End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones

Starring: Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Joey Ramone, Marky Ramone

Directed by: Michael Gramaglia

RS: 4of 4 Stars

2004 Magnolia Pictures Music

Armed with the gifts of bad attitude, limited musicianship and oversize cojones, four Queens, New York, outcast youths banded together as the Ramones and in 1974 commenced changing music forever. Filmmakers Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields begin with the group's 2002 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a moment of acceptance and industry acknowledgment utterly contradicted by the preceding decades of scabrous infighting and commercial disappointment. Behind the front of their Stooges-fueled cartoon image, none of the original four members emerges unscathed from bandmates' barbs, typified by Dee Dee's assessment of Johnny: "He was unpleasant enough as it is, and we instigated him into being a monster." Secondary interviewees include Joey's mom, who was told her son's obsessive-compulsive disorder would render him useless in society, and the Clash's Joe Strummer, who freely admits the Ramones ignited the punk-rock revolution. Turbocharged singalongs like "KKK Took My Baby Away" give End of the Century its raw power, and its bitter emotionalism comes from a hopelessly bowl-cut band that was too legit to quit.