Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
FOO FIGHTERS BACK AND FORTH chronicles the 16 year history of the Foo Fighters: from the band's very first songs created as cassette demos Dave Grohl recorded during his tenure as Nirvana's drummer, through its ascent to their Grammy-winning, multi-platinum, arena and stadium headlining status as one of the biggest rock bands on the planet.
A solid but fairly conventional music documentary that follows the well-worn rise-to-fame structure. The band's story — particularly the Nirvana aftermath and Grohl's one-man-band origin — is genuinely compelling, elevating the narrative above average. Interviews are candid and the archive footage is well-curated, but the format itself is standard talking-heads-plus-concert-footage fare common to the genre. Cinematography is competent without being distinctive. Novelty is low as it adheres closely to the standard rock documentary template. The ending, covering the making of 'Wasting Light' and the band's rejuvenation, provides a satisfying payoff for fans.