Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan

Shane MaGowan infused Irish folk music with a punk attitude and took it into the charts. But 'Crock of Gold', a look into his life, is hard viewing at times. It's imaginitively made, and there's interest in the story, but it's basically reverential tone (epitomised by the appearances of Johhny Depp, who produced the film, and an obsequious Gerry Adams) can't hide the fact that this is the story of an intelligent man who has spent his life drinking himself towards death. His own story of his primitive background is hard to sqaure with the normal appearances of his parents and his sister. Something clearly happened to screw him up; and it's hard to celebrate the result. Some artists truly live their music; but if your music is the story of drunkards and losers, that's not a happy form of authenticity. I wish Shane well, but at heart this is a grim tale

Incredible documentary of a legendary punk poet! BRAVO!

Definitely the best music docu I've ever seen. Really thorough look into Shane's life from being a wee boy, God knows how he survived! I'll be honest & admit I'm not a huge fan of The Pogues music but found myself singing along and swaying on my chair, I just got lost in the magic of it all. This has got to win some sort of award. It's incredible! Well done to Shane, Victoria, Johnny, Stephen & Julien. 10 out of 10.

I always have a special affection for the voice rhythm of Johnny depp. Really enjoyed it.

A sublime and transcendent experience for fans missing the glorious Celtic romps of the Pogues in their prime. Director Temple wildly enhances the underwhelming interviews with a mostly ruined, but still fascinating, Shane MacGowan with psychedelic animation, heavenly black and white Irish pastoral scenes, and an engaging trove of archival footage that includes Shane dancing in the front row of a Sex Pistols' show. Gets to the very heart of Shane and connects all the essential dots ultimately revealing a brave and free spirit who was ripped away as a child into the devastating whirlwinds of his era yet managed somehow to ride them all out.