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Such a frustrating disappointment

People are voting emotionally.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Dig! is a very interesting look at a love/hate relationship between two bands, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and the Dandy Warhols. It begins around 1995, and ends around 2002/2003. The documentary is narrated by Courtney Taylor, who happens to be the singer for the Dandy's. He gives a picture of his own group as not being up to the standards of the other, while openly praising the BJM leader, Anton Newcombe.The footage shows Newcombe as being a control freak. At the same time, it is clear he has some talent. Despite this, he tends to sabotage his own chances through some ill-timed decisions. My personal take on the situation is that Newcombe is simply frightened of what pressures success might hold. At some level, he lacks the confidence to take the next step.At the same time, he is clearly jealous of the success that the Dandy Warhols manage to have. The Warhols are slightly more conventional, which makes them appear as the lesser talent. That being said, both bands state that they are attempting to make some sort of musical "revolution", at the beginning. Later in the documentary, one of the Dandy's hits the nail on the head regarding the BJM, noting that revolutions don't work when they stay underground. It's a telling line, as both bands started near the end of a true period of musical upheaval, in the early-to-mid 90's.In the end, neither group ever quite reached the stage of provoking any sort of musical "revolution". Being bands of that particular period, they both made solid, credible rock music, something that we could use a lot more of. That alone makes the film worth a look. It is a truly odd piece, with the more commercially "successful" (if that's what you can call it) group desperately making concessions to the other. The Dandy's are denigrated for their success, while the BJM are given praise, despite the fact that little gets through to back this up. I guess this is supposed to be an "art vs. commerce"-styled logic, but neither art nor commerce is really served here. At the same time, it's incredibly interesting...

I see too many people proclaiming this documentary as some kind of insight into the music business. Unfortunately it is a complete misrepresentation of underground music and the term 'genius'. The film offers two dubiously talented bands and the diverging paths they take. There's no mention of the many truly great independent bands that choose neither of these paths and become relatively successful in their own right.(see: Built To Spill, Yo La Tengo, Red House Painters, Belle and Sebastian) BJM and Dandy Warhols are too firmly set in rock-and-roll clichés for me to care about them. I'm still waiting for a great documentary that takes an intelligent look at the current state of the rock music industry. This film was only useful as a documentary of the egotistical, delusional and mediocre artist who is so prevalent today.

why did Ondi focus on all the gossip and stupid crap! she had an amazing band to work with (BJM) wheres all the music. wheres the concert footage.why so negative Ondi.i thought i was going to be watching a music documentary. not jerry springer. its frustrating more than anything. i think Ondi didn't like Anton and this movie was like revenge for her. its crap. don't watch but do go and buy or download all of BJM's music. PS who cares about the dandy's all Coutny dose is wine about his "career" PPS i love the line by Anton when he looks at capitol records "i'm not letting some square in a round building tell me what to do.

Do opposites really attract? After watching 20 minutes of the 2004 documentary DiG!, the story of two burgeoning west coast rock bands, Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols, devolves into a tale of polar opposites trying to exist on the same plane. There's BJM's lead singer Anton Newcombe and his combustible attitude leading a pack of drug-happy musicians, all of who are Anton's worst enemies. And then there's the Dandys' front man Courtney Taylor, whose laid back nature is a driving force behind The Dandy Warhols' tight-knit community of sonic revolution. Their paths cross many times, but never travel down the same course.The film revolves around Brian Jonestown Massacre, the greatest band to never make it. Why they've never made it is debatable, and much of the movie explores this dynamic through the voice-over quandaries of Courtney Taylor. Anton is dissected throughout the movie, whether the focus is his yo-yo attitude, his descent into heavy drug use, or his role as the root cause of the band's in fighting. What's never in question is Anton's penchant for writing and playing some of the best rock/pop songs this side of Brian Jonestown Massacre's namesake. He clearly is a musical genius, but his destructible personality is his professional downfall. It holds the band down and buries the egos of the contributing forces behind the band, the most notable being Matt Hollywood. Matt isn't looking for the limelight or the credit he rightfully deserves; rather, he just wants acknowledgment and acceptance from Anton. When it never comes, the band and Anton take a turn for the worse.Conversely, the Dandy Warhols' story acts as the counterbalance to the shenanigans of Brian Jonestown Massacre. The band earns the much sought after major label contract, only to discover the true nastiness of recording albums, making videos and having little label support. Whereas the strains of everyday band business weighs down on Anton, Courtney Taylor and company are able to persevere and push ahead. The Dandys learn to adapt without compromising their spirit or their sound, even if it means being at odds with Capitol and fashion photographer-turned-video director Dave LaChapelle.The wonder of DiG! is discovered within each band's interaction with the other. Anton is turned onto the Dandys from a tape he receives from a friend, and soon the bands meet and become quick party buddies. Performances throughout the west coast solidify this friendship until the Dandy Warhols get the call to big leagues, leaving Brian Jonestown Massacre to wallow in minor obscurity. Their paths continue to cross again in the wildest of places: at a guerrilla photo shoot for the Dandys at Brian Jonestown Massacre's home, when Courtney Taylor flies across the country to hang out with Anton and company on their first major American tour, or when Anton passes out Brian Jonestown Massacre albums to anyone and everyone outside of a Dandy Warhols performance in NYC as the Dandys question Anton's sanity.The sad truth behind DiG! is discovering that Anton, no matter how capable he is behind a musical instrument, is nothing more than a fallible human. His constant fights with audience members, band members and his past leave him angry at everything but himself. He may want to live in the '60s, but he can't give in to peace, love and happiness. No matter the success and failures he and Brian Jonestown Massacre face, they're doomed to live in musical hell -- obscurity. Meanwhile, the Dandy Warhols rise above to discover that they're a band on the rise when left to their own devices. Whether it's rekindling a love of music in the basking glow of European admiration, or pushing the envelope of sound, the band seems to have it all -- or at least, everything Anton Newcombe wants but will never let himself have.