"METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER" (2004) (James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich) (Not Rated) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate None Heavy None Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None Heavy Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor Mild Moderate None QUICK TAKE: Documentary: As they prepare to record their first album in years, heavy metal band Metallica must deal with one of their members leaving, another going into rehab, the clashing of egos and general dissension among them. PLOT: It's 2001 and legendary heavy metal band Metallica wants to record another album. Yet, their bassist has just quit and relationships among the remaining band members are at an all-time low. With record producer Bob Rock standing in as the studio bassist, the remaining members - lead singer James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, and lead guitar Kirk Hammett - try to work together. With documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky capturing their every move for nearly two years, we see the band hire therapist and performance coach Phil Towle to work on their interpersonal issues. When James disappears into rehab for a long period, the future of the project is up in the air, but when he returns, the band tries to put their differences aside, choose a permanent replacement bassist and cut their first album in several years. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of the heavy metal band, it's a good bet they will. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: Not Rated While the film isn't rated, it's the equivalent of an R due to language and brief nudity. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JAMES HETFIELD is the band's lead singer and resident tortured soul who enters rehab for his alcohol problems. He's critical of others, constantly clashes with Lars and uses strong profanity. LARS ULRICH is the band's drummer who doesn't want to put up with James' theatrics and sole control of their schedule. He uses strong profanity. KIRK HAMMETT is the band's more laidback lead guitarist and surfer who uses some profanity. ROBERT TRUJILLO is the bassist chosen by the band to become their fourth member. BOB ROCK is the band's album producer who stands in as their studio bassist and must put up with the James/Lars confrontations. PHIL TOWLE is the therapist who wants to help the band get through their problems, but becomes somewhat addicted to helping them. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this documentary that is not rated, but is the equivalent of an R. Profanity consists of at least 75 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases (some in song lyrics) are also uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, as is some brief nudity in person (bare breasts and butts) and a painting (breasts and pubic hair). A few people briefly smoke, while even more drink (one to the point of inebriation) and there's talk of past drug and alcohol use and abuse (one person enters rehab for an extended amount of time). Some people have bad attitudes toward others, while various forms of imitative behavior are present. There's brief talk of a parental split and death, while the various band members share their inner thoughts, desires and frustrations with a therapist. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, toward the end of the film there's a scene with flashes of light on the screen and then another that has strobe effects. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Kirk states that he stopped doing drugs and cut back on his drinking. James talks of drinking vodka in Russia while on vacation. We see some miscellaneous people drinking. We see James with a beer on stage in footage from the past. We hear that James has left to enter rehab for alcohol and other unknown substance abuse. We hear that the band used to be called Alcoholica due to their hard partying ways in the past. We see footage of James on stage with a beer that he then tosses into the audience. There's talk of being drunk. A former band member comments on remembering smoking hash with Lars in the past. We hear that a former band member is a former alcoholic. Lars drinks. Miscellaneous members of another band drink. James talks of previously waking up in the past and not knowing who's next to him (implying sex and a drug or alcohol induced stupor). James talks of being drunk in the past. Lars talks of drinking with James in the past and states that 42 beers later, James' true feelings finally emerged. We see a beer bottle on a table. Lars drinks in a previous concert. Lars, his wife and others have champagne during an art auction. They later have more champagne and cocktails and Lars jokes that he got himself drunk to "numb the pain" (although he's made millions from the auction of his work). We see a shot of a guy drinking beer. A guy drinks beer poured into a funnel and then down to his mouth via a tube. BLOOD/GORE None. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE We hear that James made a former member leave the band. James is critical of others. James and Lars are both egotistical and that results in clashes, tempers and bad feelings between them. Phil appears to be hooked on the fame and/or money of being the band's therapist and tries to talk them out of cutting back his involvement with them. Those opposed to hunting might not like a photo of James holding a hunting rifle and posing by the bear he shot (while hunting on vacation). FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS We see a photo of James holding a hunting rifle and posing by the bear he shot (while hunting on vacation). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the f*ck /you talking about/is that?" "Frankly, I don't give a f*ck," "(I) F*cked up," "F*ck you up," "This is really f*cking lame," "I'm not trying to do f*cking sh*t," "Unf*cking believable," "We're f*cked," "Let's f*cking do it," "That's a f*cking bitch" (not about a woman), "I'll rip out your f*cking spine," "F*cking amazing," "F*cking-A," "Roll that kind of sh*t out of our sleeves," "I'm in a sh*t mood," "Guitar sh*t," "Complete bullsh*t," "A bit of a sh*t sandwich," "Macho bullsh*t," "Piece of sh*t," "That's so bullsh*t," "Complete d*ck," "What really gets my d*ck hard" (said about music), "Hell yeah," "Freaked me out," "Pissed (off)," "Pissy," "Sucks," "Loser," "Metal up your ass," "Pretty bitchin,'" "Don't talk it, walk it," "Sharpen that booger picking finger," "Crappy," "I think it's crap" and "That's for damn sure." The film could inspire kids to play or listen to heavy metal rock (some parents might not approve of that). James has various tattoos, as do several other people, including some inmates. Kirk has a stud in his nostril. Some people playfully give "the finger" to others. Lars spits some sort of liquid from his mouth toward the camera. A person jokes for others to sharpen their "booger picking finger." Various people give the standard rock hand gesture (pinkie and index finger raised). We see that a person has changed the written phrase "Zone it" to "Bone it." Lars has a nipple ring. A guy drinks beer poured into a funnel and then down to his mouth via a tube. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Various songs had lyrics that we couldn't hear or understand, thus offering the possibility of them containing potentially objectionable lyrics. That said, we did hear at least 2 "f" words (1 used with "mother") and 1 S.O.B. PROFANITY At least 75 "f" words (3 used with "mother"), 23 "s" words, 2 using male genitals ("d*ck"), 6 asses (2 used with "hole"), 3 hells, 2 craps, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B., 2 uses of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "G-damn," "God" and "Jesus Christ." SEX/NUDITY We see a montage of quick shots of female fans or groupies, some flashing their bare breasts and others wearing bottoms that show some bare butt cheeks (as a song about and/or titled "Temptation" plays). James talks of previously waking up in the past and not knowing who's next to him (implying sex and a drug or alcohol induced stupor). While talking about music, Lars says, "What really gets my d*ck hard..." In the background of a shot in an art gallery, we see a painting of a nude woman (we see her bare breasts and pubic hair). We see that a person has changed the written phrase "Zone it" to "Bone it." We see some fans in bikini tops that show cleavage. SMOKING A few men smoke in prison. TENSE FAMILY SCENES James says that his parents split when he was 12 or 13 and that his mom died when he was 16. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Alcohol and drug rehabilitation. James says he feels guilty about not being inspired all of the time. The notion that familiarity breeds contempt. The process of writing and recording an album. The comment that people should cherish every moment. Psychological therapy. We hear that James has abandonment issues. Illegal downloading and sharing of recorded music. VIOLENCE None. Reviewed July 19, 2004 / Posted July 30, 2004

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