There's really three ways to look at the newest concert film, Metallica: Through The Never. You can look at it for what it is---a standard but incredibly cool concert film. You can look at it as an actual concert that you pay 16 dollars for rather than between 50 and 100 which, in that regard, it works brilliant. Lastly---you can look at it from the perspective of a film with all of the necessary elements (plot, structure, character, ETC) in which it sucks. This is a film that not only makes you feel as if you're at the concert but makes you feel as if you're jamming out with the band on stage. It may be the most well shot concert film I have ever seen, in fact. At the very least..the film comes in at a close second to Talking Heads' concert film, Stop Making Sense. That's why it's so unfortunate that writer-director Nimrod Antal (Predators) had to throw in a completely unnecessary and out of place plot that involves a roadie (Dane DeHaan)'s wacky night out.
I am not a die hard fan of Metallica as a lot of people are. Don't get me wrong---I think they're fantastic and four of the coolest guys in the world. However, I'm not obsessive about them. Watching them jam out in IMAX 3D (which is the only way you'll get any of the effect of the film) is terrific. It's amazing that these guys still have such raw talent and can still be so cool and charismatic on stage. The set decorations by Elizabeth Wilcox and cinematograph by Gyula Pados are absolutely stunning and the film uses its visual style to the nines. However, that plot does get in the way and almost ruins the entire film.
There are so many problems with the plot but I'll explain the two biggest reasons the plot is detrimental to the film. For one...the plot completely takes away from the concert aspect. When the audience sees these guys jamming out...they feel like they're up on stage with them. However, whenever even a shot of DeHaan's character comes up...it turns the film into an extended music video. The other reason is (and some may considering this a spoiler so skip to the next paragraph if you don't want to be told what happens) that the plot is never explained. There's people on horses wearing masks and the roadie has to get a mysterious bag to the band right away. However, even at the end...they don't explain why this all happened. The filmmakers simply leave the audience wondering why the hell they just watched that plot unfold. Also...there is an incredibly tasteless scene that happens before the band plays its final song that feels completely forced.
I can't give this film a complete endorsement due to the unnecessary, gimmicky and pretentious plot. However, if you happen to be near a theater showing this in IMAX 3D....go see it if you can. This is the closest you'll ever get to seeing an actual Metallica concert without paying any more than 20 dollars for it.
(3 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated R for some violent content and language)
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