Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Pearl Jam Twenty Blu-ray Movie Review

'Twenty' for $20 is a steal for any Pearl Jam fan.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 1, 2011

One of the most dependably unpredictable bands in Rock.

Filmmaker/Music Journalist Cameron Crowe sure does love his music, and if there's anything that, perhaps, he likes even more than his music, it's sharing his love of music with others. His wonderful Almost Famous is like a sorta-kinda autobiographical love letter to a bygone era and the music that entertained him, influenced him, and shaped him into the man he is today. That movie is perhaps the finest example of fact meeting fiction in film, a picture that transcends its time period and even its music, focused instead on telling a story about the life, the people, the reality behind the tours, the instruments, the records. Pearl Jam Twenty is sort of like a modern day Almost Famous, but without the fictional element. It's a story of the people behind arguably the most influential and one of the longest-lasting rock bands of the past two decades. Like Almost Famous, it's an inside access picture that focuses on the people who make the music rather than the music itself, for its the human creativity, passion, energy, strength, and togetherness that truly make the music, not a fancy record cover, a label on the side, a spot on a chart, or money lining the band's bank account. Pearl Jam Twenty is a wonderfully informative, expertly crafted, and detailed look into the band, a look that focuses on the people and, therefore, brings the band's music and popularity into focus, too.

The face of Pearl Jam.

Pear Jam Twenty chronicles Pearl Jam's twenty-year history in some detail but at the same with a broad enough brush to facilitate one's understanding of its success, idiosyncrasies, and of course, its people. The story of Pearl Jam begins in Seattle, the home of the 1990s Grunge movement, with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament. They would form a group that would be known as "Mother Love Bone" with lead singer Andy Wood. Wood's untimely death would threaten Gossard's and Ament's ability to put together a feasible band, but they would soon land guitarist Mike McCready and new lead singer Eddie Vedder, whose distinctive vocals and natural talents would mold the group into its era's finest. Now calling itself "Mookie Blaylock," named for the former NBA basketball player who spent parts of a lengthy career with the New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Golden Sate Warriors, the band put on its first show only six days after its formation. A string of successes, positive fan response to the band's debut album Ten (so named in honor of Blaylock's jersey number), and a name change to "Pearl Jam" soon led to an appearance at Lollapalooza, which sent the band's success into the stratosphere and solidified its place both in the grunge scene and in the decade of Rock. Little could anyone have guessed than in the twenty years following, the band would achieve enormous success, but at what price? Twenty tells their story, a story of great musical successes but also of the band's unique approach to success that would define them almost as strongly as their record-topping albums, endless energy on-stage, and dedication to their fans.

At the heart of Pearl Jam Twenty is an excellent historical overview of the band's rise to and maintenance of success, but at its soul is a passion for something that extends far beyond that success. On one side of the camera, it's a love of music, and on the other, it's also a love of music but also an appreciation for success and an understanding of what it means to be a fan, to dedicate so much energy, time, and money to a group of performers who (not in the case of Pearl Jam) all too often fail to acknowledge what it is that's brought them to great heights. Cameron Crowe's enthusiasm for the band is evident; he distances himself from the film, allowing it to play out with both a personal and also detached universal perspective that offers both a general overview and an intimate glimpse into the band's history and the personalities that make it. His film is a living document of a quintessential rock group that maybe glosses to quickly over a few critical events and time periods in the name of pacing, but that certainly covers all the necessary bases and chronicles every critical moment with a balance that exudes passion and enthusiasm but not to the detriment of objectivity or accuracy. It's not Crowe's crowning achievement -- it's hard to top a legend like Almost Famous -- but in fairness to Twenty, it's a different sort of film about a different era and a different group of people. At the end of the day, though, maybe the message between the eras and the films hasn't changed at all: it's a message on the strength of togetherness, principle, and love of music that brings out the best in the performers both on and off the stage.

