Athens, GA: Inside Out

Every dog has its day, as the saying goes. And for Athens, Georgia, that day came in the early-to-mid 1980s, when Athens--like Minneapolis at about the same time and Seattle a few years later--became a hot spawning ground for rock bands, with a thriving local scene and lots of more or less fresh ideas. Only two of those bands really made a national splash: the B-52s, with their funny hairdos and catchy dance music, and R.E.M., a genuinely original outfit that's still on the scene. Fronted by Michael Stipe, R.E.M. is the main attraction in this fairly entertaining documentary featuring plenty of performances, and interviews with musicians and bemused locals alike. Some bands, such as Love Tractor, Dreams So Real, and the Flat Duo Jets (an obvious precursor to the White Stripes, which explains the presence of Stripes lead singer Jack White extolling the Jets' virtues) are pretty good; others are pretty lame, frankly--and the film's muddy sound and lack of visual style don't do them any favors. In the end, besides other Athenians and assorted fanatics, this will only appeal to those interested in seeing Michael Stipe with hair. Not a necessary purchase. Aud: P. (S. Graham)