Beware of Mr. Baker (2012) User Reviews

Even if you don't like drums, see this movie

[tomgraham101-39-39878 · 8/10 · 13 October 2012]

I have just seen this film at a BFI screening, with Jay Bulger and the fearsome Mr Baker himself turning up on stage afterwards for a fractious Q&A that ended with shouting, swearing, recriminations all round, and Jay Bulger seemingly storming off stage. The perfect end to a brilliant documentary!

The story is fascinating and engaging throughout, with Ginger Baker himself coming across as a complex and contradictory character. While you're appalled at much of his behaviour (he comes across as a pretty damn terrible father/husband/work colleague), you can't help but admire his incredible energy and drive, his prodigious musical talent, and his refusal to ever let life beat him down.

The sparing use of beautiful and rather poetic animation works very well, and Jay Bulger himself refrains from including himself too much in the finished film - and when he does take centre stage for a moment, it's an extraordinary (and violent!) moment.

By the way - Jay, if you're reading this, I'm sorry people shouted at you after the screening. Perhaps, given the subject matter, it's only appropriate that the whole thing ended in acrimony. And hats off to you for getting a cold, reserved audience of Brits so fired up and vocal.

Great work - loved the film.

Beware of Mr. Baker is a fascinating, humorous and at times fairly moving piece about one of rock and jazz's greatest drumming ancestors, Ginger Baker.

[ravechildglasgow · 9/10 · 9 June 2013]

Beware of Mr. Baker is a fascinating, humorous and at times fairly moving piece about one of rock and jazz's greatest drumming ancestors, Ginger Baker. From the truly unholy amount of multi-decade long substance abuse, this is a man who should be long dead, and yet here he still is, able to tell his story when he feels like it. Baker goes down as a largely unsympathetic man that no one feels the need to speak politely of, nor does he expect or want them to. Beware of Mr. Baker is a fascinating film mostly because of the sheer amount of people director Jay Bulger manages to track down to speak about Baker...

"Then I think about the love that you laid on my table...."

[Quinoa1984 · 8/10 · 22 February 2014]

Ginger Baker just liked banging things around. And as soon as some directed him in the way of drums - and some of the premier jazz drummers of the 1950's, which was kind of the apotheosis of jazz - he was set for life. And this life included being apart of two of the major rock bands of the 1960's (Cream and Blind Faith) along with others, then became a figurehead of African drumming in the 1970's, and then... semi-obscurity, polo, playing with some band that got lost in the shuffle of the 90's grunge scene, polo, ex-wives, polo, and um... I said polo right?

Though Cream was sort of cited as the grandfather or forefather for heavy metal (hey there's Lars from Metallica in the doc), Baker comes off more like a craggly jazz-man-cum-punk-rocker, who didn't give a f**k and even gives the director of his documentary a piece of his mind with his cane! Kind of a prime example of a man who you know you wouldn't want to spend more than two minutes with - hard to feel sorry for a man who wasted all his money, and Cream reunion money no less (I couldn't afford those tickets man!) on horses and dogs (he says they are more trustworthy and loving of humans) - yet he really is just one of the drummers that changed the game for everyone.

Also fascinating to find out a musician from the 60's - and husband and father - who really could have just torpedoed all of his good luck from the era in two decades afterward. A good documentary on what the Brits could call a 'right old nasty bastard.'

"This is a film about Ginger Baker." - Johnny Rotten

[jymn-365-224576 · 10/10 · 7 October 2012]

Beware of Mr. Baker is the most exhilarating, enthralling, disquieting and laugh out loud funny documentary I've seen in quite a while. This is especially surprising coming from first-time filmmaker, Rolling Stone writer and ex-boxer Jay Bulger. It profiles the many ups and downs of former Cream and Blind Faith drummer, Ginger Baker.

Yes, it helps that Baker is the ultimate curmudgeon who cares squat about what people think of him. He speaks his mind, often in hilarious bursts of profanity. The drummer can barely speak without unleashing some brutal gem at once outrageous and more often than not funny as hell.

But it's the filmmaking that also shines here, pairing with the drummer's tales in perfect synchronization. Baker's unique form of storytelling and opining comes across in short blasts much like one of his rim shots, captured skillfully by Bulger. This documentary is notable for its pacing, using animation and quick edits to give a smooth musicality to the film. Baker talks throughout the film about the rare gift of timing. Bulger's got it. That's quite an achievement for a first-time director - for any director.

While the interviewees (a plethora of musicians and long-suffering family members, including Clapton, Bruce, Watts, Peart, Ulrich, ex-wives and resigned children) make no bones about Ginger Baker being a total prick, it's hard not to empathize at least in part with Baker's life. A cruel father to his only son (now a respected drummer), a negligent husband and mean bastard to almost everyone he ever encountered, there is not a lot to like about the man.