Crowe's balance between keeping dedicated Pearl Jam fans interested and grabbing newcomers is another of the film's great strengths. The film manages to walk that fine line between thoroughness and broadness quite well, whether focusing on the band's formation, its feud with Ticketmaster that would have several members of the band testifying before a Congressional committee, the tragedy that befell several fans at a Pearl Jam performance at the Roskilde Festival in the year 2000, or the story behind the band's most recent album, Backspacer. The picture's narrative flows freely and efficiently, conveying both critical and anecdotal histories alike with an eagerness and effectiveness that sometimes alludes even the best Documentary films. The music certainly helps in keeping the film moving along at a brisk pace, but it's also Crowe's storytelling abilities and the band's accessibility that help make Twenty such a great success. It's also Crowe's understanding that Pearl Jam, the Pearl Jam phenomena, and the resultant longevity is the result of more than the music; the film's flow is made by the songs but its essence is the people behind the music, a truism that Crowe never forgets even as the film revels in the beats of some of the band's most popular and influential songs of the past twenty years.

Pearl Jam Twenty Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Pearl Jam Twenty's 1080i Blu-ray transfer is comprised of both newer HD footage and older SD footage. The latter dominates the picture; between harsh, jagged, and low-detail video clips and noisy black and white imagery, the picture isn't exactly up to newer "standards," but the material looks as good as it can and, as always, doesn't factor into the final score. The newer footage is crisp, well-defined, nicely colored, and strongly detailed. Facial textures are suitably intricate, colors are stable, and shadow detail is strong. Though there's a drastic difference in raw picture quality, Crowe's film flows so well that the shifts often seem to go unnoticed. The various styles and qualities of the film's footage from the past twenty years just seamlessly come together, and the material in its entirety simply seems to just work in perfect harmony. That's a testament to both how well the movie flows and to its narrative superiority. This won't be demo material, but Pearl Jam Twenty's Blu-ray transfer passes every test.

Pearl Jam Twenty Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Pearl Jam Twenty rocks out to a pair of lossless soundtracks, both of the LPCM variety, one each of the 2.0 and 5.1 configurations. Both tracks are excellent, with the 5.1 offering truly shining. It makes excellent use of the surround channels; information is nicely spread all around the stage, playing with great clarity and spatial accuracy. Whether the opening moments when a rotating radio dial sends varied information all around the listening area or during some of the well-balanced concert scenes that place the listener in the middle of the crowd, the track delivers an energy-packed but infinitely clear and crisp experience into the home. The low end is potent and satisfying, whether in support of music or defining a clap of thunder heard early in the movie. Light atmospherics also bring several locales to life with information precisely placed around the stage. Guitar riffs are potent but crisp as they slice through the soundstage, and vocals are strong and front-balanced. The overall experience is satisfyingly rich and accurate; Pearl Jam fans are in for a real treat with the 5.1 offering. The 2.0 track is equally clear and balanced. It of course lacks the immersive surround elements, but it's just as invigorating and suitable for the material. Both tracks are excellent, but the smart money is on the wider and more immersive 5.1 presentation.

Pearl Jam Twenty Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Pearl Jam Twenty's extras consist of a handful of short featurettes.

• Mike McCready Writing "Faithfull" (1080i, 4:49): The guitarist recalls the process of writing "Faithfull."
• Jeff Ament in Montana (1080i, 3:42): A piece that follows the bass guitarist's travels in Montana as he discusses his childhood and history as a musician, pointing out the place where the Yield album cover was photographed, and more.
• Stone Gossard Seattle Driving Tour (1080i, 5:06): Gossard points out some of his favorite Pearl Jam-related Seattle landmarks.
• Boom Gaspar Joins the Band (1080i, 2:42): Gaspar discusses his relationship with Eddie Vedder and his role in the band.
• Eddie Vedder House Tour (1080i, 9:00): A look around a Rock legend's home.
• Matt Cameron Writing "The Fixer" (1080i, 2:37): The drummer discusses the process of writing one of the band's more recent hit songs.
• "No Anything" (1080i, 1:24): A brief excerpt from a memorable performance.
• "Come Back" (1080i, 7:36): A performance dedicated to The Ramones.

Pearl Jam Twenty Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Pearl Jam Twenty is a high quality Documentary that rightly brings into focus the members of Pearl Jam, not simply the music they make. Its balance between broad accessibility and fine detail is commendable; Crowe's craftsmanship allows the film to work for longtime fans and newcomers alike. It's highly entertaining, very informative, and incredibly well crafted. It enjoys a flow that's rarely achieved by even the best Documentary films. The band's great music certainly plays a part in the picture's superb pacing, but it's also the film's attention to detail and the stories it has to share that make it one of the best Music Documentaries in years. Sony's Blu-ray release of Pearl Jam Twenty features strong video and audio, complimented by a few extras. Highly recommended.