A Decade Under the Influence
There isn’t a lot to say that’s unique about this documentary though I’d heartily recommend it to anyone just developing an interest in the subject it covers – that is Seventies cinema – ie, if you’ve not yet read the many better books etc that cover it already. “Easy Riders, Raging Bulls”, which I’ve not read nor have I seen the documentary adaptation, comes to mind. The Kid Stays in the Picture, too – a movie I’d much sooner watch than this again. This is mostly talking heads and clips. Not that it’s not a fun watch if you’re into the period; and I’m glad I finally saw it as it was the last production Ted Demme was involved with (his death is touched on lightly at the close, which I kinda take uncomfortable issue with – a post-credits thing maybe, but sad an occurrence as it was, it had nothing to do with the documentary subject). With him fresh off Blow, though, and with the title it has, I kinda expected a little more on the drugs side of things. Like the horror doc Going to Pieces from a couple of years ago, it’s really only useful as a perfect introduction or fun refresher on the subject.