Then again, it's hard to tell how much of Baker's bravado is show and how much is real. In a short but telling scene, he is surprised by the camera while he is silly dancing for his step-daughters much to their delight. No doubt Baker has his ugly side but it's scenes like this that give the doc its rough-hewn charm.

What this biopic does best is present what is good about Ginger Baker - his prodigious drumming. Finely navigating the drummer's early life, his days leading up to Cream's breakout to his days in Africa (the live performances by Fela Kuti and band shown here are alone worth the price of admission), the film puts the spotlight squarely on the music.

Baker cares little for people. His life was and still is his drum kit. I had forgotten how rounded his skills are for arranging, producing and playing. His drum battles with the primo jazz drummers of the day - Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Phil Seaman - are ear-poppingly wonderful.

It helps enormously that Baker's madman looks and flaming orange hair are iconic. The skillful and oftentimes funny animation makes full use of this iconography, emphasizing the bigger-than-life halo that slums around Mr. Baker's head. Now 73-years-old and grey, that Baker has survived a career of unimaginable fame, riches, women, and mostly heroin, to live yet another day is phenomenal.

While the man's bluntness, musicality and humour dominate the film, the real beauty is in Bulger's ability to shine a light on the one overriding aspect of Ginger Baker that makes him such a fascinating subject. That is, a peculiar talent for walking into adventures the rest of us would never attempt. Often coming out broke and worse for wear, the abominable Mr. Baker, as he has done all his life, takes a breath and moves on to the next inexplicable enterprise, lacking any sense of self-doubt and living a life seemingly without remorse, at least when it comes to others.

"and I'm wasted and I can't find my way home"

[RainDogJr · 10/10 · 2 March 2013]

When the closing credits of BEWARE OF MR. BAKER appear, alongside some funny scenes that show the constant dose of insults that director Jay Bulger received from Giner Baker during the filming, it's clear that completing a documentary about a rock n' roll legend as crazy and hostile as Mr. Baker was nothing less of a miracle, something will hardly be repeated. The good news is that Bulger's film is definitive so even if Baker were a little more accessible it would be unnecessary and absurd to search him in a near future for a new documentary about his life.

The young Bulger was lucky enough to fool Baker and make him believe he worked for Rolling Stone magazine back in 2010. Bulger didn't miss the chance, and he certainly knew that going to South Africa to talk with the former drummer of Cream was the great opportunity in his life. Since the first minutes we realize the documentary is quite personal, with Bulger's first-person narration that take us to the origins of the project. Along the way we have a sort- of father and son relationship between Baker and Bulger; the honesty of both is priceless, and that relationship something quite special that delivers those moments every documentary aspire to achieve, although we have too moments that none – there's no documentary maker in the world that expects to be physically attacked by his central figure, right?

If the documentary LEMMY: 49% MOTHERF*****, 51% SON OF A BICH (Orshoski, Olliver, 2010), about Motörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister, another living legend of British rock and survivor of the excesses, showed a pretty noble side of its main figure, and even his strong critique for drug use (especially heroin use), here it's impossible to do something similar. For the good (of his legend) or for the bad (of his family, Eric Clapton and everyone who knows him), Baker is pretty much the real "49% Motherf*****, 51% Son of a Bitch" of rock n' roll. Even some of his noble acts are seen as craziness – spending the millions he got for the Cream reunion on horses, and on a veterinary hospital for them, took him again to near bankruptcy.

The portrait is quite fun, you just have to see Baker's facial expressions in the pictures, but has depressing touches as well that fits perfectly with the "and I'm wasted and I can't find my way home" line from Blint Faith's beautiful tune "Can't Find My Way Home". For moments, it's almost like being watching that strangely sad world of Robert Crumb in CRUMB (Zwigoff, 1994). Jazz music plays a very important role for Crumb, and in the whole work of Zwigoff for that matter, and for Baker too. In one of the most memorable tales of the film, Bakers talks about the introduction to heroin and African rhythms he had thanks to an encounter with his idol, British jazz drummer Phil Seamen.

Bulger could interview people like Jack Bruce and Clapton from Cream, Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols), Charlie Watts (the Rolling Stones), and Baker's own family (his children and ex- wives). One of the brilliant touches of BEWARE OF MR. BAKER is the decision to go beyond the already memorable tales. Some words are illustrated with remarkable animation, therefore we have something I would call the rock version of WALTZ WITH BASHIR (Folman, 2008). Think again in that story about jazz music, heroin and African sounds, add to it an animation with obscure and surrealistic stuff, and you'll have a great representation of that madness and genius that made of Baker the idol of such brilliant drummers as Stewart Copeland (the Police), Neil Peart (Rush), Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) and Nick Mason (Pink Floyd).

