METALLICA SAVED MY LIFE at Tribeca Festival 2025
Review by Eric McClanahan
Metallica have been rocking audiences for five decades now, so one has to wonder what more could be said about the band. Jonas Åkerlund has answered that question by speaking to Metallica’s fans — both those who’ve been there from the beginning and those who are “late to the game” but actively following the band on their journey towards world domination. Metallica is more than a band. As Henry Rollins said in 1992, “If you’re Metallica, you can play anywhere that has electricity, because you’re Metallica, and everyone wants to see you.” This is elucidated clearly in this film that showcases Metallica fandom around the globe.
The most affecting moment, for this viewer, was the fans in Botswana — metal cowboys who defy every expectation one has of a metal fan. The film showcases the early fans who dubbed tapes to spread the word as well as the new guard — young people who rock harder than we ever could — and even celebrity fans like Tony Hawk and Jason Momoa. Metallica is an institution, and that institution is propped up and propelled by a rabid fanbase that seeks Metallica for comfort and inspiration.
One major criticism of the film is the glaring omission of Jason Newsted. No disrespect to current bassist Joe Trujillo, who is featured heavily in the film, but it seems a disservice to include the formative history of bassist Cliff Burton and his untimely passing and then never mention the first guy to fill those massive shoes for the next fourteen years on six albums. The silence screams. That aside, the film is a touching and brilliantly photographed exploration of fandom and camaraderie. One needn’t know Metallica to appreciate how much this film is a celebration of, well, celebration. People from all walks of life, all ages, all around the globe sit in front of the camera and talk about music that they love that brings them together. In this particular case, that music is Metallica.
Originally published at http://behindtherabbitproductions.wordpress.com on June 13, 2025.
