Home Box Office (HBO) | Release Date: April 24, 2015
7.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 94 Ratings
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Positive:
75
Mixed:
13
Negative:
6
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9
LowbrowCinemaMay 5, 2015
Totally blown away by KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK. The best doc I have seen in years and that rare film whose style and format is totally in keeping with the spirit of its subject. You feel immersed. You understand. You see what's importantTotally blown away by KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK. The best doc I have seen in years and that rare film whose style and format is totally in keeping with the spirit of its subject. You feel immersed. You understand. You see what's important in all new ways. A staggering achievement! Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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5
cdig219Jun 5, 2015
I think it was ok, it was sad to learn about his childhood. The irony is if he had been nurtured would he have been a better artist/musician or not those things at all? Did he have Crohn's disease? Could his addiction have been avoided if heI think it was ok, it was sad to learn about his childhood. The irony is if he had been nurtured would he have been a better artist/musician or not those things at all? Did he have Crohn's disease? Could his addiction have been avoided if he had just been diagnosed correctly? Time and time again those around him failed him, but he also failed himself. There was a lot of cacophony-ish filler in this movie that was perhaps meant to pull you in, to try to make you understand what being Kurt Cobain must have been like but it was a bit too severe. I also don't think that Courtney was the good one. I think they were both messed up kids who became famous too soon and had a baby while drug addicted. I also don't believe the Dave G interviewed too late, in my opinion they shut him out of the documentary purposely. Its known that Courtney doesn't care for him and given that Frances Bean was involved I could see them intentionally leaving him out. I would like to see a Kurt Cobain documentary from an unrelated, unbiased person. Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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6
kheasAug 14, 2015
Kurt Cobain A Montage of Heck: An interesting documentary that presents nothing new to those who followed the musicians career closely but makes him look like a life out of control to those who were just passing fans. Showing privateKurt Cobain A Montage of Heck: An interesting documentary that presents nothing new to those who followed the musicians career closely but makes him look like a life out of control to those who were just passing fans. Showing private footage and personal moments it serves no purpose other than exposing old wounds on the long dead skeletal remains of cultural icon. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
annbdAug 13, 2019
For a drama movie it is masterpiece with it’s script, scenes, sounds and all. For a documentary, on the other side, there were some details that for example in Soaked in bleach were shown. And for spreading the truth this details areFor a drama movie it is masterpiece with it’s script, scenes, sounds and all. For a documentary, on the other side, there were some details that for example in Soaked in bleach were shown. And for spreading the truth this details are important. With that in mind, the movie is a masterpiece. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
RighterMay 2, 2015
It's a good movie, but mostly if you're already interested in Nirvana. It doesn't deal with his death at all, except for mentioning it at the end, so if you're looking for some expose on the circumstances surrounding his death, you won't getIt's a good movie, but mostly if you're already interested in Nirvana. It doesn't deal with his death at all, except for mentioning it at the end, so if you're looking for some expose on the circumstances surrounding his death, you won't get it here. However, it does a very good job of showing Kurt as a troubled boy, growing up angry within a dysfunctional family, and the tragedy that evolves from him pretending not to care about being cool while desperately wanting to be loved and failing to deal in a healthy way with any kind of rejection. Home scenes also show an unhealthy obsession with Guns N' Roses. It's weird, he pretends to be the Anti-Axl Rose, while doing many similar things, except, of course, stay alive. Pretty good as documentaries go, but unfortunately, you'll have to deal with seeing more of Courtney Love than you might have wanted to... Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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5
DelTorroMay 5, 2015
Did not enjoy Montage of Heck at all, felt it was poorly edited, full of filler and to be honest the way his personal diaries, notes and home videos are laid out there for all to see is pretty horrible.

Dave Grohl's complete absence was
Did not enjoy Montage of Heck at all, felt it was poorly edited, full of filler and to be honest the way his personal diaries, notes and home videos are laid out there for all to see is pretty horrible.

Dave Grohl's complete absence was also fairly telling too, apparently he did the interview too late to make the edit - as if we can believe that. why would we not want to hear what one third of the band that made him so famous had to say? Seems like he got cut out deliberately.
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
ConnorKMay 12, 2015
Great documentary of the biggest band of the 1990's decade. Nirvana is one of the greatest bands of all time, this is about the life of Kurt Cobain. Kurt Cobain was a very creative person and an obviously extremely depressed individual. HeGreat documentary of the biggest band of the 1990's decade. Nirvana is one of the greatest bands of all time, this is about the life of Kurt Cobain. Kurt Cobain was a very creative person and an obviously extremely depressed individual. He always felt like an outsider, it showed in his music. Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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4
CzarMay 10, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect. But what we got was wildly uneven. On the whole it took too long. Some of the footage with Courtney Love were just difficult to watch. What I took away from it was that Kurt was a very talented but fragileI wasn't sure what to expect. But what we got was wildly uneven. On the whole it took too long. Some of the footage with Courtney Love were just difficult to watch. What I took away from it was that Kurt was a very talented but fragile individual who was never going to have an easy ride through life. What I really miss is more emphasis on the music, the creativity the context of his life. And a massive hole in the story is ... where is Dave? No Grohl? I cannot understand that left him out. Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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0
JuliaHarmsMay 6, 2015
Even though I wasn't completely objective due to my extremely distain for Courtney as well as a newfound annoyance with Brett Morgan (he just seems a bit too pompous, exhibiting an extremely righteous glee about MOH), I tried my best to watchEven though I wasn't completely objective due to my extremely distain for Courtney as well as a newfound annoyance with Brett Morgan (he just seems a bit too pompous, exhibiting an extremely righteous glee about MOH), I tried my best to watch without too many preconceived notions.
I've read a plethora of glowing reviews, hailing Montage of Heck as sensitive, deeply moving and genius. I disagree.
Montage of Heck was strangely disturbing to me, in a violating kind of way for the lack of better words.
The weird thing is that I cannot pinpoint why I was so **** uncomfortable during most of the movie. Was it Courtney's feeble attempt to deflect attention away from her issues, thus making Kurt the scapegoat in some of the footage, or maybe it was the films general voyeuristic tendency?
I don't know why the movie left such a bad taste in my mouth, something just seemed wrong. I do however support Alice Wheelers reaction/post about Montage of Heck and share very similar feelings about this so called "honest" travesty.
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1 of 5 users found this helpful14
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7
currer_bellNov 1, 2015
Good documentary... Can't say it's always telling the truth however, but there's no doubt it's a very well crafted piece of work. The animations are awesome, and it really does make Nirvana's music stand out.