If you're into the music of any of the previously mentioned bands, I can't think in a single reason why you wouldn't enjoy BEWARE OF MR. BAKER. Also, it's a great way to discover more about Africa, its music and some of its past conflicts. Great stuff!

*Watched it on 15 February, 2013

Interesting

[billcr12 · 7/10 · 27 July 2013]

Mister Baker here is Ginger Baker, the rock drummer, most famous for his days, from 1966-1968 with Cream. Eric Clapton was on guitar and Jack Bruce on bass. They were technically the most perfect musicians ever to play rock and roll. Clapton and Bruce are interviewed, as are others, such as Steve Winwood from his days with Baker with Traffic. The music is terrific and Baker's life is certainly interesting, separate from the music. We get a wife #1, followed up by #2, #3, and #4. The man is a disaster as a human being and father, but he is also quite possibly the greatest rock drummer ever. At an hour and a half, the film moves quickly, and the clips of Baker drumming are breathtaking. If you are a serious rock fan, this documentary is for you.

Highly Entertaining Documentary

[Michael_Elliott · 3 May 2014]

Beware of Mr. Baker (2012)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Highly entertaining documentary taking a look at the troubled career of Ginger Baker, a drummer who is considered by many to be the greatest to ever live. The documentary shows why he helped make groups like Cream so memorable yet the film also shows why he ended up broke, unable to find a job and being rejected by many who admired him. BEWARE OF MR. BAKER is an exceptional documentary because it doesn't try to cover up Ginger Baker's rather problematic life but it's also not exploitation by only showing how "crazy" he is. Instead I thought filmmaker Jay Bulger did a wonderful job at really giving you a honest and complete look at this man who is probably his own worse enemy. We get interviews with Baker, his three ex-wives, his son and daughter, Eric Clapton as well as countless other drummers including those in The Police, Pink Flloyd, Black Sabbath and The Rolling Stones. The film has plenty of archival clips of the young Baker coming into his own and it also ventures into his career in South Africa where he was pretty much working for nothing. His love of animals is also on full display as well as him mocking himself for his attempted acting career. If you're a fan of classic rock then this here is certainly a must-see. There's no denying that Baker managed to influence pretty much every drummer who came after him yet very few know who he is.

Surprisingly Riveting

[jodwyer56 · 9/10 · 5 September 2013]

I knew quite little about Ginger Baker so the doc was both informing and entertaining. A very interesting character and life indeed. An impressive array of musicians are interviewed about him and all profess genuine admiration for his drumming abilities.

It doesn't go over the top with long solos which was a good call by the director. People can just listen to his records for that. It whets the appetite nicely to go and listen to his work.

Ginger's family come across very well, especially his son, whose love for his father was severely tested on occasion. Like the man himself they are refreshingly unpretentious and down to earth.

It's quite an honest film which makes it all the better and suits the subject matter to a t. Baker is quite enigmatic which makes for all the more interest trying to figure him out.

It took a brave man to make this documentary and Jay Bulger was the right man to do it. I would not have been thick-skinned enough to take Mr. Baker. A great watch. Thank you sir!

the giant of the drummers

[dromasca · 7/10 · 30 December 2013]

Ginger Baker is not only one of the greatest drummers ever but also a character who waits for a movie to be made about him. One day maybe a fiction movie will be made, until them we have 'Beware of Mr. Baker' - the documentary made by Jay Bulger. Rock documentaries are now quite 'en vogue' and there is a good reason for this. The big rock stars of the 60s and 70s, well, the ones who survived are now at the age of writing or telling on screen their memories. The younger generations may have heard little about 'Cream' or 'Blind Faith' but they do have an opportunity not only to watch part of their concerts (luckily filmed concerts technology developed just in time to catch much of their sounds, moves and the atmosphere of their live shows) but also to hear fist hand their version of the history of rock. And fans like me are definitely delighted.

'Beware of Mr. Baker' is centered around the interview reluctantly given by Baker at his ranch in South-Africa. He is one of those anti-social partners of discussion that you sometimes pity the interviewers about. He certainly loves to complain about his family, other musicians, life and fate in general - one of these guys who seem to love themselves much less than the world lives and admires them. We learn much more about his life from interviews with members of his family (his first wife seems still to have a crush on him, his son's best memory is having made music with his father) and with other musicians. It's the story of a life damaged by drugs abuse and a pattern of behavior that preempted Baker from establishing good working relations with any of his colleague musicians and eventually led to the early breaking of all bands he played in. Yet, it is also doubtful if in the absence of this temper and even of the use of drugs his music would have been the same. And music is what is left at the end from such personalities. Great music in the case of Mr. Baker.

