Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements

Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements is a poignant and impassioned documentary that takes the viewers into an exploratory saga about the arguably cult classic and radically influential indie-rock band, The Replacements. Directed by Gorman Bechard, this 2011 film remixes the traditional rockumentary format, capturing the essence of the band's resilience, innovation, and necessarily vivid grit.

The spirited, rebellious bunch from Minneapolis that constitutes The Replacements burst onto the scene in the 80s, positioned as the forerunners of alternative rock. Their music personified a combination of punk energy, melodic pop sounds, and deep, profoundly resonant lyrics that were brutally honest and often hilariously self-deprecating. The film does not merely toe the line of standard music documentary, instead, it crafts its narrative trajectory through the recollections and musings of the band's fans, peers, adversaries, and others who were considerably impacted by their music.

Among the film's participants are, notably, Robert Voedisch, an acclaimed author, Tommy Ramone, one of the original members of the punk rock band, The Ramones, and Tom Arnold, the actor and comedian. The film does not feature the band's actual music or any recent interviews with the band members ran by the film makers. An unconventional choice for a music documentary, but which only amplifies the speaker's word, that stands as testimonials of the cultural, emotional and social impact The Replacements had on their lives and the overall rock music scenario.

Color Me Obsessed opens up with a montage of various participants all attempting to accurately describe the band in just one word. Unsurprisingly, no two people choose the same word. This essentially sets the tone for this documentary, foretelling a variety of perceptions that goes from passionate fandom to disdainful criticism. The story unravels like a puzzle, each piece adding a part of the grand picture that The Replacements represent.

The narrative splendidly weaves through the band's highs and lows, their evolution, their impromptu performances and their unpredictability. This documentary doesn't shy away from laying bare the band's penchant for anarchic performances or their battle against the music business machinery or their internal skirmishes. This honest portrayal makes the film riveting yet holds up a mirror to the cost of artistic brilliance and the durability of their legacy. The anecdotes flown as fond recollections or reflective insights act as printed relics of the band that climatically fell apart to never reunion again till the making of this film.

Color Me Obsessed has witty flares of animation interjected in place of archival footages, the former acting as engaging segues between interviews, acquainting viewers with the psychedelic world of The Replacements. It is also interesting to note the directive style, devoid of a narrator, which empowers the personal reflection of each speaker, deeply personal and sincere.

While the film undoubtedly appeals to die-hard fans of The Replacements, one does not need to be a fan or even familiar with the band's music to appreciate this documentary. The broader theme here is the indomitable spirit of rock ’n’ roll and the unaltered essence of the 80s indie-rock scene. Indeed, there is a palpable universality to the stories shared, from the exhilaration of first hearing a band that feels like they understand you, to the heartbreak when they eventually disband.

The magic of Color Me Obsessed: A Film About The Replacements does not solely lie on the band's story or even its portrayal. It’s the underlying sentiment of love, loss, rebellion, and acceptance that lingers, encapsulated in the musings of adoration and frustration, vivid recollections and serene silences. The passion is palpable, the nostalgia is infectious and the impression is indelible.

Daring in its storytelling approach, captivating with its authenticity, and heartfelt in its narrative, Color Me Obsessed is not just a tale of The Replacements, but of the alternative music itself. This documentary pulls you into a reverberating echo of the past while offering a critical understanding of how The Replacements awed, shocked and shaped a generation with their music, maintaining a legacy that refuses to fade.