A decent concept but ultimately a bit messy and unfocussed.
Comment
10/09/09
Died Young, Stayed Pretty (2009)
57
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:23
Fresh:13
Rotten:10
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Poor organization weighs down this exploration into the subculture of indie-rock poster art, Died Young, Stayed Pretty, diluting the effect of its enthusiastic energy.
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Education/General Interest
Theatrical Release:Jun 29, 2009 Limited
Synopsis: Died Young, Stayed Pretty is a candid look at the underground poster culture in North America. This unique documentary examines the creative spirit that drives these indie graphic artists. They... [More]
Director: Eileen Yaghoobian
Reviews for Died Young, Stayed Pretty
It soon becomes apparent that there's no real structure or point of view to it all.
11/05/09
The lack of narrative direction, exploitable drama or character growth strands the film at the level of an animated picture-book accompanied by lots of gratuitous whining.
10/09/09
The movie’s lack of a coherent narrative or authoritative voice doesn’t work in its favor, leaving unanswered questions about the history of the art form it sets out to explore.
07/15/09
Unstructured and free-associative, cutting among interviews and images at breakneck speed to no discernible narrative or thematic purpose, the documentary is mercurial to the point of incoherence.
07/17/09
Lurches along with just the right mix of discovery and dry-obsession that it has the potential to reach the hearts of its poster manic, indie band loving constituency.
07/01/09
The equivalent of being trapped in the lift of an east London style magazine while the entire staff simultaneously shout their theories of civilisation at you, this documentary is that tragic thing.
10/16/09
Hampered by its director’s pretentious, self-advertising style. Eileen Yaghoobian lacks any journalistic sense of the basic information the audience needs in order to grasp what’s happening onscreen and the film is often confusing.
10/09/09
It’s apparent that Eileen Yaghoobian has almost no control over Died Young, Stayed Pretty. Ostensibly, her documentary is about the demise of rock-concert poster art. But few of the artists have anything enlightening to say about their craft.
07/30/09
Top CriticEileen Yaghoobian's indulgent, cut-and-paste documentary hangs loose (and slightly awry) with the unsung titans of the concert poster.
10/09/09
Suffer the perverse undertones and this is a fitting examination of a significant yet overlooked contemporary art form.
10/21/09
The fast moving, seemingly random approach gets us best into the heads of these artists.
03/19/09
Weird, wacky and full of arresting promo images for bands like Arcade Fire, Teengenerate and Turbonegro.
10/09/09
Though Died Young Stayed Pretty could have used some serious streamlining, it still succeeds as a showcase for some of this decade's most arresting examples of graphic design.
08/12/09
Top CriticThis "movement" needs context, narration, history, archival footage.
08/12/09
The poster makers... mine the outer limits of violence and misogyny with a garish, pop art palette.
10/21/09
A worthwhile doc about an unreported arm of the alt-rock industry.
10/09/09
Are these cultural artifacts or just more trash littering the light posts and bulletin boards of your city? That all depends on the eye of the beholder.
11/30/09
It's a visually stunning film, even if the subject matter isn't hugely compelling.
11/30/09
Yaghoobian proves she has a flair for the telling detail every bit as keen as her subjects'.
08/27/09
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