A lot of people have mis-interpreted this film as a documentary about the rock band Metallica's latest studio album.
What we actually have here is a psychological case study of grown men who have the emotional intelligence of pubescent teenagers... men who have not had to grow up simply because they existed in the right place at the right time with the right image and name.
Their legend has grown far beyond their talents and abilities, and they are expected to turn out a quality product without a solid knowledge of songwriting or instrumental technique.
We see constant sessions of "jamming" ostensibly to write songs but with riffs that are all essentially the same. Attempts at playing end in frustration over inabilities to execute simple instrumental technique.
This is a cautionary tale about the kind of monster that has been created by our culture's overwrought adulation for popular musical acts and record companies' willingness to exploit people's emotions for personal gain.
What we actually have here is a psychological case study of grown men who have the emotional intelligence of pubescent teenagers... men who have not had to grow up simply because they existed in the right place at the right time with the right image and name.
Their legend has grown far beyond their talents and abilities, and they are expected to turn out a quality product without a solid knowledge of songwriting or instrumental technique.
We see constant sessions of "jamming" ostensibly to write songs but with riffs that are all essentially the same. Attempts at playing end in frustration over inabilities to execute simple instrumental technique.
This is a cautionary tale about the kind of monster that has been created by our culture's overwrought adulation for popular musical acts and record companies' willingness to exploit people's emotions for personal gain.