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Metallica, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo ... see more see more... , Jason Newsted , Dave Mustaine , Cliff Burton , Bobby Rock , Phil Towle , Bob Rockwell , Torben Ulrich

Award-winning filmmakers Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger (of the Paradise Lost films on HBO) direct Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, a documentary about rock stars in therapy. After 20 years of heavy... read more read more... metal, a few members of Metallica decide to hire psychologist Phil Towle to work out some group tensions during the making of their album St. Anger. Most of the therapy sessions involve drummer Lars Ulrich and singer/guitarist James Hetfield, with some input from guitarist Kirk Hammett. Also included are former band members Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and ex-bassist Jason Newsted. The band works through difficulties in group dynamics, personal demons, and relationship issues. The film shows recording sessions as well as therapy sessions, including the recruitment of bassist Robert Trujillo. The much-publicized controversies of Internet file-sharing and Hetfield's drug rehabilitation are also discussed. In 2003, Metallica released the album St. Anger on Elektra Records. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 as part of the American Spectrum competition. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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82% liked it

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Critics

88% liked it

121 critics

R, 2 hr. 15 min.

Directed by: Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky

Release Date: July 9, 2004

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DVD Release Date: January 25, 2005

Stats: 1,650 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,650)

  • kiriyamakazou
    August 26, 2011
    kiriyamakazou
    Some Kind of Monster is a wonderful look into a band that is gradually falling apart. To be quite honest though, it was nowhere near as bad as I had been led to believe. Sure there are some spats between band mates, but it never got to violent excess. In fact, all it did show was... read more their passion as each one believed in what was right for the music. At one point Lars even agrees, when discussing the naming of the album, as he didn't see Frantic as having any negative connotations. This shows a band where a member has just left and another is battling addiction. Of course there are going to be some arguments. I felt that above all this showed a band of 20 years continuing to mature. There are some very emotional moments, such as the scene with Dave Mustaine, as he talks about feeling betrayed and number 2 for all these years. The chemistry between Hetfield and Ulrich is that of a married couple prone to arguing, but you can still feel the love. As for Hammett, he is their awkward child stuck in the middle hoping it's all gonna be alright. A great film about music, business, passion, and ego.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 24, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    When I was in my early teens, I was a diehard Metallica fan. In fact their 1984 album 'Ride The Lightning" is responsible for my love of Heavy Metal music. Unfortunately came many events such as the infamous Napster lawsuit and the like. For years we Metallica fans wanted a new r... read moreecord, and we got "St Anger" a raw, gritty stripped album of Metallica's famous sound, this film shows how that album came to be. The film takes a rather unorthodox look at how a Metal band is trying to pull through by having a group therapist session so they can discuss their issues as a band. This is a stunning portrait of one of Heavy Metal's most beloved bands as they hit rock bottom. For us, the fans, it's interesting, but it's also painful to watch. Seeing Lars Ulrich whine like a baby constantly was a joke and all. I thought the documentary was good, but it was just two guys not Seeing Eye to eye for two hours. I mean you'd never see this type of crap from Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and other Metal Icons. It's sad to see one of Metal's toughest bands go into this downward spiral, but at the same it's cool. However, I would've loved to see a documentary on the band sort of like Sam Dunn's Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. Maybe one day Metallica fans will get that. Until then, we have a brutally honest documentary that has its great moments, but it's definitely not an iconic documentary.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    September 14, 2009
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    One of the best documentaries I've ever seen. Even though I'm a really big fan of Metallica, anyone interensted in Metal, music, documentaries, or film in general needs to see this.
  • ironclad1609
    May 7, 2008
    ironclad1609
    What probably was planned to be a documentary about the making of their new record soon turned into a close into the head and hearts of one of the greatest rock bands around. As their egos collide and they go through the hardest time of their career we really get to know the memb... read moreers of Metallica during their shrink and rehearsal sessions. That's certainly not spectacularly filmed but pretty interesting. especially for fans. Seeing such huge stars being regular human beings with flaws and feelings is simply pretty comforting to know. Although their road to a new harmony does not come with a recipe for all to follow it still ends pretty climatic. How they finish their record "St. Anger" and especially shoot their video at St. Quentin prison and go on stage for the first time in three years is made of goosebumps.
  • Chiefilms
    March 1, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Great documentary for a terrible album.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    September 15, 2006
    MidnightMadwoman
    In the unlikely event that you are ever given the choice between seeing this or going to the dentist, go to the dentist. That's how painful this oeuvre is to watch. I mean, if you need to hire a team therapist to keep your band together, that's kind of a sign you should break up,... read more don't you think. I hate Lars Ulrich, and I have nothing but pity for Kirk Hammet, who seems like a nice guy caught in the middle of this mire of a catfight. He is genuinely talented as well. Newstead was smart to bail when he could. Ugh. This flick is a trainwreck in slowmotion. Only not fun to watch.
  • allan913
    September 15, 2006
    allan913
    The best documentry on a rock band i've ever seen. A gem. Great entertainment gold. Powerful, riveting, electrifying and feriousesly funny. Magnificent. Revealing. Solid intensity.
  • kpn666
    July 25, 2006
    kpn666
    One of the best docos - Inside the life of Metallica is so dramatic - and the music - well - no words needed.
  • DuncanRR
    May 27, 2008
    DuncanRR
    Being a fan of Metallica, I was expecting this documentary to be an interesting "behind-the-scenes" look at how they managed to forge ahead and record an album after the departure of their second bassist, Jason Newstead. Apparently, that consisted of Lars Ulrich and James Hetfile... read mored bitching at each other. A lot.

