Review of Beware of Mr. Baker (2012) by Nathan M — 18 May 2014

Or the One Where That Guy is Just A Jerk...

As a musician myself, it's a lot of fun to watch Beware of Mr. Baker. One, because it showcases the insane talent of Ginger Baker, probably the best modern drummer, and two, because it showcases how insane Ginger Baker is. If you're a musician you probably both admire Ginger Baker for his immense amount of talent, and fear becoming the kind of musician who values art over people.

But this isn't just a documentary for musicians, it's a great character piece about one of the most enigmatic characters in the annals of rock history. As you hear the story of his life, you might begin to understand how he turned into who he did, but you don't forgive him for it. His cruel tactics in dealing with people and persistent need to feel better than everyone else, reveal his true nature: he's a jerk. I don't think there's much of a way around it.

And writer/director Jay Bulger doesn't make any apologies for him, in fact, he even goes head to head (or nose to cane) with Baker. But Bulger's clear admiration for the rock hero effects everything in the film. Just like the audience, Bulger may not be able to forgive Baker's flaws, but he can't forget his talent.