It Might Get Loud

Directed by: Davis Guggenheim

Guggenheim's documentary answers the question "What would happen if you put three great guitar musicians, representing three different generations of rock music, in the same room?" The answer, apparently, is a cover of The Band's "The Weight."

The profile of Jimmy Page reveals that he was trained as a classical guitar player, getting his start recording as part of an orchestra. Page is the most technically accomplished musician in the group, actually being able to read sheet music and play a piece in one take by simply looking at the notes. Yet, in describing how Led Zepplin recorded "When the Levee Breaks," he reveals some of the acoustic experimentation which leads directly to the next generation represented in the film.

The Edge, following in Page's footsteps, is much more experimental in how he produces his sound. The audience is allowed to see how he uses his "brain" to produce incredible sounds out of relatively simple riffs on the guitar using various loops and effects. The Edge comes off as the most philosophical musician in the film, even if he uses the tortured-rock-star cliche "I want to make the music I hear in my head come out of the speakers." (Or something along those lines - it was definitely the corniest moment in the film.)

Jack White seems to fly off in a different direction from the other two artists, basing his guitar playing less on technicality and effects and more on the revelation of emotion. Footage is included of him literally bleeding on a guitar as he plays. He is also the most avant-garde and eccentric of the artists profiled, using unusual methods - such as bending and stepping on the guitar - to get the sound that he wants.

Overall, the film was interesting, although it helps to be familiar with the musicians and their work. At various points they describe the inspiration and development of songs, but if you're not familiar with that song then you're out of luck.

The biggest problem I had with this film was that it felt more anecdotal than narrative. There were lots of interesting stories and clips, but taken as a whole they were rather mish-mash and random. It is too hard to take the smaller pieces to create a bigger message in this film. That being said, those individual pieces and snippets are very enjoyable, just don't expect them to build up to a moment of great revelation - it just won't happen.

Final verdict: An enjoyable ninety-plus minutes of great guitar music, even if there's no sense of enlightenment at the end. Just Page, Edge, and White playing "The Weight."