Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

Starring: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammer, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newstead, Dave Mustaine

Directed by: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky

RS: 3of 4 Stars

2004 Documentary

Here's a rock doc like no other. A window into the making of the Metallica album St. Anger -- their first in five years -- that becomes a journey into the band's psychic inferno. Who knew? Certainly not filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, who used Metallica songs in their justly acclaimed documentary Paradise Lost, about three teens convicted of murder in West Memphis, Arkansas, while allegedly under the influence of the devil's music, heavy metal. Berlinger and Sinofsky thought it would be intriguing to film the process of making St. Anger after the departure of bassist Jason Newsted. Nearly three years and 1,600 hours of footage later, they emerged with a portrait of a dysfunctional band in crisis. Frontman James Hetfield hits rehab to fight his addictions (Metallica were dubbed "Alcoholica" in the 1980s) and feuds with Napster-hating drummer Lars Ulrich, as guitarist Kirk Hammett tries to play peacemaker. No luck there. That's when therapist and performance-enhancement coach Phil Towle is brought in, at $40,000 a month, to ease the transition of these party animals turned middle-aged family men into a fresh creative force with the addition of bass player Robert Trujillo. Everything but blood is spilled in the process. What's on view for two hours and twenty minutes is a headbanger in every sense of the word. Don't let anyone spoil the surprises of this thrashing, thrilling chunk of cinematic gold. It's one for the time capsule.