The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Director: Julien Temple
Year Released: 1980
Rating: 2.0
Overview of the Sex Pistols' rise to infamy, carefully engineered by their manager, the self-promoting Malcolm McLaren (who helped swindle British record labels out of money). While I applaud the Pistols' hostility and McLaren's tactics (which could be very well be applied to a band today), the 'documentary' is itself more about shock tactics, amateurish 'recreations' and silly animation than an actual look at the band members and the sociological implications of why they were so successful and influential. I consider Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols to be a landmark album, but the making of it or the actual songs are besides the point - Temple would rather show McLaren taking a bath, Sid Vicious shove food in someone's face and guitarist Steve Jones walk around in a trench coat and make out with various women. Fun but empty - a little less silly sensationalism and a little more information would have gone a long way.
