The Beastie Boys Story: Change is Possible

In March, I was supposed to attend the premiere of The Beastie Boys Story at SXSW. I had no idea who the Beastie Boys were, but I was such a fan of Spike Jonze that I would watch anything he puts out. The documentary was released on Apple and I was so amazed by the multi-layered, live documentary that I am now a Beastie Boys fan.

The film is so many different things; it is a document of an event, a stage play, and a movie all in one. Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond take turns telling the story of their life with videos and pictures on display behind them to really bring you into their world. Unlike other documentaries about musicians, this one is all about humans' ability to grow and change over time. It also emphasizes the importance of creative freedom and staying true to yourself. It becomes a eulogy to Adam Yauch and his pioneering that set the band into a course of humanitarian service. The documentary is a dedication to passion and expression and its ability to impact people all over the world.


Adam and Mike address the good and bad of the Beastie Boys. From their early days touring with Run DMC to their misogynistic songs in their first album. They also talk about how their frat-bro image became them and they lost touch with reality. Their darker side of fame wasn't ignored.


The collaboration of Jonze and the Beastie Boys perfectly capture evolution in storytelling. Each story has a lesson that they learned and how they used that in the next step of their career, How they were manipulated with License to Ill and how that inspired Paul's Boutique and how that failed album inspired Check your Head. Each part of their story leads to another, They acknowledge all the parts that have made them who they are. From Girls to Sure Shot; they are still the same but show how they can evolve.


This film is so powerful because of how it charts their growth. It connects to both fans and newcomers and takes you along their journey.