Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart (DVD)

...Jones' 2002 film focusing on Wilco at the most turbulent and creatively-fertile period in their career thus far is much closer to Micahel Lindsey-Hogg's 1970 Let It Be than, for example, Berlinger & Sinofsky's 2004 Some Kind Of Monster. Like the Beatles' picture, it is an essential, stunningly-made film but one that, in contrast to the insanely-entertaining Metallica feature, is unlikely to work for anyone uninterested in the band under consideration. ...
...hour-after-hour-after-hour.

Instead, Wilco set upon their own songs with maniacal zeal, pulling each asunder, settling none for a predictable verse-chorus-verse where a chorus-verse-verse from another track -chorus from songs yet to be written can be threaded together instead. Awe-inspiringly short-sighted, the record company balked at what the band had produced, preferring to cut their losses and drop both artist and record than follow ... more

As Bands-In-Crisis documentaries go, Sam Jones' 2002 film focusing on Wilco at the most turbulent and creatively-fertile period in their career thus far is much closer to Micahel Lindsey-Hogg's 1970 Let It Be than, for example, Berlinger & Sinofsky's 2004 Some Kind Of Monster. Like the Beatles' picture, it is an essential, stunningly-made film but one that, in contrast to the insanely-entertaining Metallica feature, is unlikely to work for anyone uninterested in the band under consideration. If one does find oneself drawn to Jeff Tweedy and Co.'s blinding, genre-shredding prog-Americana, though (and really - why wouldn't you?), then I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is as engrossing a couple hours as can be found outside of, say, a couple spins of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the making of which provides the core of the film.

The picture begins just prior to the recording sessions for what would become Wilco's finest album by far, the album that all and sundry expected to break them to an audience outside of their swelling-but-still-fairly-exclusive cult following. The album that would establish them as Major Players commercially, in other words. That would have them filling stadiums and spilling from every FM radio station hour-after-hour-after-hour.

Instead, Wilco set upon their own songs with maniacal zeal, pulling each asunder, settling none for a predictable verse-chorus-verse where a chorus-verse-verse from another track -chorus from songs yet to be written can be threaded together instead. Awe-inspiringly short-sighted, the record company balked at what the band had produced, preferring to cut their losses and drop both artist and record than follow them any further down the increasingly obtuse, obscure alleyways they seemed hell-bent on exploring.

By now, everyone knows what happened next. The album soared to the heights of most every Record Of The Year list and proved Wilco's crowning achievement, whilst the record company looked like ridiculous cretins who knew no more about music than a hat knows of gardening. It is a very modern tale concerning a stirring, intense, heartfelt, post-modern piece of art and the challenges presented to anyone who might try to fashion such a thing in such a commercial, market-driven entertainment industry.

Shot in gorgeous monochrome, Jones' film serves both band and album beautifully. Every notable moment in the record's construction is given the time and respect it deserves - each studio-discussion of import, each migrane-induced vomit, each baffled laugh and shake of the head as the record's release begins to look ever more unlikely.

The 2-disc edition houses an array of excellent, worthwhile extras, including a great commentary from band and filmmaker, a making of documentary and a selection of extraordinary live performances. For fans it is absolutely a must-have. For anyone interested in the state of the music industry at this moment in history and wondering how it could've gotten in such a condition, it is enlightening if, ultimately, deeply depressing. For everyone else - maybe it's best to start with that astonishing album. You'll be looking for this soon after. 

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