It Might Get Loud

Following his Oscar-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, Davis Guggenheim opts for something completely different. Rather than an earth-shaking subject like climate change, he tackles a more scaled-down topic: namely, what makes a rock guitarist unique? He brings together three players—Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U2's the Edge, and the White Stripes' Jack White—to talk and jam. But the film consists of more than footage of the trio conversing and playing together—although the swapping of stories and sharing of techniques are irresistible—as it also glances at their pasts, following White's beginnings as an upholsterer, the Edge's days in a Dublin school band, and Page's years as a London session musician. It also follows them to key locations: White creates a rudimentary guitar out of fence wood, wire, and a few nails on a Tennessee farm; the Edge takes us to his state-of-the-art recording studio, and Page visits the estate where one of Led Zeppelin's most famous songs was recorded. The men also discuss their different attitudes toward the technical manipulation of guitar sound, each revealing a bit of himself, with Page's amiable gentility, the Edge's quiet self-confidence, and White's cockiness coming through clearly. It Might Get Loud works not because of the decibel level, but because showcasing dissimilar players who share a single passion demonstrates the expressive possibilities of their common instrument. Would-be rockers and fans will especially appreciate the archival clips and contemporary footage of these performers, but others will also be drawn to the personal stories at the center of this musical profile. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Davis Guggenheim and producers Lesley Chilcott and Thomas Tull, a “Toronto Film Festival Press Conference” with the filmmakers and stars (39 min.), deleted scenes (26 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a movieIQ feature, allowing viewers to access info on the cast, music, trivia, and more, while watching. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning doc.] (F. Swietek)