What We Do Is Secret

R

2007

1 hr. 32 min.

Biography

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

45%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A biopic on the legendary punk band the Germs.

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Critics Consensus

Despite its dynamic subject and reckless anti-glamor, this biopic about the legendary punk rocker Darby Crash fails to translate the excitement its subject generated.

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kevin c

A biopic of sorts stars Shane West as Darby Crash who formed the punk band The Germs with a few friends in Los Angeles and took the punk scene by storm. Frustrations from not being able to be booked due to fear of damage at most of the clubs and interpersonal issues along with drug use cut his career and life short. West is excellent in this role. While I was not very familiar with the band or their mark on punk, I found this to be quite a fascinating look.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is criminally underrated. This is hands down one of the best films of all time. Shane West went above and beyond as The Germs frontman Darby Crash. He later on went on tour with the actual band. They were also cameos in the film's ending. It's powerful, entertaining and dark.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I would have gave it all 5 stars but I didn't, this is a really good movie. Good actors, acting and based on the punk rock band of the 70's The Germs. Based on the life of Darby Crash and his band The Germs rock bio movie so worth the watch. A great go to movie for any fan of Darby Crash, The Germs or punk rock music. The actor that plays him Shane West did so good playing Darby Crash.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Audience Member

Darby Crash lives once more in Shane West's uncanny performance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/15/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Movie is an incoherent mess. What a shame.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

good musical bio-pic

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Rodger Grossman

Director

Shane West

Darby Crash

Bijou Phillips

Lorna Doom

Rick Gonzalez

Pat Smear

Noah Segan

Don Bolles

Ashton Holmes

Rob Henley

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Ty Burr

Boston Globe

Rated: 2/4

Nov 24, 2011

Full Review

Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 18, 2011

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Jay Ruttenberg

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Steve Erickson

Gay City News

"What We Do Is Secret" makes a bid for entering Crash into rock'n'roll mythology.

Mar 9, 2018

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Long live the baby monsters.

Aug 15, 2011

Full Review

Sonny Bunch

Washington Times

A docudrama with the production qualities of a made-for-MTV movie about a band that recorded one album and never finished a gig and whose lead singer was a fascist poseur.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 30, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

A biopic on the legendary punk band the Germs.

Director: Rodger Grossman
Executive Producer: Michael LaFetra, David G. Mack
Screenwriter: Michelle Baer Ghaffari, Rodger Grossman
Production Co: Coalition Films, Foundation Films
Rating: R (Brief Sexuality|Language|Drug Use)
Genre: Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 2008
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 24, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.8K

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