One of the best music documentaries, "The Decline of Western Civilization" highlights what made Punk so appealing and so repellent at the same time. Filmed at now long defunct bars and clubs like the Masque, Club 88 and Hong Kong Café the documentary is a blistering and propulsive glimpse into the experience of the legendary Los Angeles Punk scene and its wild heroes and heroines who kickstarted the myth. Featuring the greats and personal faves like Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Germs, Fear, X and second-tier interests like Catholic Discipline and the Alice Bag Band the film is a rambunctious assault to the senses with fierce and compelling live performances by the bands and revealing interviews.
This is the closest to getting you right into the mosh pit: Black Flag's and Circle Jerks' powerhouse sets that get the punks slam dancing and bashing each other's heads; X's tempered Rockabilly chugathon; the Germs' stunted incoherent rocking mess; Catholic Discipline's fun-killing New Wave explorations; the Alice Bag Band's last minute show-saver and the star of the show, Fear's hilarious riot-inducing show that proves right-wingers can rock too! Inserted like fierce middle fingers are interesting interviews of the acts showing a surprisingly geeky Black Flag, a normal but cool X, a fruity and refreshingly sober Darby Crash, and the staff of the seminal record label Slash including an odd Claude Bessy, aka Kickboy Face. The interviews of the fans and audience members show well-meaning but troubled kids coping with life's realities and how much the music means to them. The low budget look yet well-executed pace and edit of the film with its well-placed camera angles and raw, earnest and honest portrayals elevate the film above tacky representations common among depictions of the underground.
A relic of a bygone era that shaped and defined music and whose influence has had a profound impact since, "The Decline of Western Civilization" sets a light on what a small group of outcasts and misfits can do to liberate people's minds and lives and the immeasurable importance and benefit they instill.
This is the closest to getting you right into the mosh pit: Black Flag's and Circle Jerks' powerhouse sets that get the punks slam dancing and bashing each other's heads; X's tempered Rockabilly chugathon; the Germs' stunted incoherent rocking mess; Catholic Discipline's fun-killing New Wave explorations; the Alice Bag Band's last minute show-saver and the star of the show, Fear's hilarious riot-inducing show that proves right-wingers can rock too! Inserted like fierce middle fingers are interesting interviews of the acts showing a surprisingly geeky Black Flag, a normal but cool X, a fruity and refreshingly sober Darby Crash, and the staff of the seminal record label Slash including an odd Claude Bessy, aka Kickboy Face. The interviews of the fans and audience members show well-meaning but troubled kids coping with life's realities and how much the music means to them. The low budget look yet well-executed pace and edit of the film with its well-placed camera angles and raw, earnest and honest portrayals elevate the film above tacky representations common among depictions of the underground.
A relic of a bygone era that shaped and defined music and whose influence has had a profound impact since, "The Decline of Western Civilization" sets a light on what a small group of outcasts and misfits can do to liberate people's minds and lives and the immeasurable importance and benefit they instill.