I get to watch a lot of music documentaries, and Beware of Mr. Baker is probably the best I’ve seen since either Searching for Sugar Man or Shut Up and Play the Hits. From this week’s Film Shorts:
Ginger Baker, the flame-haired madman drummer for ’60s British power trio Cream, is given the documentary treatment by journalist Jay Bulger. Bulger’s just as much of a scoundrel as Baker, lying about being a writer for Rolling Stone in order to gain access to Baker’s secluded South African compound. As it turns out, Bulger’s piece actually did get published in Rolling Stone, and Baker, a seemingly nasty, bitter, violent old man—at one point he smacks Bulger in the face with his cane, causing the filmmaker to bleed profusely—has a soft spot for his many dogs and polo horses. He’s also one leaping fuck of a great drummer. The must-see Beware of Mr. Baker is the evil flipside to the uplifting Searching for Sugar Man, but it’s perhaps even more fascinating. NED LANNAMANN
It starts tonight at the Hollywood.

Ned Lannamann is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. He writes about film, music, TV, books, travel, tech, food, drink, outdoors, and other things.

2 replies on “Go See <i>Beware of Mr. Baker</i>”

  2. This was pretty good. I was a little worried that the animation was going to become too tiring, but it didn’t — it was unique and well done, and only seemed cheesy/reaching once or twice.

    The filmmaker did a good job, from getting the project rolling to the final product. He did well to stay out of frame as much as he did (a good rule that too many documentarians fail to follow), sneaking on screen only when necessary.

    Hilarious, loony guy, Baker. And a fucking asshole. And a hell of a drummer.

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