Comments on: Punk ‘n’ Pie

By: Andy Best

Andy Best — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:36:03 +0000

This may seem way out of left-field. Growing up in the UK and then traveling in Asia all the time I hadn’t really seen a lot of American Indie Cinema.

One of the most Punk experiences I ever had was when I stumbled upon a Troma Film called “Tromeo and Juliet” on DVD here a couple of years back. This comment is more about the spirit of punk as opposed to any movement.

Anyhow, as I watched the movie I felt like the entire cast and crew were slapping me around the whole time. Amazing.

By: Mikhail

Mikhail — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:55:21 +0000

I’d add the Minutemen doc, We Jam Econo, X: The Unheard Music and Raymond Pettibon’s bizarre Weatherman ‘69 starring Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, and Mike Watt (just because I want to see it).

By: Mike Caulfield

Mike Caulfield — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:08:45 +0000

@jared — Ha! maybe not interesting to someone in the area? Or maybe it was just a thing.

The documentary Made In Sheffield should also be on these lists.

By: Jared Stein

Jared Stein — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:37:19 +0000

“Rock N Roll High School” has always held a special place in my heart.

“Repo Man”, too, is a killer killer film.

Mike mentioned “SLC Punk” but I thought that film was boring.

By: Mike Caulfield

Mike Caulfield — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:57:23 +0000

Two great lists. Really interesting how British focused they are — it reminds me of the differences.

The ultimate commentary on US Punk is Repo Man, hands down. I don’t know if it’s the ultimate punk film, too self-aware really to be that. But it captures the punk culture in America brilliantly. It reminds me that the ultimate attribute of the punk is a tendency to be easily bored.

I agree with Brad that one film missing from either list is SLC Punk, which I thought was a great capturing of third-tier city punk — it felt very much like people I knew, more than any other punk film I’ve seen. And yeah, a but cheesy, but I’ll admit it hooked me emotionally pretty good.

By: Sebastian6

Sebastian6 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:42:20 +0000

Damn. That’s a good schedule. I own a copy of Urgh!, which is out-of-print and keep going back to it every couple years. What a great mix of styles- OMD to Klaus Nomi to Echo & the Bunnymen to Fear. You don’t get mixtures like that anymore.

I think the ultimate L.A. punk film is “Decline of Western Civilization.” What an amazing movie. It made me fall in love with X and understand the Circle Jerks. It’s interesting to see how these folks were really doing the same things British Squatters were doing. Who knew a cornerstone of the punk ideal is communal living? The strange schizophrenia of the I-dont-give-a-shit attitude mixed with the need for community is fascinating to watch. Darby Crash at home with his woman making dinner encapsulates that whole idea.

I stumbled on this clip from YouTube the other day and enjoyed it very much:

(guess we can’t embed hehehe) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0IZdP3×66Y

ps. I’m glad to see an actual documentary on Joy Division, probably my 2nd favorite band of all time. The dramatic film “Control” had its moments but lacked any sort of impact by simply being intolerably long and BORING.

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:37:50 +0000

Officially used more Youtube videos in a single post than I ever have or will, congrats! It will take days & days to go through all of this, but I’m determined to do it.
Some “punk” favorites of my own:
SLC Punk! (a little cheesy, but still entertaining)
Fight Club
Trainspotting — which, actually, I don’t like very much at all, but it’s definitely a very punk film.
Instrument — Fugazi documentary that essentially changed the way I thought about things in the music industry & punk ethics.

Dang, you’re right, there have to be hundreds more, I just can’t think of ‘em right now. Good realm to explore though, without a doubt.