opening night for this film that sits high on the must-see list
have not seen the trailer but the critics are all in agreement
the promise of a well-balanced story of kurt cobain's short life
pre-film a banner saying stick around for a brett morgen interview
ok - kurt then first seen wheelchair-bound then collapsed on stage
some comments from those closest to him completing the intro
nirvana's most famous tune then pumped out with the credits
and then we go way back to dating days for kurt's parents
post vietnam war and happy days in aberdeen washington
'wake up little suzy' the theme song used to date the footage
a revealing modern day interview with wendy about her marriage
she quite liked her husband - don cobain - thought that was enough
all she really wanted was babies - kurt first and then sister kimberly
kurt seen as a toddler in home movies - happy, playful, much loved
birthday celebrations come and go and also seen with a toy guitar
kurt's very accomplished drawings also seen and brought to life
the director providing animated extensions to the art - very clever
his father not able to handle his vivacious son and divorce comes
devastating young kurt - divorce very rare so he feels alienated
especially as he gets cast around families as rebellion sets in
cobain senior seen in current times and looking a broken man
a sense that his failure as a dad weighs very heavily on his mind
then more clever artistic licence shown with kurt's teenage years
very rich and detailed animation used as his voice talks of those days
hanging out with mates, stealing alcohol, his first sexual experience
and most significantly - delving deeper into music and also marijuana
really, really interesting - but now the fun begins - nirvana are formed
no detail of how that happens but the trio seen rehearsing in a garage
sounding incredibly good and full-on even in these formative days
krist novoselic's low slung bass and dave grohl's drumming so good
the man himself comfortably expressing all his angst through music
their rise to the top of the heap seen with exhilarating live footage
the crowds growing exponentially as nevermind tops the charts
kurt actually seems quite content stating his love of playing live
and then - she is on the scene - courtney love - seen then and now
then - offering the solace kurt desired - now - talking defensively
for she was a junkie when she met kurt and he one not long after
the most personal of home movie footage then shown on screen
just as nirvana peaked kurt decided to have six months at home
some talking about the 'shit load of money he could have made'
but he well now in love and eschewing riches for contentment
we see he and courtney constantly wasted in their small flat
kind of tiresome really - and too many shots of her breasts
i'm feeling a real wowser - especially when the baby arrives
frances bean born a junkie and raised by a couple of junkies
the media making this a huge story and piling the pressure on
nirvana survive to record and release highly rated 'in utero'
and impressively the band is still united and delivering live
mtv unplugged scenes shown best described as - essential
close-ups of kurt showing a man lost in his incendiary music
but his life is troubled - his life-long stomach cramps for one
an attempt at suicide when he suspects courtney is unfaithful
her in the present denying it - she thought of it - he responded
my impression is the director sowing the seed of doubt here
aided by seeing kurt singing 'where did you sleep last night'
for not long after kurt blew his brains out alone and in despair
krist novoselic stating rejection the one thing kurt feared most
tragic really - his abandonment surely felt by so many others
this amazing film interweaving well so many components
musically it is stimulating but the tragedy is at the core
the promised after-film interview reveals more details
brett morgen talking about the freedom he was given
an adult frances bean fully supportive of his project
he also talks about the animation techniques used
with kurt's stored belongings he explains the title
but talking himself up a little too much methinks
his name loud and proud on film merchandising
no issue - really that is where it is at these days
with directors muscling in on the star's profile
still - great job done - a consummate bio-pic...
