Rock n Roll Nerd: The Tim Minchin Story (2008)

This review is sponsored by

BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Documentary	Menu Audio Deleted Scenes-Montreal 2006 (3:26) Deleted Scenes-"I'm So Tired" (Tim writing a musical) (3:35) Deleted Scenes-Rock N Roll Lifestyle (1:42) Deleted Scenes-Tim writing a song for BBC radio, Edinburgh 2005 (3:33) Deleted Scenes-"You Grew On Me" (Tim playing at home) (3:50) Deleted Scenes-"Mitsubishi Colt" Montreal 2006 (13:37)
Rating
Year Of Production	2008
Running Time	89:40
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL (74:58)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Rhian Skirving
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Rhian Skirving Tim Minchin
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	?	Music	Jackson Jackson Tim Minchin Harry Angus

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	Yes

    Rock + Roll Nerd documents over a three year period the rise of musical comedian Tim Minchin - from obscure Melbourne artist to decorated international performer.

    The documentary picks up in 2005 just as Tim shapes his new image, conceding that he needs to "look better" if he wants to make anything of his career. Clips of Tim prior to his makeover are barely recognisable, but make for a hilarious diversion. A successful stint at the Melbourne Comedy Festival sees Tim invited to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a considerable step up where the venue is enormous and the pressure is on. Additional stress comes from a family angle, as Tim's partner falls pregnant and they face the prospect of having to survive with no income.

    Rock + Roll Nerd is as revealing as it is entertaining, and that's where it succeeds most of all. It's by no means all sunshine and rainbows, as the bad reviews are not shied away from in the slightest. The emotional highs and lows of Tim's journey make for an intriguing learning experience and a fascinating insight into the business decisions that face a newcomer to the industry.

    While a considerable amount of time is spent as a fly-on-the-wall so to speak, some time is dedicated to Tim's stage performances. It's here that he really shines, in fact it's equally fascinating to gauge his development as a performer through these glimpses into his stage routine. If you're more interested solely in Tim's comedy, then his So Live DVD is probably more up your alley, however, if you're at all interested in the man and his humble beginnings, this documentary is a must.

    My review of Tim's So Live DVD, filmed at the Sydney Opera House and also available on Madman in Region 4, can be found here.

Video

    The entire documentary has been captured digitally on HD cam (16x9) and looks as good as you would expect of a contemporary production. A handful of retrospective clips showing Tim in performance (before he changed his image) seem to be sourced from analogue video, possibly VHS, but any brief detriment to the video quality is more than made up for in their sheer hilarity.

    Video grain of the mildest variety can be seen in darker shots, such as backstage, but as a whole the image is sharp, clear and consistent. MPEG compression artefacts are completely absent.

    No subtitle streams are included.

    This disc is dual-layered (DVD9 format), with a layer transition placed during a black, silent moment towards the end of the feature at 74:58.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    A single stereo soundtrack accompanies the feature (Dolby Digital, 224Kb/s). As far as stereo soundtracks go, this serves the documentary perfectly.

    There's nothing remarkable to report here, the interview segments are well recorded and dialogue is crystal clear. Musical passages are similarly well balanced and easy to follow. Audio sync is perfect.

    There are obviously no examples of surround or subwoofer activity to report.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menus

    The menu pages are static, with a brief audio clip looping in the background. The menu pages and all of the below extras are presented in 16x9 widescreen.

Deleted Scenes-Montreal 2006 (3:26)

    We're given a glance of Tim's Montreal debut as the closing act of the Just For Laughs comedy festival, then follow he and his wife back to the hotel afterwards where they discuss his experiences playing in a covers band.

Deleted Scenes-"I'm So Tired" (Tim writing a musical) (3:35)

    Tim sits at the piano in his home and performs a moving number from his musical, which I presume is a work-in-progress.

Deleted Scenes-Rock N Roll Lifestyle (1:42)

    A conversation with Tim while he's doing the ironing.

Deleted Scenes-Tim writing a song for BBC radio, Edinburgh 2005 (3:33)

    This is a fascinating glimpse into how Tim works, as he shapes a song while pausing now and then to scribble notes. This was performed on the final day of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2005.

Deleted Scenes-"You Grew On Me" (Tim playing at home) (3:50)

    Like the performance of I'm So Tired above, this is Tim at home running through a song which was, at the time, a newie to be incorporated into his show.

Deleted Scenes-"Mitsubishi Colt" from Darkside show in Montreal 2006 (13:37)

    Tim interacts with the crowd in this excerpt from his Montreal performance before performing Mitsubishi Colt, an hilarious beat poem that has become one of his signature tunes.

    This title is only available in Region 4 at the moment. Given Tim's popularity in the UK, I would expect a Region 2 release is on the horizon too.

    Rock + Roll Nerd is an excellent documentary, showcasing a unique Australian talent.

    The DVD transfer quality is great.

    The extras are worthwhile.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall