Just an American Boy

PREMIERE.COM'S REVIEW (posted 11/12/03)

Steve Earle is a singer-songwriter with an agenda. As politically minded as he is musical, Earle uses his visibility as an entertainer to spread the word on the issues closest to his heart. Just an American Boy follows Earle as he tours the country, playing music, accepting awards, and fielding questions about the songs he's written.

The title of the documentary refers to one particularly controversial song Earle wrote for his Jerusalem album about so-called American Taliban member John Walker Lindh. Earle explains in the film that seeing footage of Lindh on television reminded him of his own lanky 20-year-old son, and he says that his song is "empathetic" to Lindh. Of course, many Americans did not believe that Lindh was deserving of empathy, and the song sparked a whirlwind of press coverage aimed against the songwriter.

Just an American Boy features footage of Earle interviewing with various media sources, but it does not focus solely on the Lindh storm. Documentarian Amos Poe also reveals Earle's anti-death penalty stance, his anti-war stance, and his insatiable appetite for, well, food. We see Earle's live performances, a mix of singing and storytelling. We see backstage chill sessions. We see clips of an MTV special featuring Earle's live performance for a group of prison inmates.

There's a lot going on in this documentary, and yet one doesn't take away very much from the viewing experience. Yes, Steve Earle has strong beliefs, and it is admirable that a person be so strong in his convictions that he seeks to stir the people, to make everyone aware of the realities of the world as he sees it. But the film is not compelling enough to grab new audiences or convert average people into Earle-ites. It grazes over Earle's drug use, family life, and personal struggles. The result is that Steve Earle comes across as a talking head, an opinionated guy who plays the guitar. Earle fans might see this film as a satisfying portrayal of a man they know and love, but those unfamiliar with the man and his music will likely leave the theater without much more interest in him than when the movie began.

—Laine Ewen