More Details

Studio:Universal Pictures UK

Director:Davis Guggenheim

Cast: Jack White, Jimmy Page, The Edge

Running Time:97 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review

Three generations of rock guitarists come together for It Might Get Loud, a 2009 documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth). These are not just your garden-variety guitar gods: Jimmy Page, in his mid-'60s at the time of the film, founded Led Zeppelin, who dominated the 1970s following the breakup of the Beatles. As a member of U2, 48-year-old David Evans, better known as the Edge, created one of the most distinctive and influential sounds of the past quarter century. And 34-year-old Jack White (of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather) was described by one music publication as "the most significant rock 'n' roll figure of the past ten years." Guggenheim, who followed the three around for the better part of a year, takes us into their individual lives, past and present. There are shots of Page as a young London session musician, with the Yardbirds and Zeppelin, at Headley Grange (the estate where much of the fourth Zep album was made), and at home with his record collection. The Edge takes us to the Dublin classroom where U2 first rehearsed, as well as to the practice room he uses now (never a virtuoso soloist, he developed a style based on texture and a mind-boggling array of effects); and White, whose insistence on authenticity is admirable but perhaps a tad self-conscious, constructs a "guitar" from a plank of wood, a piece of wire, and a Coke bottle (he also plays a recording by the primitive bluesman Son House, featuring just voice and handclaps, that White says is still his biggest inspiration). The three also converge on a Hollywood sound stage, where they chat and a do a little jamming on Zep's "In My Time of Dying" (with all three playing slide guitar) and the Band's "The Weight." It's hard to say if the film's appeal will extend beyond guitar freaks and fans of these particular bands, but at the very least, It Might Get Loud offers some interesting insight into the soul and inspiration behind some of pop's best and most popular music. --Sam Graham

Find out more on Amazon

Tags

Reviews

- Beautifully made documentary - can't recommend enough

Watched this film on a plane without any prior knowledge of its existence, and what a huge treat it was. Intelligently constructed by Davis Guggenheim - and frankly a great concept too - the three guitarists are very well chosen. We landed 20mins before the end of the show - hence my searching for the DVD - and I can only say that I was v distraught to be torn away from it. Great archive footage, great contemporary footage, genuine insights, contrasts, humour and needless to say, some not-half-bad music as well... HIGHLY recommend.

- Better than I'd hoped!

I saw this film late on a snowy Friday night and being a big fan of Led Zeppelin, of U2- until the last 3 studio albums and definitely not Zooropa- and intrigued by Mr White I hoped it'd be great. And it was, I could have sat there listening to them talk for another hour or more.

The film is presented and styled really well giving personal histories of how they became the musicians they are, why and how they feel about it, also how they define creativity and what has inspired them. Great use of live band footage too. The meeting itself involves the 3 of them talking about and demonstrating some of their creations and jamming together. I'm not a musician and I was fascinated. My partner is a guitarist and singer and he was too (and he's not a particular fan of any of them). 3 such different men from 3 different generations. See it on a big screen- it's worth it.

- Great for guitar fans but save money and buy the DVD

This documentary is as much about the guitar itself, as the guitarists and their love of it. Jimmy Page says that the guitar should be treated "like a woman" but if it were one Jack White would have been locked up years ago based on the evidence of blood stains and good kickings! Given the differences in approach, this might have been a bit more spiky than it turns out. For example, The Edge refers in his section to "over indulgent 16 minute guitar solos" which might have been aimed at Zeppelin; meanwhile Jack White bemoans the use of technology in the creative process yet The Edge is famous for his pedals and effects. The programme is only ever going to apeal to guitar fans and guitar players but among the highlights are Jimmy playing the riff to 'Whole Lotta Love' (watch the other two trying not to grin) and all three playing 'In My Time Of Dying' on slide guitars - I defy you not to drum along Bonzo-style.

Stylistically, the visuals largely match the rough and ready vibe, partly due to their vintage nature (60's and 70's footage of Led Zeppelin) but also the scenes shot in their homes have a grainy, candid feel. This is entirely in keeping with the purpose of the documentary, but does render the high definition format of Blu-ray largely un-necessary. The scenes featuring all three guitarists together have full clarity but they are infrequent among each individual's own story. Neither is any use made of Blu-ray's multi-media potential: the only 'bonus feature' is a set of deleted scenes. The soundtrack is DTS-HD Master Audio but that is the only feature over and above the DVD.

I bought the BD as it was only a few pounds more than the DVD, without having seen it at the cinema. If I had, I would have stuck to the DVD.

- I wanna rock!

You can read the title. You know who is in it. So it should be no surprise what you're going to get.
It's not intended to be a super detailed history of the 3 guys, any such film would be 5 hours long, but it is intended to bring three great guitarists together, who have all dedicated their life to an instrument that has moved in and out of fashion and who have all ended up going in totally different directions. But they still share a love for the instrument and now have a chance to explain what it means to them.
I'm guitar player, so I loved it.
Just to see the look on Jack White's and The Edge's faces as Jimmy Page breaks into Whole Lotta Love in front of them makes the film alone priceless and worth it.

- It Got Loud!

An excellent collection of material, overall extremely impressive contribution from the genius and legend that is Jack White. Buy this production so that if there is music literature that you own you can say 'It Might Get Loud' as it will make the biggest bang and then some.