Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! (2006) User Reviews

Great for fans-Good for others

[ahae-1 · 8/10 · 14 April 2006]

I went into this movie expecting something totally different. But what I got was pretty awesome. The shakiness of the amateur videography sometimes caused a kind of "Blair Witch" effect on me, but the professional camera shots that were worked into it balanced the effect. The audio is booming & is much like being at a concert. The style of the movie changes gradually throughout the show, which kept me focused on the screen when I was tempted to just rock out in my seat. The Beastie Boys have been on the scene for a long time. This movie shows not only their ability to rock a sold out show at Madison Square Garden, but it also conveys the amazing connection they have with each and every fan in that audience. If you're a fan, you must see it. Even if you're not a rabid follower of the Boys, you'll still enjoy the show. I left the theater feeling as if I had been at The Garden that night.

Very Good

[just-blaze · 8/10 · 3 August 2006]

I imagine you all know the story...50 cameras handed out to the crowd, footage edited, mixed in with the pro shots, some crazy effects added...and so on and so forth.

But let's not forget though that this was a brave - whilst now proved brilliant - move. The Beasties, consistently over the years an energetic, entertaining and more often than not superb live attraction, have never released a live video/DVD before now. Now, in their 40's, this is probably the last chance they have to do so, and my god it couldn't be any better.

In keeping with the band's ideals to do things differently with innovation this DVD captures so much which is great about the Beasties. The sheer style of it....the shots are all well chosen and expertly edited (over a year in time frame) and visually I think the editing really gives a feel to the energy of this gig.

And what a gig. The track listing is near perfect, offering cuts from all 6 studio albums, albeit missing out on the hardcore (which was the same throughout the latest tour). The frenetic shots swarm through the likes Sure Shot and Shake Your Rump (where Ben Stiller can be seen rhyming along to every word), then cleverly slow down in time with the mid-set instrumental break, where the boys come out in 50's wedding style tuxes and play through the mellow grooves of instrumental career highlights such as 94's Sabrosa, and to great effect.

It's not just the songs though. Effects on the likes of Body Movin', where a living graffiti style offers something new, and the black and whiteness of An Open Letter to NYC... everything all plays it's part in this film, from these effects to the aforementioned editing. During Intergalactic, the Beasties make their way into the crowd, with an almost 'I can't believe how good this is!' effect. What's more, the cameras follow MCA, Adrock, Mike D through to the back of the arena, again proof that this film gives such a complete experience of a gig you probably weren't at.

Other highlights come in the way of Time to Get Ill, where the Beasties are joined by Doug E Fresh, or the crowd singing Paul Revere word for word and the band beaming at their efforts. All special moments from what had to be an incredible show. All these individual moments make up something which go's back to the general idea. The cool idea of the fans being so involved, and the boys putting so much trust in such spontaneous film making.

By closer Sabotage, it feels like you've witnessed an event, from the early shots of the band making their way on stage and the fans being told to keep on filming, right through to Ben Stiller proclaiming the show as one of the best he's been to in the end credits. Obviously, I'm a fan...but I imagine you are too if you're reading this, and trust me, if you like the Beastie Boys then this is essential.

The extras offer a chance to switch between some of the cameras, take detours at certain points in the concert (which is all explained in the DVD manual), listen to the mic's acapella...they're all above anyway I think. I'm not too sure about the David Cross portrayal of Hornblower, but the BBQ extra really made me laugh a few times. The exclusive Shazam! video allows you to switch audio and angles during playback (in line with the Criterion DVD). For me though, there could have been no extras and I still would have loved this concert film. One of the best things ever to come from one of the best bands over the last 20 years.

Highly original

[grantss · 7/10 · 31 July 2020]

A very novel way to make a live concert film: hand video cameras to 50 audience members and get them to shoot it for you! Result is variable though, despite some good editing. Some great shots and some mediocre. Still, a very different, and less sterile, approach.

Music is good, of course. Great performance by the Beastie Boys.

Awesome...

[jcorbe · 10/10 · 28 July 2006]

Watching a concert film is typically something reserved for die-hard fans of that group. This is not the case with Awesome, I shot that. If you like music you probably will like this movie. If you like Hip Hop music, you will definitely love this movie. There are special guests too (like Doug E. Fresh) that will bring it back to the old school! The whole interactive idea of using the fans is brilliant. You get the sense that you are actually at the concert with all the movement - compared to a single shot fading into different angles of 4 cameras. Madison Square Garden practically goes nuts when they play their classics. The Beastie Boys once again prove that they are original, fresh and their music is ultimately better than anything in the todays rap game. All in all the movie keeps you on your toes and is always fun.

truly awesome...

