Dig! and Documentary-Worthiness

True, but the larger point that McDonald's food might likely kill you if eaten exclusively over a pretty short period of time is documentary-worthy, I'd say.

The Viper Room scene was great, but this movie sucked overall. I'm just not buying Anton's act.

Alex, what about Venom makes them worthy of a documentary?

Great documentary to watch once, but the second time just painful.

Uh, let's be a little honest about this and say that a) it might make you gain weight if you eat only the least nutritious stuff at McD's, not "kill you" and b) there's no evidence that a "pretty short period of time" eating like that will kill you.

Anton's a delusional, semi-talented, egotistical ass. The movie was an enjoyable car wreck, except that he got to live at the end.

Oh trust me. I've hung out with him a bit. It's not an act. You haven't lived until you find yourself backstage at a show and Anton talks your ear off for thirty minutes because there's nobody else around for him to talk to.

Yeah, I'm being dramatic. Still makes for what some people might find an interesting documentary, though, which was my basic point.

NB: Anton has been known to read ILM from time to time.

So is it simply egomania, or does he have some condition that causes his behavior? The film alluded to a connection to his father's schizophrenia, but his behavior seemed to indicate that he's just more of a primadonna than anything...

So is it simply egomania, or does he have some condition that causes his behavior? The film alluded to a connection to his father's schizophrenia, but his behavior seemed to indicate (to me) that he's just more of a primadonna than anything...

The scary thing is I know someone who regularly chats with Phil Collen from said band, as he lives near here in Laguna.

So is it simply egomania, or does he have some condition that causes his behavior?

He is Anton. The rest follows.

I think Ms. Timoner did a lovely job of making you think you missed something huge and ultimately influential on all of music history. (Which was obviously not the case, but still...it gave a moment's pause.)

As great as it is, it's not as good as American Movie, which says pretty much *everything* you'll ever need to know about making art (be it music, movies, etc).

They said that they've been back as friends with Anton for the past six years. Apparently the intention was to make it more of a good story than a true documentary.

Also, Tracy Emin was there and asked really loudly "DO YOU LIKE COCAINE?" and generally made a fool of herself. We saw her leave in a cab with Mick Jones, who apparently stared at my friend's tits in the lift up out of the cinema.

The Q&A is going to be on the English version of the DVD, so watch out for me sneaking back into audience two minutes after it started after walking out during the credits to go for a cigarette.

Certainly not in order to illustrate how the Big Bad Wolf can tear apart a helpless artist and his integrity -- the poseury on display by both bands is off the charts.

Haha I keep confusing this doc with "Tarnation." They should bundle the DVDs as a twofer.

Diagnosis: borderline personality disorder.

As the promo person for BJM (at BOMP! Records) during the time the movie depicts, I honestly felt that BJMs live shows (when Anton didn't disrupt them) were awesome. I love the first 4 Bomp! albums. I love them live. There is nothing to describe them live in their element, which was usually a "Big Bang", as Greg Shaw's happenings were called.

What the film CAN'T capture is the amazing scene that BJM were part of. I could care less about the dandys, they strike me as boring and suburban.

What Dig didn't show is that Anton is capable of being a very sweet person. It would take me a long time to explain this, and you probably aren't interested.

I saw Ondi at Tristan Shaw's birthday BBQ a couple of weeks ago, with Dave Deresinski (the ex Manager) and Betsy (their current promo person). Anton was invited, but he didn't come. There is a bit of friction between him and Ondi.

Oh hell, I should just stop typing because Ned said it best "Anton is Anton and the rest follows". Anyone who wants 5 years of grisly detail on the subject has to buy me dinner and give me royalties.

Maybe he's a nice guy sometimes, but other times he clearly seems like he's an ass. There are enough people nice all the time to not waste too much time with the rest, yes?

thanks

What made it entertaining?

-- Great "A Star Is Born" storyline as the "girlfriends" succeed while the genius self-destructs
-- Hilarious contrast between the egos and general full-of-shitness of Anton Newcombe and Courtney Taylor
-- Pathos of watching Anton fuck up, taking everyone else with him
-- Wonderful, appealing supporting comic characters (mainly Joel Gion and Zia McCabe -- I want to be him and do her)
-- Other interesting supporting characters (mainly Matt Hollywood, Jeff ? from BJM, and Peter Holstrom)
-- Bizarro cameos (that Porridge guy, Kim Deal)
-- Unbelievably great footage (especially in contrast to something like the Wilco doc, where everything important happened off camera; in Dig!, everything important seems to happen on camera, esp. the Viper Room fight, the BJM house photo shoot, the video shoot, Courtney hearing for the first time that he's on the radio in Greece)
-- I liked a ton of the music from both bands (never having heard hardly any of it before)

The BJM and Dandies were perfect for the movie -- good enough so that they clearly are/were for real, but not so good that most people would already have a ton of knowledge/preconceptions about them.

