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Heart Like a Hand Grenade

Play trailer Poster for Heart Like a Hand Grenade Released Oct 15, 2015 2h 0m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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The band Green Day records their "American Idiot" album.
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Heart Like a Hand Grenade

Critics Reviews

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Mike McCahill Guardian We get a passing sense of the band's personalities - incorrigibly boyish, even as they head into fatherhood - yet there is nothing of substance on the music, or its notionally oppositional slant. Rated: 2/5 Nov 5, 2015 Full Review Jordan Bassett NME (New Musical Express) Green Day's American Idiot was a 15-million-selling monster. The film that documents its making is nowhere near as good. Rated: 2/5 Jun 8, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member makes you appreciate American Idiot even more Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A tad mismarketed towards fans across the world. As a huge Green Day fan from the trailers I had suspected a BEHIND THE SCENES look at one of my most cherished albums growing up as a kid. Instead the documentary felt more like watching a concert of exclusively the American Idiot album and not giving the in depth look that the trailer made this film out to be. Also at times the Doc felt as if it was trying to be too inventive and stylistic. It's great to be different from the rest of the documentaries out there, but when that becomes you r main focus rather than focusing on the subject matter at hand, it becomes a mess. Overall the film is a fun time but you honestly get more in depth about "American Idiot" as a record in other documentaries including Bullet in a Bible which I highly recommend first over this. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Where to start . . . this documentary has been in the making for a decade. Director John Roecker stated this was because most of the film and audio had been lost and during a move he would find bits and pieced in scattered boxes. In 2009, the film was shown to a small group in California, and for years later many wondered if the film would ever be released. Time aged the film like a fine wine and some tuning and tweaks to it. I've always known Green Day but I started heavily listening to them last year. Many songs on American Idiot strike close to home, especially "Wake Me Up When September Ends." I fell in love with the rock-opera and powerful story with vibrant rock. A story of love, growing up, rebelling, debt and loss. I quickly bought their other albums but American Idiot was it. I'll spare any readers my tale and move onto the film. Once it was announced I looked up the theaters and got my ticket instantly. I chose to go alone because none of my friends understand or love Green Day as much as I. The film came out at the perfect time because my love for Green Day had just sparked the year before. I've never seen them live sadly (but watched all live footage online I'll bet). So I was thrilled I could be part of something such as this. The documentary gave such great insight in the studio and minds of Billie Joe, Mike Dirnt and comical Tre Cool (who made this film so much better with his antics.) You get to see the album played live for the first time mixed with the actual studio recording in order throughout the film with the process of making the songs in between. Now remember all the songs had been written already, this covers the recording process in studio. I wish it had some more insight to their lifestyles at the time rather than just studio recordings. That said, the film was phenomenal. Even if you aren't a huge Green Day fan but a rock enthusiast you should see this documentary to one of the most influential albums of our time. So much is revealed. You see Billie Joe turn a light bulb on, you see him struggle to connect his lyrics with the wanted sound. You feel Mikes frustration on bass when he cannot hit notes and you feel the comradery and brotherhood when watching this film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I enjoyed the movie showing how Green Day came up the songs for American Idiot. great band and great movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Cried actual tears and snort-laughed way more times than I care to admit. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Heart Like a Hand Grenade

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis The band Green Day records their "American Idiot" album.
Director
John Roecker
Producer
Nazeli Kodjoian, John Roecker, Billie Joe Armstrong
Production Co
Crazy Cow Productions, Green Day
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
2h 0m
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