The Jam: About The Young Idea

2015 1h 30m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 13

MusicDocumentary

Synopsis

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Sky Arts presents the definitive story of The Jam, one of the most successful British bands in rock history, who were at the forefront of the late 1970s punk-mod scene. Featuring exclusive interviews with Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, and richly illustrated with archive performances, this documentary, directed by Bob Smeaton, traces the band's formation and success between 1975 and 1982, and is set against the backdrop of the ever changing politics, fashion and attitudes that shaped the period of late 70s and early 80s.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Paul Weller
Himself
Bruce Foxton
Rick Buckler
Martin Freeman

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bob Smeaton
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

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Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 11 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bob Smeaton, shot by Tim Sutton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Julian Caidan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt5022418 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 13 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bob Smeaton directs. Tim Sutton behind the camera. Julian Caidan cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 11 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Bob Smeaton, shot by Tim Sutton. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Julian Caidan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt5022418 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 13 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Tim Sutton
Editing: Julian Caidan
Runtime: 90 min · 1h 30m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Jam: About The Young Idea (2015)

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Bob Smeaton

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2016-01-02
★ 9/10
Not really a Beat Surrender. The Jam - a Punk Mod Motown Power Pop trio from Woking, Surrey, England. Between the years 1977 and 1982 they would garner fanatical support and cement a reputation (justifiable) as a live band of astonishing power and skill. They would have four number one singles in the UK, three of which went straight in at number one, which was then a record for any artist. Upon their dissolution in 1982, all their singles were re-released, culminating in another record, that of having the most simultaneous top 75 singles (13) in the UK charts. It's fair to say that The Jam, considered by many to be the last great British singles band, deserve an extensive documentary... To many of us, The Jam were our Beatles, the band that meant the most to us teenagers of the time, this is something that comes across well in Bob Smeaton's film. In the excitement of just having a well publicised film on The Jam, there's so much to rejoice, but with a major caveat that fans, those who lived it or have read and listened to everything to do with the band, there's so much left out. The story is well told, all principal players are involved via interviews, while fans get archive footage and photographs that gladden the heart. Nice to have fan participation as well, including Martin Freeman. Whilst the bond between band and fans (the sound checks involving fans a thing many big groups of today could pay attention to), bristles like a solid bond in your heart. However... There are crucial areas of The Jam's history missed out, like the makers were only concerned with celebrating the name above everything else - ironically they failed to add the records I mention in the first paragraph. There is no mention of the problems the band had with wearing union flag suits, or having that flag draped over the speakers in the early days. There were at least two errors at pressing plants and arguments about what song should be the official single - things that affected two of their most famous singles (double A-Sides for Jam's sake), while their live gigs were often beset by violence, surely we want to hear what Weller, Foxton and Buckler have to say about that now?! About the Young Idea is incomplete, without doubt, but at least it exists and gives fans a chance to beam with glee, whilst simultaneously offering a glimpse to new interested parties of what a great band they were, and, crucially, what they meant to so many in those five years. 9/10

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