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The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
IMDb Rating 7.8
Actor
Alice Bag Band Themselves
Alice Bag Lead Singer, The Alice Bag Band
Claude Bessey Catholic Discipline/Vocalist
Black Flag Themselves
Don Bolles Drummer, The Germs
Exene Cervenka 'X' - vocals
Circle Jerks Themselves
Philo Cramer Fear Guitar
Darby Crash Lead Singer, The Germs
John Doe 'X' - vocals, bassist
Jenny Lens
Roger Rogerson
Billy Zoom
Plot
Centered on the early '80s punk movement, this remains the best of Penelope Spheeris's three attempts to chronicle the musical and angst-ridden subculture of urban Los Angeles. The film's style, like the music, is abrasive, frank, and packed with energy, as it moves swiftly from hilarious band and fan interviews to the loud, raucous shows inside seedy L.A. nightclubs. Despite its tongue-in-cheek title, Spheeris neither condemns, nor glamorizes, the movement, though she definitely has an eye for talent and thankfully plays favorites. Lesser acts like Alice Bag Band and Catholic Discipline are given minimal screen time (enough so we understand why they've been forgotten) in favor of bands that either possess off- stage charisma (Circle Jerks) or onstage potency (Fear's finale, winding their audience up with insults, is punk in its purest form). And, then there are X and Germs lead singer, Darby Crash. These two subjects comprise the majority of the film, as Spheeris hangs around their houses, captures numerous performances, and presents the movement's peak performers. While X does it mostly onstage--their mix of thrash and rockabilly are the most enjoyable of the live performances--Crash's stage is everywhere. A walking disaster, the singer candidly details--with simultaneously self-mocking humor and sadness--his drug abuse, miserable life, and the places that no longer let him play. The fact that he died shortly after production stamps Spheeris's brazen time capsule with a morbid, though appropriate, epitaph. --Dave McCoy
Movie Details
Genre Documentary; Music
Director Penelope Spheeris
Producer Jeff Prettyman; Penelope Spheeris
Writer Penelope Spheeris; Alice Bag Band
Country USA
Language English
Audience Rating Not Rated
Running Time 100 mins
Movie Release Date 1981
Color Color
Personal Details
Format DVD
Seen It No
Index 286
Collection Status In Collection
Product Details
Region Region 1
Release Date 2005
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Links
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