Spotlight on Documentaries – Part 2: Nerdcore Rising
February 10, 2010
DVD Spotlight on Documentaries: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, Nerdcore Rising, Spellbound, and Jesus Camp.
Part 2: Nerdcore Rising.
Every once awhile at the video store you have to take a chance. Not every movie you pick out is going to be good. You’re going to pick some bombs, some duds, and some just plain crap (my latest selection in this category would be Beyond a Reasonable Doubt with Michael Douglas and Amber Tamblyn – awful). On the other side of the coin, though, sometimes a movie that you nothing about can be a hidden gem, made more fascinating because you have absolutely no preconceived notions or expectations of the film. This was the case with Nerdcore Rising.
What in the world is “nerdcore,” you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. Or, I’ll try to tell you. Nerdcore is a relatively new form of music. The best explanation I can give is a blend of hip-hop, rap, and electronica, performed mostly by really intelligent, really nerdy dudes, and appealing to the same general audience. Nerdcore artists can rap about anything, but mostly they talk about computers, science and science fiction, and things like Magic: The Gathering, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and video games.
The film follows one of if not THE pioneer and coiner of the term “nerdcore,” MC Frontalot. He is about to go on his first tour with his bandmates, hitting mostly small bars and clubs, and culminating at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle. The film follows the bandmates as they cope with the trials and tribulations of life on the road.
There are some really funny scenes in this movie. Watching five extremely intelligent guys with limited social skills hanging out in bars is comedy in itself. When women act interested, they don’t know what to do with themselves. At one point, they have lost a critical piece of equipment (left it in a hotel room somewhere), so they buy a replacement at the computer store, use it for the show, then attempt to return it the next day. Guest interviews with Brian Posehn and “Weird Al” Yankovic, among others, add to the fun while providing interesting insight into the legitimacy of the music genre.
Now I didn’t go rushing to my computer and start downloading a bunch of Nerdcore jams (though I do understand that many of the songs are available for free), the music had its own charm and style. If I heard one of these artists was playing nearby, my curiosity might force me to go check it out.
If you like music, and you’re interested in new music, then you should do yourself a favor and dedicate an hour and a half to Nerdcore Rising.
Overall Rating: 3 ½ cheeseburgers.