[badreligion · 10/10 · 1 February 2006]

i watched this 93-minute film at midnight during the sundance film festival, and when it ended and the lights came on, i secretly hoped someone would announce that it would be shown again for those who wanted to stay (i know i wouldn't have left my seat!).

i really wish i could have been at the actual concert at madison square garden--the beasties put on a fantastic show with music spanning their entire repertoire (minus the hardcore early days, of course). at one point, they even donned some retro tuxes and played instrumental numbers from "check your head" and "ill communication." as you might imagine, given the premise of the movie being shot by amateurs using hand-held digital cameras, some of the inclusions and streams weren't great, but for the most part, the final edit allowed a wonderful flow between multiple audience viewpoints, backstage hijinks, pre- and post-show moments, and even a bathroom break taken by one intrepid guy. "hornblower" threw in some creative editing and composition elements, too, showing a few songs performed in the cinematography styles the group has used in videos like "so whatcha want" and "shake your rump." the guest performance by doug e. fresh was amazing (as you might expect), and there were several other celebrity cameos from the on-screen audience as well. i was lipsynching along throughout the show, and many heads were bobbing in my theater. i was disappointed that i didn't get to attend the sundance showing the beastie boys visited, but i enjoyed this movie immensely and look forward to buying it when it's released.

P.S. the attempted re-creation of this idea during the beasties' performance on letterman (2/8/06) was *not* indicative of the quality of the the "awesome..." film. the beastie boys did a great job, but the letterman footage was pretty lame and poorly done.

"Once upon a time upon this mic, MCs be really workin' on what they write; With the sound delight, we rock all night, and yes, we're gonna party for the right to fight."

good for Beastie Boys fans

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 23 December 2015]

In 2004 NYC, the Beastie Boys are performing at Madison Square Garden. They hand out 50 hand-held digital cameras to selected audience members. They use the footage gathered by these fans and put together a concert movie unlike any other before it.

The idea of amateur video is better than the actual execution. The good is to see what is not normally shown. Somebody took their camera into the bathroom. The bad is everything about amateur cameramen. The video looks grainy. It's either shaky or jarringly shaky. It's unfocused. At the core of it all, there is the music. That is good for the fans but not a successful cinematic effort for everybody else.

The Citizen Kane of concert movies

[reinbo · 10/10 · 1 February 2007]

I 'm not an Beastie Boys fan and I'm not into Hip Hop. But when this film was shown at the Rotterdam film festival I went to see it because I was triggered by the concept of it being shot by 50 people from the audience.

Well it worked! I was absolutely flabbergasted by the energy that radiated from the screen. Never before a concert film (even Baby Snakes) has captured the essence and true atmosphere of the show. This was a truly landmark movie, because after this movie any director that thinks he can capture a show with an nice crane shot is completely ignorant and out of date. Being at concert is an experience that is broader than just watching the band from the best position. you also get beer, go to the toilet, look around you. etc. That should all be in a concert movie otherwise it is just an old fashioned registration.

10/10.

Beastie Beastie Boys Getting' Live On the Spot...

[chaka92 · 10/10 · 23 March 2006]

WOW!!!! How much fun can one person take. Props to the editor Neal Usatin for cutting such a brilliant piece with mass amounts of footage. How many gigs of storage for this project? The stylistic way in which this is put together equals the creative genius of their DVD Anthology. I love the Boys approach to utilizing technology in a new refreshing way.

Finally I just have to say a big "THANK YOU" to The Beastie Boys for another piece of time forever etched into my brain. The positive experiences never end when it comes to these guys. Check out this Film as many times as you can. I hope you have as much fun as I did and they did.

"I'm not here to fight nor incite, I'm like the beach at the Bahamas make you feel alright"

SoCal

Genius idea

[bill_tram · 10/10 · 3 August 2023]

What a brilliant idea. The film captures the concert experience so well, from the obvious stage shots, but also buying beer & concessions, restroom breaks, backstage, green room, security (although a surprisingly a bit lacking). It truly gives you the experience of "being there". As for the other reviewers who rate this low and/or say, it's only good if you are a Beastie Boys fan, my question to them would be: If you are not a Beastie Boys fan, why would you watch it in the first place??? Why would anyone watch some band's DVD if you don't like the band?

