SummaryThis authorized documentary traces Cobain's life from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success with the grunge band Nirvana.
Directed By:Brett Morgen
Written By:Brett Morgen
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
83
User score
Generally Favorable
7.7
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
83
90% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
10% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
May 1, 2015
100
It is a true peek into the life of a private superstar. How did he become a rock icon? How did he turn his childhood pain into art? How did his emotional demons overtake him? These are much more difficult questions for a filmmaker to answer than “Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam” or other such garbage of the traditional rock doc.
Apr 22, 2015
100
It proves that Morgen isn’t interested in hagiography. He wants to show us the real Kurt Cobain, warts and all.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.7
78% Positive
78 Ratings
78 Ratings
16% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
6% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Jan 6, 2019
10
I've probably seen this movie 10 or 11 times by now. Kurt really helped me trough a bad time in my life and he wasn't even alive. This movie is a person study, there isn't nothing in here that doesn't say ''Why Kurt Cobain was the way he was''. This isn't to glorify Kurt but to understand his persona and mind. If you relate with things that him did and sad you REALLY should watch this movie. This doesn't give any detail about his suicide wich is something that every movie about people that commited suicide should do. And why 13 Reasons Why is a **** piece of garbage show but anyway, if you are a Kurt Cobain fan in the first place why haven't you watched this movie yet? There are numerous things here that Kurt did that wasn't showed to the masses that are show in this movie, sure something are debatable like home video of him and Courtney having sex but I guess this is a theme in the movie. This is to me a masterpiece of a movie. And I can't give nothing but a 10. Thank you Kurt Cobain, thank you Frances Cobain and thank you Brett Morgen.
Jun 3, 2020
9
Unique documentary that displays Kurt Cobain’s life and art in a strange and visceral, yet wonderfully structured way. The only downside of this movie is that Courtney Love creeps me out and her presence in the home footage made me extremely uncomfortable.
Apr 23, 2015
80
Mr. Morgen was given access to Cobain’s archives — “art, music, journals, Super 8 films and audio montages” — and his exhilarating, exhausting, two-hour-plus film, both an artful mosaic and a hammering barrage, reflects years of rummaging through that trove.
Apr 23, 2015
80
The film is edited to convey the comet-like arc of a talented, troubled, sensitive soul, but also as a driven, concert-length tribute to that man’s creativity.
Apr 9, 2015
80
What Brett Morgen crafts for his audience - in what may very well come to be known as the definitive documentary on the musician - with Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015) is simply stunning. Morgen runs his coverage of Cobain from the cradle to the grave.
Apr 18, 2015
75
Director Brett Morgen distinguishes the biographical documentary by viewing himself as more of a curator than a film director.
Aug 13, 2019
9
For a drama movie it is masterpiece with it’s script, scenes, sounds and all. For a documentary, on the other side, there were some details that for example in Soaked in bleach were shown. And for spreading the truth this details are important. With that in mind, the movie is a masterpiece.
Sep 6, 2017
6
Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck, did not turn out to be the epic documentary that promised but it does proves to be one of the most solid in relation to the life of Kurt Cobain, in general fulfills, this can be a good approach for those who are unaware of Nirvana and for fans definitely becomes a must stop.
Aug 14, 2015
6
Kurt Cobain A Montage of Heck: An interesting documentary that presents nothing new to those who followed the musicians career closely but makes him look like a life out of control to those who were just passing fans. Showing private footage and personal moments it serves no purpose other than exposing old wounds on the long dead skeletal remains of cultural icon.
Oct 31, 2021
5
A missed opportunity and Courtney Love endorsed view on the short and painful life of Kurt Cobain.
May 6, 2015
0
Even though I wasn't completely objective due to my extremely distain for Courtney as well as a newfound annoyance with Brett Morgan (he just seems a bit too pompous, exhibiting an extremely righteous glee about MOH), I tried my best to watch without too many preconceived notions. I've read a plethora of glowing reviews, hailing Montage of Heck as sensitive, deeply moving and genius. I disagree. Montage of Heck was strangely disturbing to me, in a violating kind of way for the lack of better words. The weird thing is that I cannot pinpoint why I was so **** uncomfortable during most of the movie. Was it Courtney's feeble attempt to deflect attention away from her issues, thus making Kurt the scapegoat in some of the footage, or maybe it was the films general voyeuristic tendency? I don't know why the movie left such a bad taste in my mouth, something just seemed wrong. I do however support Alice Wheelers reaction/post about Montage of Heck and share very similar feelings about this so called "honest" travesty.
Production Company:
- HBO Documentary Films
- Polder Animation
- Primary Wave Entertainment
- Public Road Productions
Release Date:Apr 24, 2015
Duration:2 h 25 m
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 7 Nominations
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Ashland Independent Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
