Review
JUST AN AMERICAN BOY
Featuring Steve Earle
Directed by Amos Poe
Wednesday, January 28
Murray Fraser Hall 162 (U of C)
Movies That Matter
If you’ve ever heard country singer Steve Earle perform in concert, you know that his live shows contain a political edge that his records only showcase through the lyrics of his songs. Whether he’s railing against the death penalty, U.S. military interference in the Middle East or the state of the American health care system, Earle is one of a distinct few artists brave enough to climb up on his soapbox and exhort his fellow citizens to question their government’s policies and actions.
Just An American Boy is a new documentary that briefly outlines his activism by cutting together interview excerpts with concert footage from his 2002 tour. During that time, Earle was heavily criticized as being a Taliban sympathizer due to the fact that his most recent record, Jerusalem, contained a song called "John Walker’s Blues," which aimed to understand why the American John Walker Lindh had joined forces with the fundamentalist Islamic militia. In an effort to defend his own right to freedom of expression, Earle ends up telling audiences and anyone else who will listen that "No matter what you hear, it’s never, ever un-American or unpatriotic to question any fucking thing."
These are strong words in a nation where the Patriot Act has recently stripped people of many constitutional rights. Earle’s bravery and contrary nature is the most palpable quality in this documentary, but the film also lets Earle’s music do some of the talking. Songs such as "Billy Austin" or "Over Yonder (Jonathan’s Song)" outline the shortcomings of the society in which he lives through the point of view of marginal outcasts, people who have been shoved aside by the system. But my favourite moment catches the musician in the green room at the Conan O’Brien show, where he finds a toy soldier that plays "God Bless America" – when the tiny plastic trumpeter finishes its familiar tune, Earle glances disgustedly at it, then the camera, and mutters "Seig heil."
Just An American Boy shows us that Earle believes his brand of patriotism is rooted in the constitution, not in jingoistic fervour. He explains that he’s more interested in empathy than retribution and notes that "the idea that someone has to pay, even if it is the wrong person, is a really dangerous idea." What makes Earle unique, though, is his willingness to speak out about his dissatisfaction. He cites his heroes as including the likes of Woody Guthrie, ’60s artist-activists Joan Baez and Abbie Hoffman, as well as former Illinois Governor George Ryan, whom Earle has worked with closely in his opposition to capital punishment.
Just An American Boy is a sprawling, muddled mess of a movie that would have benefited from a less meandering structure, but with Earle at its centre we’re at least left inspired by his fearless desire to speak the truth and damn the consequences. He may be irascible, but he’s also well-informed and outspoken – and the world, not just the United States, needs more like him. |
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