Rock Doc - It Might Get Loud

Review by: ~MO

It Might Get Loud tells the personal stories, in their own words, of three generations of electric guitar virtuosos The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Jack White (The White Stripes). When producer Thomas Tull was asked why he wanted to make this film, he says as a fan I wanted to see a movie that captured the essence of why people are so fanatic about the guitar. I wanted to tell that story through these three particular artists. Why these three? We wanted to show a wide range of styles and eras by focusing on three of the best players from three generations says Tull. Like many kids, I had a poster of Jimmy Page on my wall--he is a living legend. U2 is one of the greatest bands ever, and The Edge is a brilliant and distinctive player. Jack White is the new generation--cutting his own path but also keeping the guitar, and great guitar traditions alive.

This film penetrates the glamorous surface of rock legends - a rarity. It reveals how each artist developed his unique sound and style of playing their favorite instruments - guitars both found and invented. We see an artists musical rebellion, traveling with him to influential locations, rare discussion as to how and why he writes and plays - this film lets you witness intimate moments and hear new music from each artist. The movie revolves around a day when Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge first met and sat down together to share their stories, teach and play. A pan-away shot of the studio shows VIPs milling around to watch, left me saying to myself..oh, to be in THAT room!

Standout segments include Jack White piecing together a stringed electric slide guitar out of some scraps of lumber, two nails, a length of wire and a pop bottle, then proclaiming who needs to buy a guitar - Jimmy Page playing Link Wray's Rumble from his personal vinyl collection - clearly enjoying the record and playing air guitar - The Edge taking us on a tour of the Dublin school where he first met Bono, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. - great stuff! Looking back at how it all started for each of them and really getting up close and personal with these musical icons is a rare treat! Fans of music will no doubt appreciate that IMGL was created by a fan! Musicians may take something altogether different from it - perhaps the inspiration to write a song or pickup an instrument that they haven't played in a while. In any event, any viewer of IMGL should appreciate the humor, its detail and oh yes...the music! God, I hope there will be a film soundtrack! It Might Get Loud so doesn't suck!

It Might Get Loud. A Thomas Tull presentation. (International sales: the Little Film Co., Studio City, Calif.) Produced by Davis Guggenheim, Peter Afterman, Thomas Tull, Leslie Chilicott. Executive producers, Bert Ellis, Michael Mailis. Directed by Davis Guggenheim.

Release date: August 14, 2009

"Full Metal Rock attended a private screening of It Might Get Loud on Thursday, August 13th at The Arclight theatre in Hollywood. The screening was co-sponsored by Sony Pictures Classic and Southern California's Classic Rock Station, Los Angeles based 95.5 KLOS. A Q&A with Director Davis Guggenheim immediately followed the screening lead by Cynthia Fox of KLOS. It was cool to meet and thank Director Davis Guggenheim for making this magical film."