The men behind the monster

When most people think of Metallica, they think of the most violent, aggressive thrash metal ever produced, whether it be the debut, Kill ‘em All, or their latest album, St. Anger. Or maybe they think of the corporate giant that has sold over 90 million albums since 1981, or the band's well-earned nickname, Alcoholica. But as filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky show in their new documentary, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the beast is just three middle-aged men who need therapy sessions to get along. As the premise suggests, the film contains its fair share of psychobabble, but it also turns out to be one of the funniest rockumentaries ever.

The movie opens in 2001, after the departure of Metallica's bassist Jason Newsted. The remaining members -- James Hetfield on guitar and voice, Kirk Hammet on guitar and Lars Ulrich on drums -- begin rehearsing material for their upcoming album in an abandoned military barracks with album producer Bob Rock filling in on bass. In between rehearsals, the band has group therapy sessions led by Phil Towle, who works with "big ego, big dollar guys," such as football teams and big-name rock bands.

Rehearsals begin promisingly. The band is excited, and to blow off steam Ulrich collects abstract art, Hammet goes surfing and Hetfield takes an unexpected two-week vacation to Russia, kills a bear and drinks vodka while missing his son's first birthday. But then rehearsals begin to drag, as Hetfield and Ulrich argue over creative control. Rehearsals come to a halt when Hetfield checks himself into rehab at an undisclosed location for "alcoholism and other undisclosed addictions."

While Hetfield spends a year in rehab, the band continues its therapy, talking with former Metallica guitarist and founder of Megadeath, Dave Mustain (whom Hammet replaced) in one of the film's most intimate yet hilarious scenes. Mustain reminisces with Ulrich about "digging holes in the dirt and smoking hash through the ground." "Have you ever thought what I went through?" he asks Urlich, about the pain being kicked out of Metallica.

Meanwhile, Ulrich plays some of the new material for his Danish father, equipped with official Gandalf brand beard, mustache, walking stick and baseball cap. "It sounds like a guy shouting in some kind of echo chamber," says Ulrich's father. "I would say delete that."

Finally Hetfield returns, and as part of his recovery, he can't work past four p.m. This immediately creates tension with Lars, who wants to be able to work late. "This is rock and roll...I don't want rules," says Lars. "I don't want to become a parody."

But Lars does, as does the rest of the band. The movie is reminiscent of the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap, a mockumentary chronicling the drama, collapse and reformation of an aging metal band. But unlike Spinal Tap, which that treats repeated drummer fatalities lightly, Metallica still grieves over the death of bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a tragic bus accident in 1986. Metallica recently hired its fourth bassist, Robert Trujillo, formerly of Black Sabbath.

The film also documents Ulrich fighting against Napster and the resulting fan backlash (including a hilarious e-toon of a money-grubbing Ulrich), Metallica performing at San Quentin maximum security prison while filming the music video for St. Anger, and Metallica being named an MTV Icon. The movie goes on just long enough for the therapy to become painfully tedious. At Trujillo's first band therapy session, he has a look of utter bewilderment at the sight of egomaniac rock stars sharing their feelings. Then, wisely, the movie ends, with Metallica's first concert promoting the new album.

Hardcore Metallica fans will probably see this movie as another commercial ploy, as many feel that the quality of Metallica's output over the past 15 years has declined as its marketability has increased, yet the movie clearly shows that Metallica has not sold out. But this is not a movie just for Metallica fans. It is one of the funniest movies of the year, and also a movie about an aging yet immature band. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster has universal appeal and although it is unrated, it contains foul language and some sexual content.

This film is now playing in New York, New Jersey and California, and will open in Maryland on August 6.