Cameron Crowe's Engaging, Personable Pearl Jam Doc

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 22, 2011 7:00PM

Photo by Jim Kopeny

The press line about Pearl Jam is that, in their second decade of their existence, they've become the world's biggest cult act, a Grateful Dead for the Gen-X set. The Seattle quintet’s reputation is due to their strident adherence to a work and creative ethic that at times seemed self-sabotaging, but ultimately paid long-term dividends.

Cameron Crowe's Pearl Jam Twenty, a two-hour documentary from the Say Anything director, doesn't exactly dispel that notion -- the fan testimonials about the band's live prowess, anti-corporate stances and variety in set lists summarizes that appeal in a neat, tidy fashion. Rather, the film contextualizes that popularity.

It's not that Pearl Jam became the world's biggest cult act. It's that they have always been the world's biggest cult act, starting at exactly the moment when the band sold out of all of their merchandise during their first Canadian gig before even finishing their set, and ending at their current status as well-respected rock elder statesmen.

But there are a lot of in-between points, including the group’s massive grip on the zeitgeist with albums like Vs. and Vitalogy, a Don Quixote-like quest against corporate behemoths, a retreat into more quirky, idiosyncratic full-lengths, stalkers, band in-tensions, concert tragedy in Roskilde, and, perhaps most frightening of all, Andy Rooney’s insensitivity.

Crowe’s film touches on these points, plus the group’s formation out of the ashes of Mother Love Bone, the supergroup Temple of The Dog, and many more. Crowe’s film is at its strongest at the beginning, despite the awkward, unintentionally self-aggrandizing voice-over introduction from the filmmaker. Through incredible home-video footage, backstage footage, and behind-the-scenes video footage, Crowe traces the evolution of Pearl Jam from long-shot second-chance to unlikely rock stars, and even more unlikely alt-rock survivors.

For fans, PJ20 is not only a humanizing, illuminating look at how a group of individuals came together under tragic, confusing circumstances (watching Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell tear up over the overdose death of his former roommate, Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood, is an early highlight in the film) to create an creative entity with a greater influence and impact than any of them could have possibly imagined.

It’s also a look at how those same individuals (give or take a drummer or five) process and respond to that impact--and process even more tragic, confusing circumstances--to emerge with a greater understanding on how they can use that same creative entity to empower themselves and their fans to create the kind of band that they want to be.

Crowe's film has its strong moments, but the film considers the band more biographically than critically. It’s an approach that results in Pearl Jam Twenty not being in the great canon of rock documentaries--Crowe includes iconic scenes of irascible subjects from rock docs Don't Look Back and The Kids Are Alright for comedic contrasts, and one can't help but wish there was a similar iconic scene in PJ20--but in being an engaging, personable look at a band who was once one of the biggest, and what happens when you have to move on from that point.

Even though that approach doesn’t yield sharp, critical insights, that's an incredibly rare outlook for a rock documentary to have. In that aspect, Crowe's film is vital. For live music fans, the footage of the band in their element, ranging from Super 8 to high-def, is the reason to see this film. Crowe ‘s film focuses on the core foursome - guitarist Stone Gossard, vocalist Eddie Vedder, lead guitarist Mike McCready, and bassist Jeff Ament. All four come across as friendly, funny, and insightful.

But, aside from current drummer Matt Cameron, Cornell, and some archival quotes from Neil Young, there are few other perspectives offered. Most missed is Jack Irons, the articulate drummer from the band’s middle-period (No Code and Yield). (If you’re looking for quotes from Irons, check out Single Video Theory, a 45-minute documentary about the making of Yield, which Crowe executive produced.)

Though critical perspectives are missed, Pearl Jam Twenty is more than just a fan-friendly documentary, but a fine look at the nuts-and-bolts of being a huge rock band. Crowe’s film might not add members to the Pearl Jam cult, but it will give non-believers a newfound appreciation for it.

Pearl Jam Twenty begins a limited screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Most screenings are sold out, but tickets are still available for late night screenings on Friday, September 30 and Friday, October 6