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Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

Music · Documentary · 2007

As the front man of the Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before. In "The Future Is Unwritten", from British film director Julien Temple, Joe Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and the close personal friendship which developed over the last years of Joe's life, Julien Temple's film is a celebration of Joe Strummer - before, during and after the Clash.

Movie details

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

2007 Music · Documentary 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

As the front man of the Clash from 1977 onwards, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before. In "The Future Is Unwritten", from British film director Julien Temple, Joe Strummer is revealed not just as a legend or musician, but as a true communicator of our times. Drawing on both a shared punk history and the close personal friendship which developed over the last years of Joe's life, Julien Temple's film is a celebration of Joe Strummer - before, during and after the Clash.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten?

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Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Julien Temple

Joe Strummer

Joe Strummer

Self (Archive footage)

Topper Headon

Topper Headon

Self

Paul Simonon

Paul Simonon

Self

Terry Chimes

Terry Chimes

Self

Steve Jones

Steve Jones

Self

Don Letts

Don Letts

Self

John Cooper Clarke

John Cooper Clarke

Self

Court is in session

Put Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.