Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza

The saddest thing in the world is when something that actually stands for something and is trying to go against the mainstream, eventually gives in(Sells out) and tries to pretend its still about the same things it started with. How can you have T Mobile sponsor your show and not be a sell out? But this review is not trying to say the doc was bad since it was well done, but it really exposed the whole idea of Lolla and I don't think the people in the doc even realize that. As another review said, if you're headlining your show with musicians who wont grammys you're going in the wrong direction. Lady Gaga, Miles Cyrus? Seriously? Those two aren't "alternative" they are pop music in a nutshell. They should have just stopped after the first 7 years if they were sincere about their intent but money corrupts everything and everyone, including Perry Farrell.

A documentary detailing the death and commercialization of a truly unique idea to bring people together.

The original idea - bring culture and alternative music to rural areas where people are never exposed to such a thing, keep ticket prices low so "the kids can see it" - Rebellion is a thing for the youth.. and Lolla started that way. Showcasing bands many may never have heard of. TRAVELING within the US to expose the country's youth to art and music which was DIFFERENT than the mainstream media was pushing. Episode one lays out the original mindset very well....

But it all devolved. "Grammy" should never be a phrase heard regarding any Lolla act.. but that's what it is today. F

Lolla no longer brings music to rural areas where kids can afford to go see it.. now they book big label backed pop stars (what's "alternative" about that?) and ONLY play Chicago, Lolla doesn't bother touring within the US at all, and Lolla then travels the world in a quest for more money, ... it's all about the dollar, not art.

This entire documentary builds to an excuse and justification for the commercialization. If Farrell can not see how Lolla has COMPLETELY lost the message, he's blind, or just lying to the audience or perhaps himself. Ferrell got old and sold out and Lolla devolved into a commercialized money-maker. Nothing wrong with selling out.. but at least own in.

Ferrell is kidding himself if he thinks it's still "about the music" it CLEARLY is not. With acts such as Lady Gaga, Chance the Rapper, and Miley Cyrus.... Music is CLEARLY unimportant and merely the vehicle to profits.

What a pathetic thing Lollapalooza has become. It is absolutely NOTHING special now and only serves as a profit machine.

I don't know how ANYONE can watch episode 1 of these series, then watch episode 3.. and think Lolla is anything other than a money-grubbing venture today.

Last year was my first time at Lollapallooza so I wanted to know more about its history, I find this doc very interesting but.... I don't know WHY it was made all about Perry Farnell, someone who's only contributions is to be the singer of a forgotten band and who succeeded (by accident) in the first festival, but he actually thinks he is something of a "Rock Jesuschrist" when in reality, the festival DID DIED during his ownership and was only resuscitated and make the success there is today thanks to an external company that managed many other music festivals.... still... great documentary!!!

In the first episode they talk about this festival being a champion for all the youth and all these various very important causes. Including fighting back against censorship and ripping down the walls of racism. Then during the final performance Paramount decides self censor and they go ahead and censor Perry Pherell's "Don't Call Me" performance with Ice-T. Way to undercut the message you were building up for forty five minutes. So just to be clear.... censorship is bad up to the point until it could cost the corperation some money, then it's ok. Is that the message I was supposed to take away from this? Make it make sense please.

Where's the sound? Watching on Paramount Plus and the commercials are nice and loud but this documentary itself is extremely quiet. I have the sound on 100 and I can barely hear it. Horrible production.

ABOUT MY REVIEWS:

I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.

My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.