BROADWAY IDIOT documentary

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/12/13 at 8:57pm

Forgive me if there is a thread about the film already.

Just watched it on TWC On Demand.

When I saw AMERICAN IDIOT, I knew nothing about Green Day nor the show. When I left the show, I enjoyed the music and moments of the show, but thought the story was hard to follow. I also had trouble hearing the lyrics during many moments of the show. All in all, I didn't really care about the show one way or another. Didn't mind it. Didn't favor it.

That being prefaced, I was surprised how much the BROADWAY IDIOT documentary made me root for the show to succeed. Knowing Billie Joe Armstrong's history with the album and getting to know him as a songwriter made me really respect and appreciate his point of view. I'm so glad he fell into theater.

In retrospect, I wish I had given the show a 2nd attendance. I have a feeling I would have better understood and enjoyed it. I had a complete reversal of opinion of PASSING STRANGE and SPRING AWAKENING when I saw them a second time.

I wish the documentary continued to follow the show through the Tony Awards and into its closing. At only 1 hour and 20 minutes, it felt incomplete.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 10/12/13 at 9:17pm

I completely agree with you. The documentary only going through to where it did made the life that show had feel slighted, but I suppose it was more focused on the journey to Broadway mostly and not the journey ON Broadway.

[kadu335]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 11:00am

I liked the documentary as well... it felt a bit rushed at times and somewhat "incomplete", but still a great look inside the show. I loved how integrated the band, especially Armstrong, was with the team and cast. You could see how proud he was about the show and how happy he was being a part of it.

By the end of it, I was glad that I got the chance to see American Idiot twice (once in previews and another times after it opened). I wasn't a perfect show, but I really enjoyed it... I was already quite familiar with the Green Day and the album and I felt it really did a great job capturing the essence of the what Billie Joe wanted to say with the record.

Updated On: 10/13/13 at 11:00 AM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 11:28am

While I enjoyed the show, what I very much did NOT enjoy was Billie Joe Armstrong's behavior at the Tonys. The way he spoke to a community that had welcomed him with open arms was appalling, I thought.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 2:35pm

So if you haven't seen the show yet is it okay to watch the documentery? I'm seeing the show in February but don't really want anything to be spoiled.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 3:00pm

There isn't much of a story to the show. I think you're safe to watch the doc.

[Platypus]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 5:56pm

Although there isn't much plot to spoil, the documentary does show many, many clips of the show. So if you were hoping to go in to the show with a completely fresh perspective having seen none of it before, I would actually suggest you hold off on seeing the documentary until after.

lovebwy, can I ask what your issue was with Billie Joe at the Tonys? Are you talking about how he introduced the performance? Cause I didn't see anything wrong with that - he's a rock star who's not used to reading off of a teleprompter, and he was clearly awkward with it. Also, he recently admitted to Rolling Stone that up until his recent 6-month stint in rehab, he was a functioning alcoholic for the last 15 years. So it's safe to assume that he was likely drunk at the time.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 10:06pm

I also dont remember any inappropriate remarks or behavior at the Tonys. His performance went on too long, but that's the fault of the producers. Can't blame them for putting so much attention on them.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 2:59am

You'll be seeing a water-downed version of the B'way show, so might not be bad to see before hand.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 12:10pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSPgyS4ZZxo

I personally think he comes across very snotty and ungrateful here. He basically says "I'm only saying these things because they're making me read them" and then he makes faces.

That ain't Broadway.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 1:06pm

I think that Armstrong jokes about having to read off a teleprompter and how that's something that he never did before. All the while adding his own little comments about that which he was reading. I never read into that as that being ungrateful for being on Broadway at all. If anything it could be that the actual awards show was the first time he was reading said remarks and his facial expressions were just his reaction to reading them.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 1:14pm

Yeah, I suppose that could be right.

I'll say one thing- I enjoyed seeing him as St. Jimmy in American Idiot. I wouldn't have liked the show nearly as much without him.

[Owen22]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 1:17pm

What is your problem? That isn't Broadway either. It's TELEVISION!! Billie Joe is a talented, humble and grateful man who completely appreciated what Broadway did for his recording. Now, Duncan Sheik was a complete ****about having to condescend to Broadway, as was Stew (and that condescension actually made it INTO "Passing Strange"). Go see the doc. Billie's reactions to what Michael Mayer did is endearing and tear inducing.



Updated On: 10/14/13 at 01:17 PM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 1:20pm

I have rethought my position on this. Watching the clip again, you might just be right.

He was awfully sexy as St. Jimmy.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 1:31pm

"If anything it could be that the actual awards show was the first time he was reading said remarks and his facial expressions were just his reaction to reading them."

For the record, that might actually be completely true as the band had just flown in from the tour THAT DAY to be involved with the awards show and (as far as I'm aware) was not at the rehearsal. So I think it really was his first time reading any of that.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 1:34pm

One of the best musicals i have seen in years (watched it a few times here in the UK when the international tour was here), can't wait for the documentary to get released here in the UK.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 3:30pm

ilovebway - First, I admire your ability to revise your judgment in light of new evidence. Many people, including myself, have trouble doing that.

Second, I would have thought his Tony appearance was a bit snotty and disrespectful, too, if that's all I knew about him. Having heard other comments about how much he enjoyed the process, though, and knowing how hard he worked to make the show a success, it was easy enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[suestorm]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 3:33pm

ehhhh he was being a rock star. last year he was at IHEARTRADIO concert and he flipped out there too as they rushed him off the stage in order to get i think it was Beiber on.

AI was awesome btw. Justin Guarini was good in it too!

Broadway needs more Billy Joes

Updated On: 10/14/13 at 03:33 PM

[thespian geek]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 4:08pm

"ehhhh he was being a rock star. last year he was at IHEARTRADIO concert and he flipped out there too as they rushed him off the stage in order to get i think it was Beiber on. "

Green Day were given 30 minutes for their set and were pushed off stage after only 3 songs. But on that same note, shortly after this incident, Billie Joe was in rehab for substance abuse, so.. I wouldn't consider it him just "being a rock star," because he has almost never had the attitude that goes along with a statement like that.

[suestorm]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 4:18pm

ahhh youre right thespian! I tell you what, if i was at that concert i wouldve stormed the stage for shafting them after 3 songs, probably for some crap boyband