Ben Lee: Catch My Disease

Amiel Courtin-Wilson's introspective documentary profiles Australian pop troubadour Ben Lee, beginning with his teenage tenure in the suburban band Noise Addict. Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore heard a tape, liked it, and released an album on the Ecstatic Peace label, explaining that he was drawn to their "primal punk-rock songs with a real sense of melody." After that, the Beastie Boys got on board and released Lee's first solo record on their Grand Royal label. By age 20, Lee had released five albums, and attracted other high-profile fans, including Winona Ryder--who introduced Lee to Claire Danes, with whom he embarked on a high-profile relationship. While living in New York, Lee also befriended Zooey Deschanel, Jason Schwartzman, and Michelle Williams. Archival interviews give the impression that Lee was getting a little full of himself--claiming that his goal was to become "the greatest songwriter of all time"--although Danes says that he was playing a role. Eventually, she and Lee would split up and his music sales would drop, at which point he did some acting and turned to Buddhism. In southern India, Lee found a guru and in Los Angeles discovered new love with Ione Skye. Aside from new interviews and award-show clips, Courtin-Wilson draws from home movies, family photographs, and conversations with Lee's mother and grandmother, as well as Lee, who is forthcoming to a fault about fame and its various discontents (although he can't seem to stay away from it). Recommended. (K. Fennessy)