Dig!

Of the many recent rock documentaries (including Metallica: Some Kind of Monster), Ondi Timoner's Dig! ranks among the very best: an electrifying, poignant double biography of two West Coast bands--the Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre--as they struggle for recognition. Narrated by Courtney Taylor, lead singer and songwriter of the Warhols, the film is like a Cain-and-Abel story of the music scene, an East of Eden tale of good brother-bad brother that ends in triumph for one group and disaster for the other, with the Massacre's collapse caused by the egocentric self-destructiveness of band creator Anton Newcombe, a troubled genius of sorts. Though the groups were friendly and mutually supportive while they were both obscure, Newcombe became increasingly hostile after the Warhols signed a record contract and were well received in Europe, and his own excesses not only doomed the Massacre's hope of commercial success, but led to the band's dissolution. Timoner makes imaginative use of concert footage, music videos, behind-the-scenes material, and interviews (with musicians, record executives, and journalists) to fashion a breathless account of the groups' very different journeys, and Taylor narrates with empathy and admiration for Newcombe, who emerges as a tragic figure. Capturing the wild swings of the music business while offering a powerful, disturbing portrait of a talented but tortured man, Dig! is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras on this double-disc set include three audio commentaries (by members of the Brian Jonestown Massacre; by the Dandy Warhols; and by filmmakers Ondi Timoner, David Timoner, and Vasco Lucas Nunes), a “Link-outs” feature to watch the film with the extended and deleted scenes, three Dandy Warhols music videos (“TV Theme Song,” “Last High,” and “Bohemian Like You”), three Brian Jonestown Massacre live performances (“Anemone,” “Oh Lord,” and “Jesus”), 50 minutes of bonus footage, “Where Are They Now?” band member updates (33 min.), an “After the Release” featurette with interviews and Sundance Film Festival footage (18 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: an excellent extras package for a fine music doc.] (F. Swietek)