MINISTRY “THE FIX” … RAUNCHY BUT CANDID

To get it out of the way, Ministry's "The Fix" was a bit controversial (or was marketed as so) because it consistently exhibited a musician doing heroin on screen. Heroin, heroin, heroin and throw in some speed and cocaine while we can. It checks all the documentary footage boxes, such as: live shows, interviews with band members, interviews with other bands' members, backstage hangs, tour bus travels, band friction, band non-friction, music industry doods (even women doods), band chicks, random guys, drug discussion and once again with this one, more drugs.

The additional flavors with this doc would be the solid black and white feel that appears on and off throughout the film, the quality list of non-Ministry artist and music industry chats, the humorous and honest dialogue provided by prior individuals mentioned, the non-linear timeline presented throughout the years of roughly 1986 to 2006, the expected main focus being on AL Jourgensen and fantastic music. Fantastic music, I say!

The movie commences behind the scenes shortly before Ministry takes the stage at a metal fest in Saxonia, Germany. Like I mentioned, the scenes jump back and forth with specific flashbacks, depending on the topic. If you know the band well enough, you can sometimes figure out the year or condensed time frame appearing on screen, either by album mentions or band members in the mix (since it was a revolving door). The live performances throughout provided a clear perspective of their concert experiences. Ministry bringing the noise full blast, AL Jourgensen inciting the crowd, fans providing the energy and the gritty stage atmosphere overall. You could say David Yow from Jesus Lizard trotting around naked on stage was an interesting look. I do believe the great Jesus Lizard was perfect band to be coupled with Ministry back in the day, due to their aggressive experimentation. Even the small things that I personally believe are a little heftier, like exhibiting how the live samples are physically played individually through the keyboard (unlike bands who inauthentically lay out recorded tracks under entire shows) is a very fine aspect in the execution of their spectacles. Industrial music began with a dark side and dark performances with heavy undertones. Ministry grabbed all of that and made it physically heavy with serious guitar assault. Lastly, displaying how the fans reacted to other odd support bands (Ex. Laika & the Cosmonauts), and how the bands react themselves, is always valuable background and fun.

There is also some excellent philosophical insight falling out of AL Jourgensen's mouth, that I believe is fully represented throughout his adult life. It isn't surprising that it was influenced by basically two people, which would be Timothy Leary and William Burroughs... who appropriately make an appearance. One should be so successful at one thing, and that will allow that person to be 100% his or her true self... and I believe good old AL is extremely himself and even moreso. Although he really takes it to the edge, his philosphy is similar to my own. If I ever became successful, I NEVER wanted to be nouveuau riche. I also just wanted to be myself all day long.

The feedback coming from the outside-of-Ministry discussions is quite real and borderline hilarious at times. Documentaries usually don't give you this much honesty and indiscretion. Dealing with this band's world, I guess you should expect concrete appearances from the likes of Lemmy, David Yow, King Buzzo, Trent Reznor and Nivek Ogre, to name only a few more than a few. Extra props to King Buzzo for including his pooch during his entertaining banter. Now, we have to bring up the drugs, because the interviewees brought it up as much as AL brought it on camera. Guess what? AL did a lot of drugs, including heroin, and within a certain portion of the film, he was shooting up on camera again and again. We get it. It did get slightly tedious.

... and now at the end, we land back at Saxonia, Germany once again.

In closing... this is a pretty raunchy but candid documentary. With that said, it is my opinion that the majority of the substance and style matches the subject matter. In other words, it delivered the suitable personality to the viewer. Ministry is mostly AL Jourgensen, and AL Jourgensen is way different than your average bear. What did it lack? Enough career information and date references throughout. What about a little more on specific records and much more on private life outside of the tour bus and venues? What about giving me an idea of basically what year it is amongst the video frame jousts? That seemed to be indirectly replaced by drug discussion, from anybody and everybody they could find. You could say it was obsessive but you could ALSO say it was fitting to make the point or generate the proper intrigue. I liked this documentary slightly more the second time around then when I rocked it in a movie theater on release day in 2011. On first screening, I felt overrun during the last 30 minutes of material with the constant drugs and shots of AL's heroin sessions over and over. On the follow up watch, I will reiterate that even though it did take ownership of that last portion of the picture, it wasn't quite as overwhelming to my brain.