Film Review: It Might Get Loud

It Might Get Loud is an absorbing look at the creative minds behind three influential bands, Led Zeppelin, U2 and White Stripes (to a lesser degree, so far, The Raconteurs). Set up as a love letter to the electric guitar, the documentary spends time with Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge (David Howell Evans). The producers/director Thomas Tull and Davis Guggenheim have come up with a simple premise, put these three men in a studio (the size of an aircraft hanger) with guitars and lots of amps and see what comes out. The meeting of these musical minds, whose approach to the electric guitar are all distinct and conflicting, is a fan’s dream.

Thankfully the audience also gets to spend solo time with the musicians, discovering the whys and hows of their passions for music. We are introduced to each musician’s local habitat and influences. These men are all considered to be electric guitar virtuosos, with distinct visions of how music should and can be produced.  How did they find their ‘sound’?

Each musician is framed in the documentary by the most obvious quality that seems to symbolise both their guitar style and personality. Jimmy Page is the natural talent- charmingly easy-going and relaxed; this is brilliantly captured when he plays records that influenced him in his home, excitingly air-guitaring along. Page sees the guitar as an extension of himself- defining a relationship of symbiosis. His calm self-assurance contrasts well with the other two musicians, who both seem to be engaged in a struggle with their instruments and music- pushing to bend their instruments to their will.

The Edge is a perfectionist. His music is driven by the search for musical clarity. He manipulates the electric guitar, changing the tuning constantly and using technology to exaggerate the capabilities of the instrument. Though at times The Edge takes himself a little too seriously (either that or he is a comedic genius), his obsessive behaviour seems to be a reflection of his ambition. U2 formed in 1970s Dublin when the members were all at school together. Considering the context of Ireland at this time (which is lightly touched on in the film) his commitment to getting out is understandable. It is this drive and mastery of his instrument and its possibilities that contributed to U2’s reputation as a great live act.

Jack White (if that isn’t the most appropriate name in showbiz history, than I don’t know what is) is the antithesis of The Edge, praising spontaneity and raw performance over technology, which he labels as the ‘destroyer of creativity’. White rejected the contemporary musicians of his teenage years, seeking out inspiration from Blues records, attracted to the pain and imperfection of this genre. Within the documentary, White is a bit like a performance artist. He appears to be in a constant state of mythologising his life; White is well-known for constantly releasing contradictory information about himself and his bands. The most passionate in his musical convictions, he presents himself at times as though auditioning for a David Lynch film.

It Might Get Loud is fun, with great snippets of concert footage from all three musicians. The joy the men have for music shines throughout the whole documentary and is especially evident when they play together each sharing one of their hits. In theory the men should clash; Page’s amazing compositions for Led Zeppelin, spawned an era of self-congratulatorial instrumental solos that pushed The Edge to search for guitar precision. This technological enhancement of rock music influenced White to hunt for unprocessed music and caused him to revolt against aided perfection. Through their different routes each musician has the same end point in sight and this is truly fascinating. The approach of the filmmakers has been one of respect and genuine interest as opposed to investigation, allowing both fans and rock music novices the same access to the guitarists.

Australian release date 29^th October

Director: Davis Guggenheim

Featuring: Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White

Image credits 1, 2, 3