Peter Cushing	...	Winston Smith (archive footage)
Johnny Depp	...	Himself
Matt Dillon	...	Himself
Tymon Dogg	...	Himself
Joe Ely	...	Himself
Dick Evans	...	Himself
Flea	...	Himself
Alasdair Gillis	...	Himself
Ian Gillis	...	Himself
Topper Headon	...	Himself
Mick Jagger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jim Jarmusch	...	Himself
Mick Jones	...	Himself
Steve Jones	...	Himself
Anthony Kiedis	...	Himself
Don Letts	...	Himself
Bernie Rhodes	...	Himself
David Lee Roth	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joe Strummer	...	Himself (archive footage)

Also Known As:

Strummer (International: English title) (informal short title)
Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (Australia) (poster title)

Runtime:

USA:123 min (Sundance Film Festival) | UK:124 min

Country:

Ireland | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Finland:K-11 | USA:Unrated | Japan:PG-12

Company:

Parallel Film Productions

Movie Connections:

Features Walker (1987)

Soundtrack:

I'm So Bored With The USA

Wow Brilliant Documentary film of Joe!

What a documentary film that made by Julien Temple, Filmmaker Julien chronicles the transformation of a self-described "mouthy little git," born John Mellor, into an anti establishment icon known to the world as Joe Strummer. In his latest documentary, Temple uncovers the myth behind the front man of the seminal punk band the Clash. Through previously unearthed interviews with Strummer himself and recollections of those who knew him best, Temple reveals a complex man who used his music as a bullhorn for his conscience-as well as a means to educate others about the injustices of the world. The film includes live concert footage spanning Strummer's career and tapes of his BBC radio program, all of which provide a fitting soundtrack to his distinctive and storied existence. The performance footage would be fascinating on its own, but Temple probes beyond Strummer's mystique to reveal a person with his own flaws who could sometimes be idealistic to a fault. Temple has created a thoughtful and poignant portrait of a man many think they knew. 'Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten' provides a rare glimpse into the man behind the legend of "punk rock warlord." There are personal interviews with some of the surviving members of The Clash, as well as with people like Bono and John Cusack that are very personal, and serve the film well. They don't stand out as "Look! We've stuck a celebrity in here!" Temple uses a campfire setting for most of these interviews, and given the fact that Strummer used to Organize large campfire celebrations before he died, it's only fitting. One thing for certain is that the Joe Strummer we see at the campfires is a much more approachable and likable figure than the Strummer who avoids confrontations and has other people fire band members during the heyday of The Clash.