Heavy Metal in Baghdad: The Heeb Review
By Jed Oelbaum
Acrassicauda – the only metal band in Iraq – may not be very good, but what they lack in talent, they more than make up for in balls. You see, being a headbanger in Baghdad ain’t easy, what with all the blowing up and the killing, and these guys have continuously and courageously fought to exercise all of the rights (wearing Slipknot t-shirts, rockin out, etc…) that we, as Americans, take for granted.
Awesome dedication of the subjects aside, the best moments in Heavy Metal in Baghdad (Arts Alliance America/ VBS.TV/ Vice Films) have nothing to do with metal, or even the band, but with candid imagery and unsettling words. Like when we’re convincingly told by one member of the band that sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni Muslims does not exist: He and his wife are from opposite sides of the aisle, and that the whole thing is a media creation. Could this possibly be true? Who knows, but a real Iraqi in a Metallica shirt says that it is.
Entertaining as it is at times, the film suffers from boring narration and uncertainty of purpose. The guys in Acrassicauda seem amazed that a bunch of crazy Americans bothered to come all the way to Baghdad, just to ask them about their band, and the filmmakers wander around, amazed to be in such a fucked-up place. The last bit of the film is shot in Syria, and if you check the movie’s website, finds the band having since fled to Turkey to escape being sent back to Iraq. Visa problems are ongoing, so if there are any metal fans out there with some pull at the state department…
Heavy Metal in Baghdad hits theaters in Los Angeles and New York for one week only starting May 23. The DVD is available starting June 10.
comments
submit a comment05.19.08 at 11:05 am
Like when we’re convincingly told by one member of the band that sectarian violence between Shiite and Sunni Muslims does not exist: He and his wife are from opposite sides of the aisle, and that the whole thing is a media creation. Could this possibly be true?
No, it could not be.
05.20.08 at 2:05 am
Everything is going according to plan in Iraq….perfectly.
05.20.08 at 4:05 am
actually working out so perfectly in Iraq ,
they are making plans now for Iran .
05.20.08 at 11:05 am
We keep parking our Battlegroups on their coastline, several shots have already been fired. Our patience must be wearing pretty thin, if there isn’t an outright attack soon my bet is that there will be another Gulf of Tonkin-esque transgression for our populist war-march pleasure. Of course then we’ll HAVE to vote for McCain, we wouldn’t actually elect a sercet Muslim who doesn’t wear a lapel pin to fight the evil-doers, would we? People are so easy.
05.20.08 at 3:05 pm
Since it seems so important to you Hesed, look again.
He is NOW wearing a lapel pin.
Now has Super Powers….
05.20.08 at 3:05 pm
That’s a relief. Because I knew when I got into the voting booth that it wouldn’t be problem reminding myself that he is also half-white, it was just the dilemma of him not wearing that lapel pin which would give me pause. OK, I guess I’m fresh out of excuses to not vote for him.
05.20.08 at 5:05 pm
agree that many people will be afraid to vote for a “secret Muslim.” these people see nothing scary about McCain’s talk of 100 years in Iraq.
( I think we may be on the same side here.) ......... mostly
05.20.08 at 6:05 pm
I’m being absurd. Rome is burning and the racist assholes in this country are concerned about Obama’s lapel.
05.21.08 at 3:05 am
I understood that you were “being absurd,” because I have read many of your posts.. and you don’t sound like a racist moron.
Sadly, the Swiftboat guys will be back and will target their messages to these assholes.
05.21.08 at 5:05 am
Obama’s pastor alone has provided enough ammunition for 100 anti-Obama ads.
Here goes another 4 years of The Republicans…bah.
sigh
Ah well, Hillary 2012!!
05.21.08 at 10:05 am
That shit has been going on for 4-5 weeks now, he has already weathered that storm and come out the other side relatively unscathed. I’m not worried about that at all.
05.21.08 at 7:05 pm
Yes, but then liberals aren’t really who the Republicans will be targetting with their attack ads, Obama has about as much chance of becoming President as my nan does :P
You can rest assured that the Pastor’s comments will be played, ad nauseum, during the election campaign and will help motivate the undeniably large ‘redneck’ population of the US to come out and vote against “that black guy”.
coughhillary20112cough
05.22.08 at 2:05 am
agree they won’t vote for a “black guy.”
but they will say that what they are voting against, is a dangerous Muslim.
05.22.08 at 10:05 am
LOL, Obama’s baggage is a fucking carry-on compared to what Hillary brings with her. Conservatives have been gearing up for a Hillary ticket for years. They want Hillary to run because Hillary is the one they know they can beat…and they’re probably right.
05.22.08 at 7:05 pm
According to the Dems polling, Hillary could ‘easily’ beat McCain whereas Obama would be “a bit tight”,
I want the Dems to win, but they wont…fucktards that they are :P
Obama can get Democrat votes, but he can’t get enough uncommitted or ‘swing’ voters to get him across the line.
I’m willing to bet anything that Obama loses when it comes to the big race and we’re stuck with McCain for the next 4 years.
05.23.08 at 3:05 am
all that talk about Change …... nah, it will be 4 years of “Mc Bush .”
05.23.08 at 10:05 am
Obama wasn’t kidding when he called people bitter. I thought I was a cynical bastard, you guys take the cake though.
Here Puck:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24783656#24765327
05.24.08 at 4:05 am
Hmmph, a cynic is just an optimist with all the facts ;)
I’ll be happy to be proved wrong…but I doubt it.
05.24.08 at 11:05 am
cynical though we may be…..
I’m having to agree with Puck here.
It.s not just the “Muslim” “Black guy “ thing with voters-
McCain also has Rove (aka Turd Blossom) working for him.
05.25.08 at 10:05 pm
Mmmhmm…those “bitter Americans” comments will make fantastic attack ads :P
We have an Obama style leader (without the substance and honesty) here in Australia now…he was smart enough to keep his (justifiable) contempt for the electorate in check.
History shows us the Cynics are always right 0;)
05.27.08 at 4:05 pm
yeah I’m cynical.
The Rovian way is to turn negatives into positives. McCain ,establishment / old , said this weekend that he needs to “educate” Obama.