We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen
We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen
| 25 February 2005 (USA)
We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen Trailers

A feature-length documentary chronicling early '80s punk rock band the Minutemen, from their beginnings in San Pedro, California, to their demise after the death of singer D. Boon in 1985.

Reviews
TrueHello

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

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Humbersi

The first must-see film of the year.

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ActuallyGlimmer

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

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pointyfilippa

The movie runs out of plot and jokes well before the end of a two-hour running time, long for a light comedy.

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binaryg

I'm a sixty something life-long fan of rock (well at least since the mid 1950s), and lived in California and never heard of the Minutemen that I can remember. Maybe I did hear of them but thought they had something to do with Paul Revere. I'm not sure why I rented the DVD but I'm happy I did.The interviews, the live shows are raw like the music The Minutemen made. I think their lyrics and what they sing about to be inspired. They aren't afraid to speak the truth (whatever that is!) and do it in an unique and insistent fashion. In the interview of the three band mates they come across as grounded, thoughtful, humble, and connected to one another. D. Boone, Mike Watt, George Hurley rock. I wish I'd have seen them live.

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pm-52

Always did love this band. Can't believe D Boon's been gone 20 years now (that's the spoiler). Saw it last night at the ICA in London. Many laughs, and a few teary eyes. The film really does capture their passion for music and their utter passion for their own music.There is quite a lot of live footage. Hopefully a DVD release will have these in full. The comments from folks around at the time are funny, insightful, charming, touching and so on. I'd love to show this to someone who has never heard these guys - I have a feeling the film would still be compelling viewing as, as I say, it really does communicate the intensity of this unique trio.PM

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trux_32

Although a lot of the footage is of poor quality, the way the movie is edited taps into the enthusiasm the band garnered during it's live performances. After a screening at the Rice University Media Center in Houston, several attendees mentioned the urge they felt to get up and applaud 20yr old concert footage. The filmmakers did an excellent job of breaking up current interviews with footage they shoot throughout the band's early years. Surviving members of the band and other music contemporaries reminisce about why the Minutemen stood out and were so important. These ideas are then highlighted by concert footage or an archived interview with the band shortly before the death of D. Boon. For example, seeing Mike Watt today talk about growing up in San Pedro and the aggravations of trying to start a band in a small town is accentuated with comments he makes twenty years prior as the band is starting to taste national exposure. Whether you are a fan of the Minuteman, or alternative rock in general, shouldn't matter in choosing this film. The story resonates around the childhood friendship between D. Boon and Mike Watt and how it produced a sound that was one of the most creative in the history of rock n' roll. Imagine a twenty-year class reunion but only the people you liked are going to attend. That's the feeling I walked away with.

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geneven

I was at the premiere too, and was surprised at how undated the music was. I saw the Minutemen a number of times (best was on the boat in San Pedro harbor, with the Meat Puppets) and this film captures their essence surprisingly well. D. Boone, where are you when we need you! I'm here on the Internet trying to find a place to buy a copy of this excellent film. The music is aggressive and lively and always interesting. The film mainly consists of interviews about the Minutemen coupled with amazing live performances; my friend Andrea Enthal pointed out that they got such excellent renditions of Minutemen songs by combining many live performances to get excellent delivery and sound quality of almost every line. The spirit of the Minutemen lives on.

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