Janis: Little Girl Blue- 2015

Director Amy Berg

Starring Janis Joplin

Scott’s Review #420

Reviewed- June 19, 2016

Grade: B+

As a fan of Janis Joplin’s classic 1960s and early 1970s brand of classic, bluesy, rock n roll, viewing a documentary of the star’s life and times was a great experience.

The film sheds light on the mysterious rocker, gone way too soon and with undoubtedly much more to say. Janis was one of the most authentic, real performers of her time.

A big voice in a man’s world, impressive still, is that she wrote all her songs herself.

The documentary is well put together as it traverses Janis’s early days as an insecure teenager living in rural Texas. Never a beauty, Janis was insecure like most teenagers are.

She was always a pistol and prided herself on being different and outspoken, frequently ruffling feathers in her conservative town, especially given the period.

Janis preferred hanging out with males and being “one of the guys”.

An aspect I found interesting about this documentary is exploring Janis’s home life, well before she became a successful singer.

Taunted in school for being different because she was a painter and a thinker, she lived in a largely racist town and had a conflict with others who were not as progressive as she.

Janis’s sister and brother are heavily featured throughout the documentary and explains interesting tidbits about Janis’s home life and conflict with her parents.

Sadly, they forged a pleasant relationship, but never really mended fences before Janis’s untimely death.

Her relationships with other rockers of the time are explored and more than one festival performance is shared giving a glimpse of what type of performer she was. She improvised, and put her heart on the line, intense, and brutally honest.

A lost soul with enormous talent and raw capabilities, Janis Joplin is missed, but thankfully we still have her incredible music to carry on with.

Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015) is a great documentary that gives a cherished overview of the life and times of a tremendous artist.