FeistyUpper
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
GrimPrecise
I'll tell you why so serious
Billy Ollie
Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
Michael_Elliott
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015) *** 1/2 (out of 4)There have been several documentaries on Janis Joplin over the years but this one here is certainly among the very best for a number of reasons. For starters, the film does an extremely good job talking about not only her music career but also her personal life. Secondly, and most importantly, there are many people interviewed here that worked with her directly as well as family members and friends who knew her before she became a star and eventual legend.JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE is certainly going to appeal to those fans of the legendary singer and if you don't know who she is then it's a great way to understand why so many people continue to love her decades after her death. The documentary does an extremely good job at talking about her pre-fame days including her depression with her looks as well as the drug addiction that started soon after she left home. The documentary is full of stories from friends as well as some great footage of concerts as well as band rehearsals.I honestly don't see how anyone could be disappointed in this film. Sure, it's great enough to where it could have gone on for more hours but realistically there's nothing wrong here. The amount of interviews from her original band members is priceless and especially since so many of these people are getting older and many are no longer with us. We get a terrific idea of what it was like for the singer back in the day and we get some letters she wrote read to us as well.Fans of the singer will certainly want to check this documentary out even if they feel they know everything about her.
morrison-dylan-fan
Whilst I have heard some of her hit singles and the tragic history of being part of the "27 club" I for someone have never got round to giving a good listen to Janis Joplin.Taking a look at reviews on IMDb's European Cinema board,I spotted a fellow IMDber praise a Joplin doc that they had seen on the BBC.Finding the movie on BBC iPlayer,I decided it was time to uncover the pearl.The outline of the doc:Growing up in a small town,Janis Joplin finds herself being an outcast in university, with her fellow students voting her "Ugliest Man on Campus." Feeling a strong connection to Blues music,Joplin decides to leave her small town for the free-wheeling spirit of California.As she puts all of her emotions into her music,Joplin finds herself struggling to get a grip on her own blues. View on the doc:Bringing Joplin's notes and lyrics off the page and onto the screen, the great musician Cat Power gives a soulful narration as Joplin,with Power's voice getting the deeply emotive words of Joplin smoothly across.Uncovering unseen performances,director Amy Berg keeps the narration in the background and allows Joplin to do the talking,by washing the screen in explosive footage from gigs which are placed in the era with Berg scattering hand-made posters and ripped concert tickets across the stage.Interviewing Joplin's band mates and family members,Berg strikes a fine balance in giving everyone an equal say,which allows for the lack of a dividing line between Joplin the person and Joplin the performer to be fully displayed,as Janis Joplin sings the Blues.
Tom Dooley
I will say up front that I am a fan of Janis Joplin and looked forward to seeing this (on the BBC) it details her life in chronological order from her days growing up in Port Arthur, Texas to her many incarnations with all of her bands including 'Big Brother and the Holding Company'.There are interviews with friends, lovers and family. There is plenty of archive footage but only snippets of songs which includes the Monterey Pop appearance. Many songs are featured but the real reason here is to tell her story and her battles with drugs and alcohol and her of love of the blues, which she could sing so beautifully that even watching this I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rising.It is amazing how she managed to put so much emotion and passion into her music and it seems the people around it saw that in her too. Her firmament burnt for too short a time but while it did so it was also one of the brightest and most loved. I truly think this is a great tribute to Janis Joplin – not just the star but the person – highly recommended.
Que no me toque un alto delante
An experienced documentarist who poses her eye on one of the greatest in the history of music. Very remarkable the amount of footage of Janis in her glory days. Presetns a lot of testimonials from people very close to her(both professionally, and personally), which allows us to feel a little more closely, both the achievements and thesuccesses, as well as the sorrows and sufferings of the genius of Janis. Another positive aspect is the letters or written records of Janis. IT also lets us enjoy many moments of live music, which is always good in a music documentary. Very exciting and entertaining.
