Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements (2011)

For some aging music fans and kids with a passion for musical history, The Replacements are rock and roll defined. This Minneapolis quartet took a teenage-punk attitude, threw it in a ... See full summary »

Director:

Gorman Bechard

Writers:

Gorman Bechard, Hansi Oppenheimer (based on an original idea by)

Stars:

Robert Voedisch, Tommy Ramone, Tom Arnold

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Voedisch	...	Himself
Tommy Ramone	...	Himself (as Tommy Erdelyi)
Tom Arnold	...	Himself
Dave Foley	...	Himself
Grant Hart	...	Himself
Terry Katzman	...	Himself
George Wendt	...	Himself
Johnny Rzeznik	...	Himself (as John Rzeznik)
Robert Christgau	...	Himself
Bil MacLeslie	...	Himself
Kevin Bowe	...	Himself
Greg Norton	...	Himself
Lori Barbero	...	Herself
Jesse Malin	...	Himself
Jack Rabid	...	Himself

Storyline

For some aging music fans and kids with a passion for musical history, The Replacements are rock and roll defined. This Minneapolis quartet took a teenage-punk attitude, threw it in a blender with classic and pop rock, and then poured it into a Middle American pint glass. Over the band's 12-year existence, its live sets were magical, a total mess, or both-depending on your mood and the members' respective blood alcohol levels. Gorman Bechard's remarkable history of the 'Mats takes us from their first show as the Impediments to their 1991 onstage breakup in Chicago, and everywhere in between. Bechard bravely eschews including the band's music, photos, and live footage, instead relying solely on the fans: their well-kept memories, hilarious anecdotes, and differing points of views about the foursome's wildly varied discography and infamous antics. Bechard has recruited an impressive roster of influential fans: musicians such as Husker Du, Babes in Toyland, The Decemberists, The Hold ...

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Plot Keywords:

alternative music | rockumentary | indie rock | minneapolis minnesota | 

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Taglines:

The potentially true story of the last best band...

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Color Me Obsessed

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

What Were We Thinking Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

While Hansi Oppenheimer came up with the original idea to do a fan-based film about The Replacements, her film included the band's music, photos and video clips. Once director Gorman Bechard took over the production, he used none of Oppenheimer's footage and completely started over from scratch, keeping only the film's name and the concept of interviewing fans. And in pure Replacements fashion, he also tossed aside the idea of using any music, photos or clips of the band and decided that the film would now be a serious look at the band's history from start to finish, as well as a study of how the right band can change one's life, as seen solely through the eyes of not only fans, but critics, contemporaries, and those influenced by The Replacements. There is no music in the film, nor are there any interviews with the band members, or any clips of live performances, solely because Bechard wanted none in the film. That a music doc without music had never been made is what truly excited the director about the project.

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Quotes

Dave Foley: People always asked if we wanted to be the Beatles of comedy, and we would say, 'No, we want to be the Replacements'.

User Reviews

Author of my favorite book makes a film about my favorite band

I'll say this right off the bat, I think "The 2nd Greatest Story Ever Told", the first novel by Gorman Bechard, is probably the best book I've ever read. It's about God sending his 18 year old daughter to save us. Of course, she's a Mats fan.

So, it's 20 years later, and Mr. Bechard delivers us a documentary on who I believe to be the greatest rock band ever, The Replacements. And, as he said at the Tampa premiere (and if you read the novel, you'll believe him), he might not believe in God, but he does believe in the Mats. AND IT SHOWS! And while everyone else will recount here how it's great to hear all the stories and such (I do love Robert, the guy from the farm, and Bil MacLeslie is a hot older guy I could listen to for days!), I want to talk instead about the filmmaking.

It's a music documentary, people...WITHOUT ANY MUSIC! As the bumper-sticker for the film says, "Kinda brilliant. Kinda dumb".

In this case its 110% BRILLIANT! Mr. Bechard makes it work. That's filmmaking! In fact, aside from recommending this movie to Mats fan and indie rock fans, I strongly urge fans of independent cinema to see this film. Forget it being a music doc, forget it being about the Mats, it's plain and simple a great movie. It's about passion, it's about how art changes your life, it's about how a band becomes a part of your family, how their music is forever etched on your soul. PASSION! It will also teach you things about success and insecurity, and about how a small band from the Midwest changed the face and sound of rock music forever. (Really, I thought knew a lot about The Mats until seeing this film. They story about how "Tim" was named is hysterical!) Put aside any misgivings you might have about there being no music (really, it's not missed), and give two hours to a great filmmaker who will take you to a place you've never been before. It's brave. It's beautiful. It's unique and funny.

To paraphrase someone in the movie talking about their song "Hayday", I love this movie. I love this movie. I. Love. This. Movie.