Wuchak RELEASED IN 2004 and directed by Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky, "Some Kind of Monster" documents the band Metallica a few months after bassist Jason Newsted's departure wherein the band started the writing/recording sessions for the album that turned out to be ST. ANGER (2003). The movie covers the next couple of years centering on their time in the studio with producer Bob Rock, who fills-in for Newsted on bass, and psychotherapist Phil Towle, a successful "performance-enhancing coach," whom they hired for $40,000 a month throughout the recording process. Fragments of concert footage, etc. are mixed into these events, including bass try-outs to replace Newsted in the final act.This is an interesting documentary from a psychological standpoint, but it's hard for fans of the band because it's such a brutally honest portrayal of the members as it removes any mystique that was there. The focus isn't on the members being masterful musicians and metal gods on stage (although there's some of that), but rather on them being regular dudes baring it all to the camera. The film was shot 18-20 years after the band began and shot to fame in the 80s, culminating with their ultra-successful self-titled "BLACK ALBUM" in 1991. Here they are a decade later in total crisis. I can't believe they allowed the footage to be released. What a risk! Although Phil Towle occasionally utters some stereotypical counselor verbiage (e.g. "How do you feel about that?"), the members later credited him with saving the band; and I believe it. The biggest problems were James Hetfield's control issues & alcoholism, stemming from a tough childhood/adolescence, as well as Lars Ulrich's ego. While these two started the band and are its nucleus, here they're openly at each other's throats, ready to scrap the band at any moment, even daring each other to quit. Meek & mild Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist) is pretty much stuck in the middle and tries to keep the peace and some sense of unity.There are some entertaining bits or cameos with guests, like Metallica's original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, which is thoroughly interesting but cringe-inducing (Mustaine later complained that the filmmakers edited his scenes down to a few whiny snippets, which portrayed him in the worst light possible). You get to meet the wives & kids of James and Lars. James' wife is precious. The last act chronicles the hiring of bassist Robert Trujillo, who's offered a $1 million to join the band right out of the gate (!). Don't watch this film unless you want to see the awful truth behind a famous band's image and music, as well as a little bit of the awesome truth. THE FILM RUNS 2 hours & 21 minutes. GRADE: B

HerrNull The tittle said it all! Im a huge fan of Metallica and I'm 40 years old, so i've been listening them since the very beginning. No doubt we are talking about the greatest metal band ever and a main fountain of inspiration for at least 10,000 other successful rock bands. But the Metallica of today is not Metallica anymore, they are using documentaries that are obviously prepared to make us think all the bullshit they were saying in front of the cameras was for real... and it was everything scripted. This so called "Documentary" was just an effort to promote themselves and a horrible album. It is just sad what Metallica has become... this guys talked more about cliff than Jason... AND FOR GOD SAKES METALLICA.... you got at the top of your Everest WITH JASON not with cliff (which was an impressive talented bass player)You can go outside and ask someone what is Metallica and they will tell you: "james, Kirk, Lars and JASON... not cliff ... so please let the poor guy go! Another thing that makes me sick in my stomach is to see how Lars was selling his art collection for millions of dollars in JUST ONE night... the same guy who was responsible of killing Napster. A millionaire complaining about other people getting thing for free.... what's the different between you Lars and some other Wallstreet magnate? Metallica is pathetic right now, their music seems to be over worked and this documentary is maybe one of the worst Rock documentary that i have ever seen.... were everything was scripted to makes us thing those guys are struggling to keep doing what they do... with all respect... that is just B...S..t

Cosmoeticadotcom The documentary film Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster is an example of a not so good piece of art about a subject that is not so good. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Metallica fan, and not one of those morons who refuse to grow up and believe their early thrash songs that sound all alike are somehow artistically superior to their later songs with melody and lyrics with a little more depth. It's just that while the filmmakers and band members hoped to do a film of 'great depth', which the commentary tracks harp on, the truth is that the members of the band are unwittingly close to the Spinal Tap territory inherent in any such venture. Basically, after bassist Jason Newsted left the band in 2001, over artistic differences, lead singer James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich warred for control over the band's future, while lead guitarist Kirk Hammett pretty much sat on the sidelines. Eventually, the band hired a $40,000 a month counselor named Phil Towle, not even a real shrink, to tell them things that any twelve year old could figure out.Hetfield is an addictive sort, whose terminal machismo landed him in rehab, after doing a Ted Nugent impression, by going to kill bears in Siberia, then bleating over missing his son's first birthday, Ulrich is an artistic poseur, truly befuddled at the supposed 'meaning' of gold trim in terrible Basquiat paintings, which he later sells off for several million dollars, and asking such probing queries as 'Where does art begin? Where does it end?', and Hammett simply doesn't know how to cope with either, in between vacuously staring in camera and declaring himself egoless,. Add in do-nothing producer Bob Rock, for what would eventually become their St. Anger CD, and the makings for a great comic film are there, in spades….

Sandcooler Of all words to describe this movie, sadness is probably the most accurate. We see Metallica as we've never seen them before, nothing would make you believe they used to be an awesome band. We see them slave for months and months on new material, going through depressions and fights and getting psychological help for their fear of failure. The sad thing is, listening to "St.Anger" just makes you realise it just really wasn't worth it. It's just a very bad, uninspired record. You can hear them forcing themselves, and that's never good. This is an interesting document, but it's also painful to watch, with Dave Mustaine's appearance as it's "highlight". The way it captures a band in desperation is truly brilliant.