When Julien Temple directs a rockumentary, you know it isn't going to be the usual straightforward assemblage of talking heads with archival footage. So it is with his acclaimed 2007
Joe Strummer documentary
The Future Is Unwritten, even though it does actually draw upon many interviews and film clips dating back to
Strummer's childhood. If you want to learn the basic outline of
Strummer's (or
the Clash's) career, this might not be the best place, since Temple, as expected, sprinkles the interviews/footage with plenty of arty graphics, edits, and effects -- particularly bonfires, around which many of the interviews take place -- to keep the visual interest afloat. Too, none of the interviewees are identified by captions, and even the major
Strummer/
Clash fan might be uncertain or puzzled as to the role some of them played in
Joe's life (though if you don't recognize major figures like Mick Jones, who's interviewed extensively, you might have come to the wrong place altogether). If you're willing to go with the flow and take what Temple presents instead of fretting over grasping the entire context, however, there's a wealth of insight into
Strummer's complicated character, as well as much exciting footage of
Clash/Mescaleros performances and actual
Strummer interviews. Though
Clash bassist
Paul Simonon and
Clash manager Bernie Rhodes are notable absentees, an astonishing number of
Strummer's friends and colleagues offer their comments, including Jones,
Clash drummer
Topper Headon, and other musicians with whom
Joe worked; old buddies dating back to his childhood and college days; musicians
Strummer influenced and inspired, from
Bono and
the Red Hot Chili Peppers to
Sex Pistols guitarist
Steve Jones; and director/actor chums like
Martin Scorsese,
Jim Jarmusch, and Matt Dillon. While
Strummer's flaws aren't skipped over -- including some breaks with his past that some of those close to him were hurt by -- the overall tone focuses on his more artistic and humane qualities, with some surprises like the story of a brother who committed suicide when
Joe was a teenager, and pictures of the young
Strummer with long hair. [As a bonus feature, the 2008 DVD edition of the film adds audio commentary from Temple and an additional 100 minutes of interview footage with many of the subjects included in the main feature. That additional interview footage is more for serious fans than the general viewer, but does add some viewpoints and stories that will be of interest to intense
Strummer admirers. Temple's commentary track is interesting not just for additional perspective upon and anecdotes of
Strummer's life, but for background information as to how the film was constructed and how some of the rare source footage was found.] ~ Richie Unterberger