We Sold Our Souls for Rock and Roll
dir. Spheeris
Fri-Sat, Jan 4-5
Guild Theater
There are places, as a rational human being, one should never go–and that’s why we should all thank the documentary filmmaker. They are the heroic few who travel to places we would never dare, and return with cans of film encapsulating their experience. One such hero is director Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilization), who returned from an event so overwhelmingly grotesque, I would rather stick five pencils in my eye than go myself. It was Ozzfest ’99, a celebration of the finest acts in heavy metal music, and in particular, Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne.
Though warned away by Ozzy, Spheeris joined the tour as they navigated the country, playing concerts and encountering the drunkest cross-section of humanity ever witnessed. Smartly, Spheeris steers clear of presenting the film in clearly linear terms, and separates the tour into sections, spending time only with subjects worthy of attention. For example, one section is devoted solely to the bands touring alongside Ozzy, such as Primus, Static X, Rob Zombie, and Slipknot. And while all in attendance show reverence for the godfather of heavy metal, their envy is humorously palpable when they’re forced to ride on a repossessed bus, while Ozzy flies to the next gig.
However, it’s the fans who take up much of this documentary, constantly competing for who can be the drunkest, flip the most birds, or show the most titty. If there was one sane person amongst the throng, Spheeris wisely steers clear of them to bring the viewer the most entertainment value. Also providing unintentional entertainment is the tour’s Christian protestors, who claim that Ozzy’s music leads to suicide, drug use, Satan worship, homosexuality, and cannibalism–though not in any particular order.
Spheeris’ snappy editing nicely captures the high-octane energy of the event, and treats even the most intoxicated, bare-breasted mechanical bull rider with respect. But the highest respect still goes to Ozzy, who is portrayed not as a bat-chomping devil worshipper, but a sweet family man bemused by his success. Overall, We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll is a cute, loving tribute to the fans of heavy metal, and a entertaining place to visit–even if you’d never, ever want to go there.
