Let's Rock Again!

Dick Rude's documentary on former Clash frontman Joe Strummer as he tries to put his career back on track after a long layoff gets a well-executed presentation on this DVD release. Let's Rock Again! has been transferred to disc in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1 (the picture was shot on digital video equipment), and the material looks fine; though the image occasionally betrays the film's low budget, the look fits the film's fly-on-the-wall, captured-on-the-run quality, while the concert footage is colorful and thoughtfully composed. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo, and sounds crisp, especially during the concert sequences, facing the challenges of Strummer's craggy voice with flying colors. The film is in English, with no subtitles or multiple language features included. As a bonus, the DVD includes five songs by Strummer and his band the Mescaleros in complete form (they appear in edited versions in the feature), as well as a slide show of Clash memorabilia, a question-and-answer session with director Rude from a film festival presentation, the movie's original trailer, and a collection of outtakes and additional interview fragments. Loyal fans of punk icon Strummer will doubtless enjoy Let's Rock Again!, and the DVD edition only amplifies the man's charm, good humor, and regular-guy horse sense; it's a fitting tribute and well worth a look.