Excellent ‘Louder Than a Bomb’ Begins First Chicago Run

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Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – As pundits continue to debate the Academy’s choices for the Best Documentary of 2010, one of the most purely enjoyable that I saw last year is opening at the Siskel Film Center for its first Chicago run since the Chicago International Film Festival last October. “Louder Than a Bomb” is the most enjoyable and inspiring film you could see in a theater over the next week. Don’t miss it.

Directors Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel tracked four teams of Chicago high school poets competing in a local poetry slam and turned it into a documentary about creativity, passion, and learning to turn your imagination into an art form. Being at least adjacent to the creative world my whole life as an English major, theatre minor, and, of course, film lover, I’ve always been a sucker for documentaries that convey the importance and power of individual artistic expression. “Louder Than a Bomb” is one of the best.

Louder Than a Bomb
Photo credit: Louder Than a Bomb

The directors captured a variety of poetic styles in their days with the teams. Some have a lyrical, more commonly poetic approach, while others are closer to rap, and even others sound almost like preachers. Ultimately, the film reminds one that there could be a brilliant talent living just down the street or sitting next to you on the bus or even trapped inside you. Some of the poetry in “Louder Than a Bomb” is among the best I’ve heard or read in years and it’s because it comes straight from the hearts of the kids who wrote and read it. Their expressions of joy, anger, conviction, pain, and love are infectious and mesmerizing.

So, what part to the documentarians play? Is the success of “Louder Than a Bomb” merely being in the right place at the right time? I don’t believe so. It comes down to focus. Not only do they know who to focus on and what pieces to show but they never lose sight of the commonly-repeated mantra of the kids — “The point is not the points, the point is the poetry.” “Louder Than a Bomb” is not a film about winning. It is a film about expression and that’s something much greater.

Louder Than a Bomb
Photo credit: Louder Than a Bomb

“Louder Than a Bomb” succeeds by never losing sight of the amazing, moving poetry. It doesn’t become too much about the kid’s backgrounds (but offers just enough) or what got them to that stage. It often lets the poetry speak for itself. You will not soon forget the talented young men and women of “Louder Than a Bomb.” When the credits roll after some of the best poems you’ll hear all year, expect applause.

Official Synopsis from The Siskel Film Center:
“Filmmakers Jacobs and Siskel find a stunning story in Chicago’s annual teen poetry slam, in which teams from more than 60 Chicago-area high schools compete. Winner of the Audience Choice Award and a Special Jury Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival, as well as a host of other festival awards, the film focuses on three individual challengers and one team, underdog Steinmetz High, to convey all the power of teamwork and the raw emotion of performance as the daring young poets create art from the gut and brave heart-wrenching delivery before a live audience. HDCAM video.”

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]