The Future is Unwritten

The Los Angeles Film Festival

The Anson Ford Theater

Hollywood, California

June 30, 2007

By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)

What could be nicer than a movie about a Punk Rock founding father in an open air theater, under the summer stars? Wait, we just did this last night at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery when we saw “Too Tough to Die” (reviewed here) about the late Johnny Ramone and the 30th Anniversary concert.

It’s a two-fer! And tonight? The LA Film Fest is showing the Joe Strummer biopic “The Future is Unwritten” at the Anson Ford Theater, across the 101 from the Hollywood Bowl. Our fave radio station, Indie 1031 fm is co-sponsoring the evening (this is Indie’s 2nd year hooking up with the Film Fest. Last year’s offering was “Never Mind the Bollocks” with the Sex somethings?)

And speaking of something, on the way to the show we listen to a pre-show live broadcast by Indie's own Steve Jones with another signed soccer ball kick from the stage and who catches it? The guy from the Ramones screening, from the night before. “Cosmic, that’s what it is,” says Steve on his Monday broadcast.

And fresh from the pre-show interview with Jonesy is LA band, The Briggs take the stage and remind everyone of why the Clash is ‘the only band that matters.’ Two of the four have Clash tattoos. OK, that’s love and they showed it with “Tommy Gun” and a couple more covers.

Next up, Indie DJ’s Joe Sib and TK warm up the crowd a little more with Joe re-telling his “How I Met Joe Strummer When I Was A Waiter At Dukes and Ended Up Drinking With Him at Smalls” Story. Way cool. Clearly these guys are dedicated fans (like who aint'?) and thrilled to be presenting this film.

“The Future is Unwritten” rolled as the sun went down and the stars started to sparkle. Directed by rock video vet, Julien Temple (“Earth Girls are Easy,” Bowie’s stuff and our favorite, “Come Dancing” by the Kinks) the film sticks to the basic Documentary Formula 101 with archival footage and stills intercut with interviews of family, friends and fans and some sweet touches.

OK, what was John Cusack doing in this film? Same thing as Johnny Depp, Anthony Kiedis, Bono and Steve Jones were doing. They all loved and respected the man. And here’s a switch – the interviews are done by firelight. To be explained later.

We learned things about Strummer we never knew. Born in Turkey, dad was a diplomat, grew up all over the globe and he found his brother’s body. Suicide. Explains plenty.

Joe went to art school and the film is peppered with his animated drawings. Cute little rude things that reminded us a lot of John Lennon’s stuff from “In His Own Write.” Very similar men.

Chronicling the early days in the UK and the slow growth to stadium concerts in the US, “You forget how huge they got,” was the comment from our pal Brian Seven on the way home. The stormy story of the band, the fights, addictions and finally the breakup is not unique. It’s rock and roll.

A citizen of the world, Strummer ended his days with international broadcasts of rockabilly, building campfires and gigging with the Mescaleros. He was a Pogue for a minute, scored several films and raised two daughters. His untimely death due to a congenital heart defect still stings. “No one knew. He could have gone at any time,” his widow weeps. Us too.

Joe was a man to be reckoned with. Our favorite moment in the film was his rant against non-smokers. Strummer believed there would not be any art without smoking and non-smokers shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy the products of artists who smoked.

He inhaled.

http://www.joestrummer.com

http://www.joestrummerthemovie.com

http://www.lafilmfest.com/

www.indie1031.fm

SugarBuzz Magazine