Details
Movie Description
In early 2000, the Chicago-based, country-influenced rock band Wilco began preparing for the recording of their fourth record, YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT. Filmmaker/photographer Sam Jones went along with them to document a band at the height of its creative powers. What started as a simple documentary about the making of a record became a far more dramatic saga when, early in the recording process, drummer Ken Coomer left the band. Then, months later, friction between vocalist/chief songwriter Jeff Tweedy and multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett resulted in Bennett's departure. Adding to the setbacks, upon the completion of the record, Wilco's longtime label, Reprise, rejected it and released the band from its roster. I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART chronicles the critically-acclaimed band's efforts to overcome these difficulties--efforts which eventually helped to make FOXTROT the band's most successful release. Director Jones intimately captures the band on 16mm black and white film as they perform over twenty songs. More importantly, he also captures the pitfalls that develop when strong personalities embark on a collaborative creative endeavor. Fans of the band will have plenty to cheer about, while the uninitiated will come away with further cinematic proof of the difficulty of achieving the rock and roll dream.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 0
2-Disc Set
Disc #1: Theatrical Version
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 (High-Def Transfer)
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Sam Jones - Director, Wilco - Stars
Trailers
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Disc #2: Supplementary Material
Additional Release Material:
Making-of - 1. "I Am Trying to Make a Film"
Bonus Feature - 1. 70 Minutes of Additional Footage Featuring 17 More Songs: Alternate Versions, Live Performances, and Unreleased Songs
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Additional Products:
Booklet - 1. 40 Pages Featuring a Filmmaker's Diary, Photos, and David Fricke Liner Notes
Theatrical release: July 26, 2002 (NY)
August 2, 2002 (LA)
Industry Reviews
"...A music documentary with an unusually strong narrative....Mr. Jones manages to generate some authentic dramatic tension and surprise..."
New York Times - Dave Kehr (07/26/2002)
"...An exciting and involving rock music doc, a smart and satisfying look inside that tumultuous world..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (08/02/2002)
"...Riveting....A fascinating story that perfectly sums up a moment in time....A true and subtly nuanced portrait..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Jim DeRogatis (07/26/2002)
"...An engrossing portrait of uncompromising artists trying to create something original against the backdrop of a corporate music industry that only seems to care about the bottom line..."
Box Office - Michael Tunison (09/01/2002)
"...Its portrait of frontman Jeff Tweedy, bolstered by Jones's luminous black-and-white photography, is gentle and enduring..."
Film Comment - Alice Lovejoy (05/01/2003)
"...Sam Jones' film turns into a comic farce worthy of Monty Python..."
Rolling Stone - Rolling Stone Staff (11/27/2003)
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
All rights reserved.