    It didn't feel like a documentary. It felt like bad reality T.V. Forgive me for wanting to be entertained by a documentary, but I don't consider the band that made metal genuine again going though therapy sessions entertaining. I'm grateful they were able to stay together for another decade, because they were fantastic when I saw them in Green Bay. Seeing them in the studio working through their trivial problems, however, was painful.

    That's not to say that there weren't plenty of bright spots. Dave Mustane, who was kicked out of Metallica after they recorded their first album, came back to give Lars a piece of his mind. His frustration at not being a part of their success, even though he's had plenty himself fronting Megadeth, felt genuine and heartfelt compared to Lars and James's petty bickering. And once they finally hired Robert Trujilo as their third (and current) bass player, it was obvious why. Later on in the movie, Lars told him he "saved" the band, and it was pretty obvious that he was right.

    I just wish we, the audience and fans, didn't have to go through a childish, ego-and-testosterone-fueled cat fight before we got there.
  • DrStrangeblog
    October 14, 2010
    DrStrangeblog
    As a comedy, this rates 4.5. As a documentary, what a pathetic bunch. Proof positive that Lars Ulrich is the biggest douche in America, not that we needed extra evidence.

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Critic Reviews

Chris Riemenschneider
August 19, 2004
Chris Riemenschneider, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Fans of the band will love the revealing footage, especially landmark moments such as bassist auditions (more famous names showed up than the one they picked) and encounters with the ex-Metallica memb... Full Review

Roger Moore
August 6, 2004
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

If you're a fan, you will almost certainly be touched by this effort to put an entire dysfunctional band on the couch. And if you're not, well, you're going to giggle. Full Review

Michael Senft
August 6, 2004
Michael Senft, Arizona Republic

An unflinching and often hilarious look at the humanity of these heavy-metal gods. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
July 30, 2004
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Absorbing, funny, exhilaratingly entertaining. Full Review

Desson Thomson
July 30, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Serious, funny, frustrating and touching. Full Review

Tom Long
July 30, 2004
Tom Long, Detroit News

Fans will undoubtedly thrive on every second. For the rest of us, Monster is precisely that: a creature powerful but ungainly.

Ricardo Baca
July 30, 2004
Ricardo Baca, Denver Post

It's great emotional fodder for old-school Metallica fans and smart, tugging drama for people unfamiliar with the band. Full Review

Ty Burr
July 30, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

[An] overlong but startling heavy metal-therapy documentary. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
July 30, 2004
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

By the time this fascinating two-hour- and-20-minute film ends, you'll have seen the group rise from the ashes of its own massive discontent.

Terry Lawson
July 30, 2004
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Overkill to anyone who never flashed the group's devil horns salute. Full Review

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  • Name the documentary which was made by the makers of Pradise Lost and Brother's Keeper!!  Answer »
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