Joe Strummer - The Future Is Unwritten on DVD (2007)

A customer from West London , 13/09/2007

A must-see for all Clash fans and believers that the music scene is a sadder place without Joe Strummer .

Loyal friends, band members and family sit around a camp fire just as he loved to do and remember the real Joe Strummer - Joe the anarchist, the World Service radio presenter, the articulate frontman of the best punk group of the era, the great listener , the fiercely anti-racist lobbyist, the family man. Joe's life is documented on film, in clips as a middle class privately educated child, to memories of a rougher life on the streets of west London, amongst friends who remained loyal even when he pissed them off or threw them out of the band.

A great soundtrack but don't expect to hear only the iconic Clash sound. Joe loved World music and his choice of records played on his BBC radio show were eclectic .They make a perfect backdrop here to his huge and varied circle of friends and fans sharing their stories and memories.

Non -believers of Joe as the punk hero will love him by the end of the film. I didn't want it to end and I was particularly moved by Joe's interview for MTV news when he reminded us that ' without people ,you're nothing'.

I could say the same for music without Joe Strummer but maybe I'm just too big a fan...............

  35 out of 35 people found this review helpful

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Pawsmeister [Highly rated reviewer] , 13/02/2008

This was like a 1970's panorama. Very poor footage of an uninspiring character. Unless you are a genuine fan or a proper muso dont rent this film.

  22 out of 23 people found this review helpful

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* * * This review contains spoilers * * *

A customer from Berkshire, UK , 15/11/2007

A fascinating and often moving account of one of Britain's best known musicians, this film is a must-see for anyone who grew up listening to the 101-ers and The Clash... And anyone who didn't, as well.

Strummer's 'Get-Off-Yer-Arse-And-Do-It-Yourself' attitude to music and life in general obviously inspired a lot of people who he came into contact with, as evidenced by the impressive rollcall of people who appear sitting around campfires in this film to testify to his memory. Even better, this is no luvvy-whitewash job: the man's faults as well as his undeniable talent and charm are acknowledged by friends, fellow musicians and colleagues, making this an honest biopic which consequently carries a lot more impact than some mythologised tribute would have done.

Strummer died unfairly young (at 50 years) just before Xmas 2002, and I can still remember sitting in the pub with a bunch of mates listening to his music and feeling like we'd all just lost a big brother. The only good thing about it was that he seems to have been happy in his later years, whilst still espousing the libertarian ideals of his youth. Here's hoping he's having a great time, singing and playing and sitting around that great big campfire in the sky.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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SkinHeadDeano from Beds, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 02/12/2007

This docu is fantastic....full of information about Strummer and Clash. Being a huge fan of the man himself, it was great to hear certain things about his life that haven't been covered in biographies i've read. There are also a few big stars - Buscemi, Depp, Cusack, Scorcese - that share their thoughts on the band and experciences of seeing them live.

With Julian Temple's typical directing style stamped all over it (random b&w clips of old films, quick cuts and funny sound affects...very similar to the Great R'n'R Swindle), this film is very well put together, interesting and entertaining. I even recommend it to those who may not know an awful lot about Joe or the Clash.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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Chris Anderson from Brighton [Highly rated reviewer] , 09/01/2008

Bono! WHY? Feck off and get yer own band - I am sick of seeing his face and hearing his bleedin' voice.

Does my review contain a spoiler? No but the Fecking film does - Paul Bleedin' Hewson.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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* * * This review contains spoilers * * *

A customer from Berkshire, UK , 15/11/2007

A fascinating and often moving account of one of Britain's best known musicians, this film is a must-see for anyone who grew up listening to the 101-ers and The Clash... And anyone who didn't, as well.

Strummer's 'Get-Off-Yer-Arse-And-Do-It-Yourself' attitude to music and life in general obviously inspired a lot of people who he came into contact with, as evidenced by the impressive rollcall of people who appear sitting around campfires in this film to testify to his memory. Even better, this is no luvvy-whitewash job: the man's faults as well as his undeniable talent and charm are acknowledged by friends, fellow musicians and colleagues, making this an honest biopic which consequently carries a lot more impact than some mythologised tribute would have done.

Strummer died unfairly young (at 50 years) just before Xmas 2002, and I can still remember sitting in the pub with a bunch of mates listening to his music and feeling like we'd all just lost a big brother. The only good thing about it was that he seems to have been happy in his later years, whilst still espousing the libertarian ideals of his youth. Here's hoping he's having a great time, singing and playing and sitting around that great big campfire in the sky.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

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