COBAIN: MONTAGE OF A HECK

(HBO Documentary Films)
Directed by: Brett Morgen
Running time: 132 minutes

Cobain, the flawed prophet of the 90s everybody adores. His music has become leitmotiv of the 90s, but him as a person is deeply flawed. We all know his heroin addiction and suicidal tendencies. It took almost quarter century to have a decent documentary about Cobain to finally materialize.

This is not your usual documentary filled with boring interviews and archives, this is the most intimate documentary about Kurt Cobain's life. It makes you feel as if you are inside his house. From the cradle and to his end. The mash up of videos and art inspired and from the works of Kurt Cobain is good.

Together with the music, this remind me as Nirvana was at their heights. At that time everybody know Nirvana. Now a generation later, the youth get to know (again) who Cobain is. His drug abuse, his self loathing and suicidal tendencies with stories from people around him gives a better picture on who he really is. The ascent of fame hurts him. The talented but tortured kid of a broken home got his epiphany in punk and music.

The arc of Cobain’s life is drawn:  hypersensitive, talented child of a broken home, who screams his pain into drawings and notebooks. The discovery of punk was like a religious epiphany. This is a time capsule as memento from the 90s generation. Remember it was 25 years ago, not 10 years ago. If you knew Nirvana at their heights, you are old.

20 FEET FROM STARDOM

Directed by: Morgan Neville

Starring: Darlene Love, Judith Hill, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, Táta Vega, Jo Lawry

Running time: 90 minutes

Do you know that other voice in the song Gimme Shelter belongs to Merry Clayton? Who is Merry Clayton? She's not a superstar at all but she sang in one of the legendary song of all time. She's one of many backup singers, lies 20 feet from stardom but got rare if not at all, recognition.

This is the documentary that beat The Act of Killing at this year's Academy Awards. Not just the story of Merry Clayton but other veteran backup singers like Darlene Love, Judith Hill, Lisa Fischer, Táta Vega and Jo Lawry.  The story follows their career from the beginning.

The stories told through interviews and archival performances. Those interviewed are also legend in music industry like Sting, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. The presence of backup singer are mostly anonymous, but they contribute greatly to famous songs and they had been through ups and downs in life. As for this, Sting says: the spiritual journey to become a musician is very important.

What I like from this documentary that it shines light to those who deserves to be recognized in the music industry. Most will even say that how come they didn't get the spotlight, they are talented. To this, it is still a mystery. Even Sting says that in music industry the playing field is not level and why someone become financially successful and not perhaps lies in the hand of destiny.