One of the other cool effects are the DVD extras. Periodically throughout the DVD, an icon appears that you can click on... it takes you to an isolated camera view shot by a fan, labels "Camera (x)" (whatever number that may be). Also, a grid view of all 50 cameras at once is an option but while I found this another great idea in imagination, it isn't the best way to view the DVD, In sum, a truly original concert DVD. We lost a talent in MCA.

For Beastie Boys fans only

[giannisaint · 4/10 · 31 March 2006]

The concept for this concert film is brilliant and unconventional. It was a fabulous idea to provide the cameras when cameras are normally prohibited at concerts. However, unless you're a huge Beastie Boys fan, chances are you will not enjoy the film as much as their rabid fans do. The clever 50 camera perspective got old for me after about 15 minutes. There were not enough unique shots for me considering they employed 50 different angles and 50 different techniques. The sound quality was average, but improved as the film progressed. If you love the Boys, you'll love 'Awesome'. If you don't know them well or don't enjoy this music, I doubt you like the film.

it should get annoying by the halfway mark, and it sort of does... but there's no other concert film like it

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 8 January 2008]

The Beastie Boys are hard to classify. You could call them white Jewish rappers out of NYC (one from Brooklyn, Adam aka Nathanial Hornblower, also the director of the movie). But they also were punk rockers, and this never really left them completely. They just love a good beat, and they'll do whatever to get it. Of course they have their Mix Master Mike at the turntable (probably some of the best turntable stylizations I've ever heard), but there's a moment during the concert when I knew more than ever that the Beasties are a unique lot. They go back behind the stage after a number and come back out on some contraption that wheels them and a couple other back up band members, all donned in clothes from a 2nd rate mariachi group, and proceed to play music- without really rapping through both songs- like a cross between Phish and Peter Frampton! It's a very weird moment, but it's still groovy to see and experience. Just like the movie itself.

Done in a completely freewheeling style, Yauch decided to let a whole s***load of fans bring in cameras, contrary to the usual tact of not allowing any cameras (albeit cell phones are now the name of the game for that), and let fifty amateurs film at will during the concert. What ends up being the concert has more edits than Requiem for a Dream squared. It truly goes get crazy, over and over again, as the Beastie Boys go through a terrific show at Madison Square Garden. And it's presented like some crazy art movie from the 60s, without any regard for any of the conventions (well, maybe one or two, but I'll digress). There's rotoscoping, there's disjointed close-ups, there's free-framing during songs, there's real rhythm put in to have the viewer get into the editing along with the songs. Now, to be sure, sometimes this does get tiresome, especially during a song or two (I forget the names) that aren't that good anyway.

But for the most part the Beasties deliver, and the style goes hyper-kinetic to make a point in visual terms that follows along from a tradition started in the movie Woodstock: it's about the audience just as much as the group on stage, so it becomes totally communal. The audience knows all the words to Paul Revere's Horse, and there's even a juxtaposition of a girl dancing and one of the Beasties busting a move on stage. And in terms of a concert movie the group delivers their best work: Body Movin, Brass Monkey, Mic Check, and two of my favorites (in encore, naturally) with Intergalactic and Sabotage (the latter with moshpit in tow, a surprise as the finishing number). The energy is high, the technique is bravely 'anything goes', and as should be with the Beastie Boys it's a lot of fun.

Beastie Boys Never let you Down!

[Sperhotguy69 · 10/10 · 30 May 2009]

I envy those lucky 50 people who were given the HONOR of video taping this fantastic concert. Shot at Madison Square Garden in 2004, Not only do you get what the Beastie Boys are known for (Grade-A hip hop, awesome rhymes, and brilliant stage performances)but you get it through 50 different angles, and In my opinion, the fact that it was shot by amateurs, with a video camera like mine or yours, just makes the movie so much more enjoyable. I would have to say the highlight of this movie would have to be the live performance of the Paul's boutique classic "Hello Brooklyn". And Here's a fun fact for anyone who's interested: For a low budget operation, all cameras were returned to the place of purchase for a refund.