Of course, the movie wasn't "the truth" -- it was a ton of footage and years cut up cleverly to make an entertaining, edifying story. You can tell it's cut up because the Newcombe/Gion sideburns will change several times in a single sequence. So what? It's a great job. If Newcombe were not nuts, he would have a BJM "greatest hits" to sell to fans of the movie.

-- Orbit (cstarrcstar...), July 19th, 2005.

Well, like i said before, i'm trying to figure out if the girl with dave d. in DIG! is the same girl in the david cross tour dvd...that's all.

-- roxymuzak (emilysu...), July 20th, 2005.

no, i'm talking about the woman sitting with Dave D. Ondi is still behind the cam at that point...

-- Rufus 3000 (infinitecow...) (webmail), July 20th, 2005. (Mr Noodles)

I don't understand why that would bug you! At least we picked up, right?

Good lord, man, have you ever seen or heard Venom? It would doubtlessly be hilarious.

Finally saw "Dig!" this week and quite enjoyed it.

Other music documentaries I've seen lately (from Netflix):
- Moog (****)
- Haack: King of Techno (****)
- Edgeplay: The Runaways (They couldn't even get usage of the original Runaways music, and Joan Jett did not participate. The story is even sadder than Dig).
- Rage: 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style (skip it)

i had to talk to a college class about this movie last week

lol

lol, i remember liking this even tho i dont have much interest in the the bjm or the dandys

the new doc this director made called 'we live in public' was pretty good, it's about a crazy internet dude who filmed ppl 24/7 for a month and then himself 24/7 4ever and how he made lots of money then lost it all and is crazy

wow ned, I didn't know you were such a hotshot. you ever hang out with the drummer from Def Leppard?
― David Allen (David Allen), Friday, 28 January 2005 17:24 (4 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Funnily enough, a friend of mine's sister was one of the crew who tried to re-attach his arm. To him, obviously.

I have a hard time finding anything to like about either of the bands in Dig!, and seeing it just made liking them harder.

Wait, I take that back. BJM had the good sense to work with Miranda Lee Richards on occasion.

apparently anton is who encouraged her to do music over modeling, so

He done good. She's in possession of a fantastic singing voice.

Finally got to see this (£3 in Fopp!)

RocknRoll!

The commentary tracks on the DVD are all great.

The more music docs I see the more I appreciate how uniquely marvellous DiG! is. But given how much luck and patience was involved - Ondi Timoner set out to cover a new bands competition, met the BJM, then met the Dandy Warhols through them, then spent seven years tracking them - that's hardly surprising. It's like the Hoop Dreams of rock.

ah, the commentary track...

I have a bunch I've seen once that I haven't made it to (Derailroaded for one), and one I've pretty much made it through all of them (24HourPartyPeople has Tony Wilson's, Steve Coogan's (not done much of this one) and PeterHook and pals on a separate DVD sited in a club, onscreen..)

.. I did see there's a 2DVD version of Dig! as well.

I liked Dig! a lot. Now I want to watch the commentary.

just watched this again on Tubi, what an incredible doc

Glad I held onto my DVD copy, don't think it made Bluray and might never given rights/how everyone feels now. A few years back I saw the Dandys here in SF -- really great show -- and Miranda Lee Richards and Joel Gion were the openers. (I remember seeing Joel more than once behind the desk at Amoeba over the years.) Also Dave the put-upon BJM manager was there chatting with Courtney near the back during one of the opening sets. It all very much felt like 'everyone's probably a little more settled and happier now' -- and I did love the recentish story that Zia from the DWs is also a Portland real estate agent now. She seemed perfectly chill with it!

oh wow class reunion.

I have to say watching that movie was Joel's esprit de corps and ability to keep smiling through all the insanity and total shitshow was pretty inspiring.

I did see that story about Zia, was nice to see.

Courtney doesn't seem like a bad dude but has that sort of blithe way about moving through the world that only super attractive people have.

Hahah it does happen.

OMG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMV55KCWD4

I have to say watching that movie was Joel's esprit de corps and ability to keep smiling through all the insanity and total shitshow was pretty inspiring.

Which makes the major hook here of this version so far -- further narration from Joel -- of interest. But I'm mostly wondering if they're going to finally come out with a Bluray? (Given the insane amount of extras on the DVD version I have to wonder what else can be added too.)

Here's a story from January with more:

https://deadline.com/2024/01/dig-20th-anniversary-ondi-timoner-interview-1235729695/

Dig! XX, returning to Sundance 20 years after its initial launch, adds 40 minutes of footage including more chaotic shows, loving moments between the pair and plenty of cultural context (including a surprising Gilmore Girls pastiche).

There’s more context about that infamous fight (see video below) at the Viper Room (“you broke my sitar, motherf*cker”); the firing of original manager Dave Deresinski; a tender moment between Anton and his girlfriend, actress/fashion designer Tara Subkoff; as well as Eric Hedford’s response to Taylor after quitting The Dandy Warhols.

Some of this, BTW, is definitely bonus stuff from the DVD version so it may be that a lot of the 'new' footage is simply a repurposing. But no bad thing if so.

Morning bump!

ondi’s last filght home doc from a few yrs ago was really great