Breaking a Monster

A rock band comprised of 13-year-old boys is caught in the gears of star-making machinery in director Luke Meyer's empathetic documentary. Power trio Unlocking the Truth—black kids from Brooklyn—shred like Metallica by way of the proto-punk Detroit band Death. They are sure that fame is theirs for the taking, and when it arrives, charismatic guitarist Malcolm Brickhouse believes that no one will make fun of him for wearing nail polish again. If Malcolm is a persuasive rocker, his bespectacled band mates—Jarad Dawkins and Alec Atkins—look more like future astrophysicists. When the group posts a live video that garners over a million hits on YouTube, producer Alan Sacks (co-creator of Welcome Back Kotter) comes calling, and the culture clash begins. The kids are from working-class stock, while Sacks is a showbiz vet who meditates daily. Sacks boasts about his work with the Jonas Brothers, but his new clients are cut from different cloth. Sony offers the band a five-album deal, and the boys are soon playing high-profile music festivals including SXSW and Coachella. Sacks encourages them to add vocals, which isn't their strong suit, and from there it all begins to go downhill, not least because Malcolm dislikes Sacks's ideas, Jarad thinks Sacks is "just in it for the money," and Alec would rather play Grand Theft Auto (which may be less harmful for minors than indentured servitude to a major corporation). Recommended. (K. Fennessy)