The Future Is Unwritten
starring: Joe Strummer
directed by: Julian Temple
directed by: Julian Temple
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Product Description:
Studio: Sony MusicRelease Date: 07/08/2008
Amazon.com:
Julien Temple, one of the early documentarians of the London punk scene and director of the 2000 Sex Pistols film The Filth and the Fury, turns his attention now to that other seminal British band: The Clash--or more accurately, to the band's co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Joe Strummer. The Future is Unwritten is more than just a biography of Strummer; it is a tribute and exploration of a musician, artist and devoted humanist. Though Temple respects and admires Strummer (his influence is exalted by close friends, peers and fans like Bono and John Cusack), he doesn't romanticize this larger-than-life personality and presents Strummer honestly and not always in flattering light, though the director's fondness for his subject is constant. Most movingly, Strummer himself provides the narration via reassembled excerpts from a variety of interviews and the BBC radio show he hosted during the nineties. In the wrong hands, this could be contrived, but in this masterful documentary it serves as a testament to not just Joe Strummer the myth, but Joe Strummer the man, telling us his story in vivid detail. The Future is Unwritten is a moving and personal portrait of a musician who helped shaped not just punk, but modern music as a whole. --Kira Canny
Studio: Sony MusicRelease Date: 07/08/2008
Amazon.com:
Julien Temple, one of the early documentarians of the London punk scene and director of the 2000 Sex Pistols film The Filth and the Fury, turns his attention now to that other seminal British band: The Clash--or more accurately, to the band's co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Joe Strummer. The Future is Unwritten is more than just a biography of Strummer; it is a tribute and exploration of a musician, artist and devoted humanist. Though Temple respects and admires Strummer (his influence is exalted by close friends, peers and fans like Bono and John Cusack), he doesn't romanticize this larger-than-life personality and presents Strummer honestly and not always in flattering light, though the director's fondness for his subject is constant. Most movingly, Strummer himself provides the narration via reassembled excerpts from a variety of interviews and the BBC radio show he hosted during the nineties. In the wrong hands, this could be contrived, but in this masterful documentary it serves as a testament to not just Joe Strummer the myth, but Joe Strummer the man, telling us his story in vivid detail. The Future is Unwritten is a moving and personal portrait of a musician who helped shaped not just punk, but modern music as a whole. --Kira Canny
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- cool tribute
They gathered old friends and acquaintances around the fire to tell us about Joe Strummer. And at first I was wondering why they were all sitting around actual camp fires until it got into Strummer's latter years of which I didn't know too much. I didn't know much about his formative years either, actually. I just liked The Clash. This documentary covers The Clash years and the years before and after really well it seems to me. I felt I learned a lot about the guy after listening to all these people ... Read More
Rating: 
- The Future Started Here
For those of you familiar with the Clash, this film is a treasure. For those uninitiated, get ready for the ride of your life. If you know the work of Julian Temple (Earth Girls are Easy, Absolute Beginners), you know he has a tendency to over embellish things (he went to Art College, after all), but because of the subject matter, Joe Strummer and the Clash, it becomes more a matter of substance over style after the first 10-15 minutes. You get to find out what Joe's childhood was like, how he struggled ... Read More
Rating: - The Future Is Unwritten - A Peek Into The Life And Music of Joe Strummer
The Future Is Unwritten is easily one of the best music documentaries and bio-pictures I have seen over the past year.In fact, this might be one of the best such productions ever made.I only hesitate to make that claim because, being rather detail oriented, I want to research more of the information included as well as see this film a few more times before putting it on that kind of pedestal.Still, this film humanizes Joe and his work in a way that is both respectful and honest.It gives us a valid ... Read More
Rating: - Johnny we hardly knew ya
I can listen to Joe and be ok, but I have a hard time watching him in action since he's gone. We were friends for a long time. I conveniently missed it when it was in the theater, avoided purchasing it when it first came out, because I thought it would just be too heartbreaking to watch....but don't be a dope like me! IT's a wonderful film, my family and I watched it Christmas Eve. It's priceless to see home movies from when he was a kid, and see his parents. You see him as "Woody" and with his little girls, ... Read More
Rating: - THe Future is Unwritten
Julian Temple consistently creates outstanding documentaries and this one is equal to his masterpiece on the Sex Pistols THe Filth and the Fury. This documentary really gets deep into the man, Joe Strummer and those associated with him during his years before, during and after The Clash. One of the best documentaries out there.
- cool tributeThey gathered old friends and acquaintances around the fire to tell us about Joe Strummer. And at first I was wondering why they were all sitting around actual camp fires until it got into Strummer's latter years of which I didn't know too much. I didn't know much about his formative years either, actually. I just liked The Clash. This documentary covers The Clash years and the years before and after really well it seems to me. I felt I learned a lot about the guy after listening to all these people ... Read More
- The Future Started HereFor those of you familiar with the Clash, this film is a treasure. For those uninitiated, get ready for the ride of your life. If you know the work of Julian Temple (Earth Girls are Easy, Absolute Beginners), you know he has a tendency to over embellish things (he went to Art College, after all), but because of the subject matter, Joe Strummer and the Clash, it becomes more a matter of substance over style after the first 10-15 minutes. You get to find out what Joe's childhood was like, how he struggled ... Read More
- The Future Is Unwritten - A Peek Into The Life And Music of Joe StrummerThe Future Is Unwritten is easily one of the best music documentaries and bio-pictures I have seen over the past year.In fact, this might be one of the best such productions ever made.I only hesitate to make that claim because, being rather detail oriented, I want to research more of the information included as well as see this film a few more times before putting it on that kind of pedestal.Still, this film humanizes Joe and his work in a way that is both respectful and honest.It gives us a valid ... Read More
- Johnny we hardly knew yaI can listen to Joe and be ok, but I have a hard time watching him in action since he's gone. We were friends for a long time. I conveniently missed it when it was in the theater, avoided purchasing it when it first came out, because I thought it would just be too heartbreaking to watch....but don't be a dope like me! IT's a wonderful film, my family and I watched it Christmas Eve. It's priceless to see home movies from when he was a kid, and see his parents. You see him as "Woody" and with his little girls, ... Read More
- THe Future is UnwrittenJulian Temple consistently creates outstanding documentaries and this one is equal to his masterpiece on the Sex Pistols THe Filth and the Fury. This documentary really gets deep into the man, Joe Strummer and those associated with him during his years before, during and after The Clash. One of the best documentaries out there.
