Review of Gimme Danger (2016) by Peter F — 08 Nov 2016

It's no secret that Jim Jarmusch is a huge fan of proto-punks The Stooges (having cast Iggy Pop in two of his narrative films), and his documentary about them is about as hagiographic as you'd expect, but it also wears the mark of a true auteur.

Gimmie Danger charts the rise, fall and revival of the Stooges, marked by pleasing interviews, archival footage, and animation sequences that are all presented in a aesthetically sufficient way. That said, what really makes Gimme Danger stand out amidst other rock-docs, is the present of the great punk granddaddy himself: Iggy Pop.

Iggy Pop is as affable a music icon as ever, and it's obvious why Jarmusch decided to let his interviews with him narrate the bulk of the film. Fans of the group won't learn too much new material from this film, but they'll be certain to get a loving reminder about why the Stooges really were the "greatest rock-and-roll band of all time".