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 bluesy rock n’ roll, I enjoyed watching a documentary about the star’s life and times was a great experience.
The film sheds light on the mysterious rocker who was gone way too soon, 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, often ruffling feathers in her conservative town, especially for the time.
Janis preferred hanging out with boys and being “one of the guys.”
One aspect I found interesting about this documentary is how it explores 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 was.
Janis’s sister and brother appear throughout the documentary and share interesting tidbits about her home life and conflicts with her parents.
Sadly, they forged a pleasant relationship, but never really mended fences before Janis’s untimely death.
The documentary explores her relationships with other rockers of the time and shares more than one festival performance, giving a glimpse of what kind 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 power, Janis Joplin is missed, but thankfully we still have her incredible music to carry on.
Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015) is a great documentary that offers a cherished overview of a tremendous artist’s life and times.