Title: Janis
Director: Amy J. Berg
Genre: Documentary
Janis Joplin is one of the most revered and iconic rock ‘n’ roll singers of all time, a tragic and misunderstood figure who thrilled millions of listeners and blazed new creative trails before her death in 1971 at age 27.
Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg (‘Deliver Us from Evil,’ ‘West of Memphis’) examines Joplin’s story in depth for the first time on film, presenting an intimate and insightful portrait of a complicated, driven, often beleaguered artist.
Her massive hits – such as “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Piece of My Heart” – intertwine with the persecution she felt as a social outcast during her adolescence in Port Arthur. Insecurity haunted her throughout her life. She found the utmost expression, for her need to be accepted, singing the blues. Music was her outlet for pain and loneliness.
Joplin was one of the definitive stars to emerge during the musical and cultural revolution of the 1960s. She delivered a breakout performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, and was one of the memorable acts at Woodstock. Her legacy has only grown since her passing.
What will get to audiences’ heart, watching this documentary, is how Janis Joplin represented a paradox: a pioneer for a new kind of female performer, who never stopped seeking love and stability. This comes across not only in a a series of letters she wrote to her parents over the years (that are included in the film), but also through interviews with Joplin’s family, childhood friends, musical associates, TV host Dick Cavett and such noted colleagues as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. All these elements give a complete sense of someone who struggled to connect with both individuals and audiences, but rejoiced fully when she made those bonds.
Technical: B
Story: B+
Overall: B
Written by: Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi
