The Dirt (2019)

Based on the bestselling autobiography from Mötley Crüe, the film is an unflinching tale of success and excess as four misfits rise from the streets of Hollywood to the heights of international fame.

Director:

Jeff Tremaine

Writers:

Amanda Adelson (screenplay), Tommy Lee (book)

Stars:

Douglas Booth, Iwan Rheon, Machine Gun Kelly

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Machine Gun Kelly	...	Tommy Lee (as Colson Baker)
Erin Ownbey	...	Excited Partygoer
Douglas Booth	...	Nikki Sixx
Aaron Jay Rome	...	Kayla's Boyfriend
Daniel Webber	...	Vince Neil
Alyssa Marie Stilwell	...	Kayla (as Alyssa Stillwell)
Brittany Furlan	...	Biker Chick
Iwan Rheon	...	Mick Mars
Trace Masters	...	Frank Feranna, Jr., Age 8
Matthew Underwood	...	Gino (as Matthew Clinton Underwood)
Kathryn Morris	...	Deana
Vince Mattis	...	Frank Feranna, Jr. (as Vince Robert Mattis)
Mark Ashworth	...	Deana's Boyfriend
Avis-Marie Barnes	...	Officer
Eleanor T. Threatt	...	County Clerk

Storyline

Based on Mötley Crüe's 2001 best-selling autobiography, THE DIRT is an unflinching story about sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, fame, and the high price of excess. Director Jeff Tremaine shows us just how Nikki Sixx (Douglas Booth), Mick Mars (Iwan Rheon), Tommy Lee (Colson Baker), and Vince Neil (Daniel Webber) took Mötley Crüe from the Sunset Strip to the world stage, and what it meant to become the world's most notorious rock band.

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Plot Keywords:

junkie | poseur | soft rock | topless female nudity | pop rock | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

Official Netflix

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 March 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Dirt

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

10th Street Entertainment, LBI Entertainment, Netflix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Colson "MGK" Baker, who played Tommy, has tattoos covering his body and had to wear body makeup to cover them for the role.

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Goofs

Nikki Sixx's old Washington State driver license is plastic with a picture on the right side. In the late 70s and early 80s licenses were still made out of paper and pictures are on the left side.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nikki Sixx: [narrating] The 1980s, the worst fucking decade in human history. Preppies and keyboards, stupid haircuts, Jazzercise, and "Just Say No". It all fucking sucked! So what do you do when you're born in the wrong time? You make it yours. And that's what we did to the Sunset Strip.

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Connections

Features Mötley Crüe: Carnival of Sins (2005)

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Soundtracks

I Can't Wait
Written by John Smith (as John Robert Smith)
Performed by Nu Shooz
Courtesy of Nu Shooz Orchestra, LLC

User Reviews

The wait was worth it!

"The Dirt" Drinking Game: take a shot of Jack Daniels whenever you hear the words "dude", "man" or "chicks". Take a shot for each bare breast you see. Check yourself into rehab 1.5 hours later.

I had been waiting to see this film for 12 years - ever since 17-year-old-me first read "The Dirt". It doesn't disappoint. In fact, it was way more enjoyable and fun than I thought it would be. It's cringeworthy, cheesy as hell and over-the-top - but then so is 80s rock. "The Dirt" seems self-aware of this though and doesn't take itself too seriously. It regularly breaks that fourth wall to hilarious effect.

It's basically a comedy with a side of debauchery, partying and drug addiction. Oh and there's occasionally some awesome music thrown in too. It follows the four band member narratives just like in the book - and it works. I came away with Mick Mars having become my new favourite member of Mötley Crüe. I feel they got the personalities dead-on.

Given the length of the book, this rollercoaster felt like it was over all too soon. Still, it was fun while it lasted - much like the career of Motley itself. Go into this with an open mind, don't take it too seriously and just enjoy the ride.

Most fun I've had watching a movie in ages. I'm off to go spin my copy of "Dr Feelgood" now!