Chances are that if you’re reading this magazine, you are at the very least aware of The Minutemen. Even if, for some reason, you have never heard them or liked them, this film is a must see.
The story of the film is simple. The filmmakers were fans of the band and decided to make a documentary about them. Many fantasize about this, but few actually not only do it, but do it as comprehensively and amazingly as Tim Irwin and Keith Schieron have.
Through interviews and testimonials, we are taken through the story of three men. From childhood in Pedro to a lonely desert van crash, the personnel, and music of The Minutemen are shown for what they were—revolutionary—and everything that punk should have been and rarely was.
The passion in the words that every person speaks within the film is staggering. When Mike Watt speaks about D. Boon, you can’t help but feel his love, admiration, and loss. When anyone speaks about the band or its members, it is with fondness, respect, and disbelief. If all that isn’t enough to give you a chill, the piles of live footage of the band will. They were simply stunning.
The package itself is also stunning. It’s a two-disc affair that not only gives you the movie, but throws in the four music videos the band made, a bunch of deleted scenes, and an uncut interview from 1985. The second disc really seals the deal though featuring sixty-two live songs from three separate performances. Top it off with a sixteen page booklet and call it all you ever needed to know about The Minutemen… And trust me, you do need to know. –Ty Stranglehold (Plexifilm, 45 Main St. Suite 504, Brooklyn, NY 11201)