only for the die-hard

[gkm3997 · 4/10 · 24 March 2006]

Went to the advanced screening for this last night. While there were a few good moments and a few funny moments, I would not recommend anyone who is not a die-hard fan go see it. There were several parts that dragged on a lot and for those who have ever watched a video made by someone without a steady hand, you know what this one is like. While only about 30% of the movie is from the actual cameras given out, the way the movie is cut will make you seasick from the movement or give you a headache from the rapid flashing between scenes. Anyone who has issues with strobe lights should shy away from this movie. They also apply effects over the video that at times can get tiresome and hard on the eyes. While there are a couple good effects, and some funny moments, overall i would say this is not for just anyone. only die-hard fans.

A great concert ruined by a concept that simply doesn't work

[esquared-1 · 3/10 · 5 July 2006]

Bootlegging has a long tradition in music. The practice of bringing in anything from a tape recorder, to a camcorder, to a minidisc recorder, to a camera phone to capture the memories of a concert has been a big part of fan communities for as long as the technology has existed, and a truly well-recorded bootleg can intimately convey a stunning live performance, with all its glorious imperfections and emotions.

Adam Yauch aka MCA aka Nathaniel Hornblower attempts to tap into this, albeit on a much larger scale, with the concept of the film being that it is comprised of 50 hi-8 cameras handed out to audience members. The result is "Awesome; I F*ckin' Shot That!", a film that is billed as "an official bootleg", and is intended to be a genuine, intimate and fan-centric concert film.

Unfortunately, the film comprehensively misses the mark, with almost every aspect of the production amounting to a frustrating and ultimately unrewarding concert film. There are several factors in this - the first being the cameras themselves. With all of the cameras handed out being Hi-8 cameras, the quality of the footage is frustratingly low, not only being consistently inferior to a decent unofficial bootleg, but often bordering on unwatchable. Stage lighting often reduces the Beastie Boys to unfocused silhouettes, many of the shots (perhaps a majority) have stuttering frame-rates, and zoomed camera shots from the back of Madison Square Gardens make shots unbearably shaky, with the enthusiasm of the amateur cameramen making many shots unwatchable, rather than giving the sense of contagious and spontaneous excitement that Yauch strives to create. Adding to the strife is Yauch's editing. Some truly shocking camera shots, apparently the pick of the bunch, are used throughout the film, and the editing is so fast-paced that it is near-impossible to pay attention to any single shot at any time. There are occasional breaths of fresh air - several friends of the band were given DV cameras and prime positions close to the stage, giving clear and enjoyable shots, especially when compared to the rest of the material, but these shots are few and far between. In addition to this, Yauch adds effects to the film towards the latter half, used on occasional songs, with the effects used making the footage even more frustrating to watch - they are hardly impressive, often giving the images the appearance of a cheap photoshop filter, and long overstaying their welcome (typically, they are used for the entire duration of a song.)

All of these elements combine to create visuals that are quite simply, at best an epileptic's nightmare, and at worst utterly unwatchable. The film is not only a struggle to watch, but is also unrewarding, and even the greatest Beastie Boys fan will find this a frustrating film to watch. The film is somewhat redeemed by the other elements - the performance itself is dynamite, with the Beastie Boys in fine form, and playing a fantastic setlist that delivers hit after hit, from across their body of work. The sound mix is also very good, with thumping bass and a great live ambiance, although at times some of the lyrics are indistinguishable. The film also has occasional touches of humor, which make it much more enjoyable at times. But ultimately, the film is such a labor to watch that these merits really do not make it worthwhile. It is quite a shame that Yauch fails so drastically here, as the material given suggests a thoroughly captivating and enjoyable live music experience. But the ambitious scope of the film backfires on Yauch, and instead of an intimate and honest concert portrayal, it is a thoroughly detached experience, with the rapid-fire barrage of frustratingly poor camera shots making the film simply too difficult to be enjoyable.

A good bootleg captures the essence of a live show, with its ambiance and flaws often giving a captivating experience. Unfortunately, the massive venue and inexperience of the bootleggers themselves accentuate the problems with bootlegged shows, while the editing and post-production are the height of the problems found with fast-paced, MTV style concert films of today. "Awesome... I F*ckin' Shot That!" exists in a no-mans land between these conflicting forms, giving the merits of neither and the troubles of both, resulting in a frustrating and unfulfilling experience.