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Film: Documentary Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

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Despite being a proud soldier of the first wave of English punk, Joe Strummer's iconic everyman stance was always more Bruce Springsteen than Johnny Rotten. Indeed, before settling on his famous name, Strummer (né John Mellor) even went by Woody for a while, presumably in tribute to his predecessor in "this guitar kills fascists" posturing, Woody Guthrie. Julien Temple's documentary gathers much first-rate testimony on the singer's singular charisma, which, along with guitarist Mick Jones' expansive musicality, catapulted the Clash from the class of '77 notoriety to rock royalty. One perhaps wishes Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten didn't smack so much of an authorized biography, although its ripping performance footage is evidence enough of Strummer's deep impact.

– Max Goldberg

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