Still there is some minors
Good documentary... Can't say it's always telling the truth however, but there's no doubt it's a very well crafted piece of work. The animations are awesome, and it really does make Nirvana's music stand out.

Still there is some minors flaws that are lowering my final score ; I feel the last 45 minutes are kinda weak... There is not much interviews from here... I wish we could have heard more from Krist or Kurt's mother. Instead you have those lame and boring Kurt & Courtney home videos, with Kurt mumbling, Courtney and the baby screaming.... Boy they certainly could have cut that out...
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
SEROJMar 22, 2016
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As a fan i can honestly say that i expected more from this movie! Too much scenes with Courntey and less with Nirvana. What about the reherseals, the awards, the albums?! Dave Grohl probably refused to play role in this documentary, because it reveals a lot secrets that Kurt kept and probably never wanted to reveal! And the ending. Holy Sh1t! Are you serious? So you're putting in tons of strange animation, courtney love and you're ending the movie with just a quote? "Kurt Cobain killed himself". What the hell? What about the fans?! What about his last letter? What about the world's reaction to one of the most famous suicides of all-time? Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
AndremaxSep 14, 2018
Mix of Cobain's friend and family testimony and pseudo-real simulated situations worked very well on this documentary. The second one makes film even more holding and smooth watching. Worthwhile watch and know a little more about the past ofMix of Cobain's friend and family testimony and pseudo-real simulated situations worked very well on this documentary. The second one makes film even more holding and smooth watching. Worthwhile watch and know a little more about the past of the frontman of one of the most popular bands of all time, even you ain't a Nirvana fan. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
ApolscJul 3, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I liked the documentary, except for the Courtney Love part. She "almost cheated him" she "didnt even called the guy (it is supposed to be one of the smashing pumpkins)" and in return kurt drinks 67 pills and entered in a coma, then they go back to seattle and he kills himself, but Courtney has nothing to do with it, she is the good wife in this movie. Im not saying she killed him, but i dont like thie angle of the documentary with her, Courtney Love s only success in life is marrying a famous talented artist from all of those she went to bed with. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
duckhostJan 6, 2019
I've probably seen this movie 10 or 11 times by now. Kurt really helped me trough a bad time in my life and he wasn't even alive. This movie is a person study, there isn't nothing in here that doesn't say ''Why Kurt Cobain was the way heI've probably seen this movie 10 or 11 times by now. Kurt really helped me trough a bad time in my life and he wasn't even alive. This movie is a person study, there isn't nothing in here that doesn't say ''Why Kurt Cobain was the way he was''. This isn't to glorify Kurt but to understand his persona and mind. If you relate with things that him did and sad you REALLY should watch this movie. This doesn't give any detail about his suicide wich is something that every movie about people that commited suicide should do. And why 13 Reasons Why is a **** piece of garbage show but anyway, if you are a Kurt Cobain fan in the first place why haven't you watched this movie yet? There are numerous things here that Kurt did that wasn't showed to the masses that are show in this movie, sure something are debatable like home video of him and Courtney having sex but I guess this is a theme in the movie. This is to me a masterpiece of a movie. And I can't give nothing but a 10. Thank you Kurt Cobain, thank you Frances Cobain and thank you Brett Morgen. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
arrivistOct 31, 2021
A missed opportunity and Courtney Love endorsed view on the short and painful life of Kurt Cobain.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JLuis_001Sep 6, 2017
Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck, did not turn out to be the epic documentary that promised but it does proves to be one of the most solid in relation to the life of Kurt Cobain, in general fulfills, this can be a good approach for those who areKurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck, did not turn out to be the epic documentary that promised but it does proves to be one of the most solid in relation to the life of Kurt Cobain, in general fulfills, this can be a good approach for those who are unaware of Nirvana and for fans definitely becomes a must stop. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
CarrickJun 3, 2020
Unique documentary that displays Kurt Cobain’s life and art in a strange and visceral, yet wonderfully structured way. The only downside of this movie is that Courtney Love creeps me out and her presence in the home footage made me extremelyUnique documentary that displays Kurt Cobain’s life and art in a strange and visceral, yet wonderfully structured way. The only downside of this movie is that Courtney Love creeps me out and her presence in the home footage made me extremely uncomfortable. Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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