blog post Six rock docs on Netflix Canada worth watching

If you’re like me, you spend all of your time on Netflix looking for something to good to watch. For all of those who are going through the growing pains of legal video streaming in Canada, here is a list of six rock docs worth your time and that pricey $7.99 a month.

6. It Might Get Loud (directed by David Guggenheim)

This film profiles three legendary rock guitarists: Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, U2’s The Edge and The White Stripes’ Jack White. The line that weaves in and out of the flick is a jam where the three guitar legends show each other riffs in a drafty studio in L.A. This part feels pretty forced, as if it was dreamed up by some producer. The reason this doc is worth watching, though, is because in between the jamming, camera crews follow each of the guys back to their hometowns and the viewer gets to go on little tours of where these three pickers started playing music, and finds out what inspired them to do so. 

5. Lemmy (directed by Greg Oliver and Wes Orshoski)

This doc documents the career of the “Ace of Spades” himself, Ian Fraser “Lemmy” Kilmister of Motörhead. Yes, it does articulate how much of a badass muthaf*cker he is, but watch out for all the accolades from the likes of Dave Grohl, Alice Cooper, Slash and more — sometimes it can be a bit much. 

4. Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (directed by Steven Kijak)

Scott Walker is one of those artists that music critics love to cite, but is a reference relatively unknown to the rest of the public. This doc covers his 60s pop past in The Walker Brothers and his avant-garde solo career. After watching this you'll be able to name drop Walker with integrity.  

3. When You’re Strange: A Film about the Doors (directed by Tom DiCillo)

Even if you are not a Doors fan, this is a fascinating movie because of how they executed it. The whole movie is comprised of previously unseen archival footage, so there are no cheesy, over-lit interviews with the band today that take you out of reliving the moment. This fact is even more profound when you watch the opening sequence of Jim Morrison driving a car through the desert — it is so well shot it feels like a reenactment. On top of all this amazing footage is the cool voice of Johnny Depp, who narrates the whole doc.  

2. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (directed by Jeff Feuerzeig)

This is a film that doesn’t just get praise from the music community. Documentary buffs love this one too, because it’s not just a simple rock bio. It is the portrait of Daniel Johnston — the cult figure, singer-songwriter and true outsider artist. The reason the film garners so much praise is because it tackles the fine line between mental illness and artistry. For it, Feuerzeig won “Best Director of a Documentary” at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.  

1. Who is Harry Nilsson… (And Why Is Everybody Talking About Him?) (directed by John Scheinfeld)

In much the same way Scott Walker is an unsung hero in the development of underground music, Harry Nilsson is the dark soul that influenced and wrote so much of what defines pop music. Although this is a pretty straightforward documentary — the character of Nilsson is so fascinating that it makes for a very quick watch. This man was loved and supported by everyone from John Lennon to Brian Wilson, but due to many instances of self-sabotage he does not hold the recognition he should have today.

Related links:
CBC Music: Jazz on film
For the love of Harry (Harry Nilsson blog)
CBC Music: Five amazing Tim Burton and Danny Elfman moments