American Hardcore

Name: American Hardcore
Genre: Music, Documentary
Released: September 22, 2006
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Ian MacKaye

2006

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Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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American Hardcore

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: September 22, 2006 | R

Starring: Ian MacKaye

Summary: Generally unheralded at the time, the early 1980s hardcore punk rock scene gave birth to much of the rock music and culture that followed. Hardcore was more than music -- it was a social movement created by Reagan-era misfit kids. The participants constituted a tribe unto themselves -- some finding a voiced, others an escape in theGenerally unheralded at the time, the early 1980s hardcore punk rock scene gave birth to much of the rock music and culture that followed. Hardcore was more than music -- it was a social movement created by Reagan-era misfit kids. The participants constituted a tribe unto themselves -- some finding a voiced, others an escape in the hard-edged music. Ans while some sought a better world, others were just angry and wanted to raise hell. American Hardcore traces this lost subculture, from its early roots in 1980 to its initial flameout in 1986. (Sony Pictures Classics)… Expand

Director: Paul Rachman

Genre(s): Music, Documentary

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Harvey

Excellent documentary American Hardcore chronicles the short-lived but influential musical moment when a defiantly anti-commercial underground put a distinctive U.S. stamp on the hitherto Brit-driven punk movement. Read full review

Rob Nelson

The story of American punk rock (1980–1986) isn't a lot easier to summarize than that of any other major war, but it's quite a bit funnier, as this belated documentary overview--based on Steven Blush's like-titled tome--proves in each of its 90 exuberantly irritable minutes. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

A first-rate documentary on this subgenre of punk rock, which flourished roughly between 1982 and 1986 as an anarchistic response to Ronald Reagan and the disco era. Read full review

Scott Martelle

The documentary is an enlightening journey to a dark corner of contemporary punk's dank little basement. It also will surprise some to hear how articulately some of the former performers explain the dark impulses that propelled them. Read full review

Andrew O'Hehir

Some of American Hardcore is amusing -- many of the aging punks Rachman and Blush track down have turned into highly ordinary middle-aged Americans -- and some is profoundly disturbing. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Hardcore might have been confused and crude, but it was never guilty of being tepid, like this film. Read full review

Will Crain

There's a lot of interesting material here, but Rachman doesn't offer any real analysis of his own, and the film suffers from a lack of narrative focus. Read full review

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User Reviews

caporegime

Jun 10, 2009

Perfectly explained and documented.

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GeorgeW.

Mar 18, 2007

Though it dragged in spots, this was a helluva documentary for my wife and myself as we lived the SF hardcore scene in the early eighties. I kept expecting to see myself or her thrashing about or hanging in the audience. If there had been more from SF, this may have happened. I could Though it dragged in spots, this was a helluva documentary for my wife and myself as we lived the SF hardcore scene in the early eighties. I kept expecting to see myself or her thrashing about or hanging in the audience. If there had been more from SF, this may have happened. I could forgive the lack of SF coverage as the main protaginists, the DKs are now at each other's throats. All in all an important work that I always wondered if anyone would make.… Expand

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JesseO.

Nov 26, 2007

One of the best films of the 80's true punk evolution really liked the interviews of some of those most resposible for it all.

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E.S.

Dec 2, 2006

Decent documentary, perhaps a little wanting at some points, but it did successfully tell the story of a musical movement with some interesting historical context. I'm mainly posting this in response to the TV Guide review, however: I can't believe how misguided the reviewer, Ken Decent documentary, perhaps a little wanting at some points, but it did successfully tell the story of a musical movement with some interesting historical context. I'm mainly posting this in response to the TV Guide review, however: I can't believe how misguided the reviewer, Ken Fox, is when he refers to this music as having a racist legacy. As Ian MacKaye points out in his interview, that's not what he meant his songs to become, and it's terribly off-base considering the diverse nature of many of the bands, particularly Bad Brains, but quite a few others. The misogynist message of hardcore, particularly in relation to Black Flag, is brought up in the movie as well and not in a particularly positive light. It seems to me that Mr. Fox was in a different movie from the rest of us.… Expand

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KeithM.

Oct 16, 2007

I cant believe how out of touch some of the big media reviewers are.. This was first wave hardcore after punk hit the US. This film just scratched the surface on what many people consider an important part of their lives today or yesteryear.. Its interesting how few judgments were made.. I cant believe how out of touch some of the big media reviewers are.. This was first wave hardcore after punk hit the US. This film just scratched the surface on what many people consider an important part of their lives today or yesteryear.. Its interesting how few judgments were made.. either about sexist & rapist remarkst. Things were just stated and that was it. For better or for worse its an after math of decline of western civilization part 1.. Just not quite as psychoanalytic (unfortunately). I for one would've liked some more explanation of why people were so overtly violent.. "We were just f* ups" seems to be lacking. And who said the skinhead thing had anything to do with racists? Theres more variety in race of skinheads than their are white power skins.. but thats a whole other movie.… Expand

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Alana

Aug 25, 2007

I wasn't particularly blown away by this documentary, more specifically after the first 45 minutes I was relatively disappointed. It's been mentioned that the misogynist message of hardcore was brought up... just barely. Roessler actually accuses black flag for hating women and I wasn't particularly blown away by this documentary, more specifically after the first 45 minutes I was relatively disappointed. It's been mentioned that the misogynist message of hardcore was brought up... just barely. Roessler actually accuses black flag for hating women and this is never investigated further.. As for the criticism regarding white supremacy, yeah there was a lot of mix up of white skin head supremacists in the punk scene.. but the documentary seemed to draw a very fine line between the skin heads and the punks. I just felt like it should have dug in to punk culture a lot more.. it was a very superficial film, although it did improve towards the end. Yeah you got the shit kicked out of you at bad brains show in the early eighties, what difference does it make if henry rollins tells us about it or some misfit kid who broke his arm in the pit. I was anticipating more.… Expand

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RemiS.

Nov 14, 2007

Lacks focus. They don't even try to explain "hardcore" let alone "american hardcore". Movie should have been titled "My life in the 80s". You are presented a loose collection of a narrow recollection of a select few of the "punk" music scene of the early 80s. No analysis, no Lacks focus. They don't even try to explain "hardcore" let alone "american hardcore". Movie should have been titled "My life in the 80s". You are presented a loose collection of a narrow recollection of a select few of the "punk" music scene of the early 80s. No analysis, no introspection- just anecdotes.… Expand

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