I like Nirvana, but I've never loved them. Maybe too much oversaturation in childhood keeps me from finding much of Nevermind particularly special, but I do adore their MTV Unplugged show. That's when I got it. I hoped Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck would further my appreciation for the band and the icon, but it fell a bit short. It's a frenetic documentary as expected, but instead of feeling raw and passionate, it can feel overcooked and overcalculated. Granted, that's what you get when you invite a montage. It is an impressive blend of archive footage, home video, talking heads, original animation. It lacks focus, taking anecdotes in chronological order and it doesn't feel like a full picture.
The film doesn't come to fruition until Frances Cobain is born and you see a different shade of Kurt. To be frank, from the home video and interviews, Kurt is nothing more than an average irritating and mopey guy in his mid-20s. I don't know why I expected more of him, but his standoffishness was annoying before it became tragic. I can't say it illuminated his talent or any pioneering spirit in the music industry, but I guess it's lightning in a bottle. The best moments are the rise to success montages where you really feel their influence. Solid doc, but you can only do what you can with what you're given.
7/10
The film doesn't come to fruition until Frances Cobain is born and you see a different shade of Kurt. To be frank, from the home video and interviews, Kurt is nothing more than an average irritating and mopey guy in his mid-20s. I don't know why I expected more of him, but his standoffishness was annoying before it became tragic. I can't say it illuminated his talent or any pioneering spirit in the music industry, but I guess it's lightning in a bottle. The best moments are the rise to success montages where you really feel their influence. Solid doc, but you can only do what you can with what you're given.
7/10