Director Gorman Bechard and Producer Jan Radder will be present for a Q & A to follow after the screening.
With COLOR ME OBSESSED, the first documentary on the influential ’80s indie-rock band, The Replacements, director Gorman Bechard brings an extraordinary vision to a unique filmmaking challenge. Told through the eyes of fans, friends, and contemporaries, the film breaks from the traditional music documentary format of music and performances. “Not wanting to make a VH1/where-are-they-now style documentary, I decided to present the band in a more iconic way,” the director explains. “I thought, people believe in God without seeing or hearing him but rather through the passion, faith, and stories of others. After watching COLOR ME OBSESSED, I’m pretty sure music fans will believe in The Replacements in much the same way.”
Telling the band’s story was a project close to the heart for Bechard. Like many who were weaned on punk music he latched onto this brash young Minneapolis band with fervor. Dubbed “the last best band” by Spin Magazine, their live shows could be miraculous or downright disasters. Their fans, unwaveringly faithful. As critic’s darlings, their albums were wrought with angry guitars and passionate well-written lyrics that hinted at potential commercial success. Yet, somehow, the band managed to continually shoot themselves in the foot. Their relative obscurity was a motivating factor in presenting their story on film. “The Replacements should have been the next Rolling Stones,” Bechard says, “And to the people who loved them, I think they were.”
Combining over 140 interviews with rockers (Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Tommy Ramone, Grant Hart and Greg Norton of Husker Du, all three members of Goo Goo Dolls), journalists (Robert Christgau, Legs McNeil, Ira Robbins, Greg Kot, Jim DeRogatis), and fans both famous (Tom Arnold, Dave Foley, George Wendt) and not, Bechard delivers the obsessive tale of the most influential band you’ve never heard of, to many the greatest rock band of all time, The Replacements. And though containing not a note of their music, COLOR ME OBSESSED is a documentary that really rocks.