It's like a train wreck--and you just can't help but watch in amazement.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 17 January 2015]

I am not a particular fan of Ginger Baker nor of the groups he's been associated with over the years. This is NOT a criticism--I am just letting you know that if you don't know who he is or care, you STILL could really enjoy watching this film!

While Baker is most famous for his part in the short-lived rock group Cream (recently admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), this only takes up a small portion of this fascinating documentary about this infamous drummer. Like a good documentary, it tries to cover the totality of his life--and shows him in a warts and all portrait. And, like a good documentary, it allows Baker to speak for himself--in addition to all the celebrity interviews and vintage footage.

So why did I like this film so much in addition to it being well made? Well, Baker is an amazingly self-absorbed *##--and film appears to say he is both a brilliant and amazing drummer AND a sociopathic jerk who uses people and is subject to fits of anger and drunken binges. Heck, you even get to see Baker smash the documentarian in the face and draw blood near the end of the film!! Talk about warts and all.

The bottom line is that this film is like watching a slow-motion train wreck. You know it's repellent and awful--but it's never dull and cannot help but entertain you!!

Ginger nut

[Lejink · 7/10 · 29 April 2014]

Not an obvious choice for a documentary, grumpy old man, no make that just grumpy man, celebrated Cream drummer Ginger Baker spectacularly opens his own film by beating up his director, followed by a glowing tribute from of all people John Lydon and then proceeds to diss the majority of the several people who crossed his path in later life. I started off thoroughly disliking him and his "#*^!"-off outlook to life but by the end, if I didn't exactly like him, I had warmed a little to him even if I still don't understand why he is as ornery as he appears.

His story gets told mainly from his own viewpoint but naturally we get tributes from the drummers union including the likes of Charlie Watts, Neil Peart and Stewart Copeland as well as most of his past collaborators including of course his Cream band-mates Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton together with archive footage and some animation to highlight his world travels.

I've not heard much of Cream outside of their most popular tracks but I do know he takes the dubious responsibility for introducing the extended drum solo to rock recordings and concerts. It certainly seemed to me that his playing, good as it is, pales next to some of his jazz heroes with whom we see him engaging in "drum wars" in the early 70's.

Of more interest then is the picture painted of this very eccentric man, with apparently a greater love for animals, particularly horses and dogs than his own family and ex-wives, indeed I had no idea he was such a keen polo player. There are anecdotes a-plenty, rarely to his credit, I mean who else would introduce his 15 year old drumming son to cocaine to get through a gig, plus I just can't have much sympathy for a guy who blows £5,000,000 from the Cream reunion gigs in 2005 and then pleads poverty.

And yet, while I wouldn't care to meet him, it was fascinating to watch this story of his varied life. Post-Cream there's little here to engage with musically unless you like endless drum solos but this unlikely documentary will capture and hold your attention and who amongst us wouldn't share to some degree his rebellious outlook against conformity for the last 50 years.

Fascinating Doc With Lots of Surprises

[larrys3 · 9/10 · 21 August 2013]

This documentary, written and directed by Jay Bulger, based on the life and career of Ginger Baker, I thought was rather fascinating and filled with surprises. Baker, whom many consider to be the greatest rock drummer of all time, was living, at the time of the filming in a private gated compound in Tulbagh, South Africa. As one enters the compound a sign clearly states Beware Mr. Baker, perhaps for good reason as Baker is still quite irascible and cantankerous. He's also somewhat debilitated by osteoarthritis, but not slowed enough to stop him from physically attacking the director Bulger at one point with his cane.

Apparently, Baker was a prodigy on the drums, able to just sit down one day and start playing. His first taste of fame came when he became the drummer for the Graham Bond Organisation, in the 1960's. However, what brought on instant world wide acclaim was being the founding member of the rock group Cream, bringing on Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, to produce some of the most influential sounds in music history.

However, the group only stayed together for about two years, despite their fame. Baker was already showing signs of a violent temper and he apparently was heavily into the drug culture. At one point, he viciously attacked Jack Bruce after an argument.

This would be the beginning of a long series of ups and downs for Baker, which were brought to the screen in the film. I'll just note that these included continued drug use, four marriages, earning then blowing through millions of dollars, many career changes and making a lot of enemies and some friends along the way.

Some of the documentary is Bulger interviewing Baker, in South Africa, while the rest is clips of his amazing talent on the drums, interviews with family and many people he worked with in his career , as well as even some animated snippets illustrating parts of his life.

Although I admittedly knew virtually nothing about Ginger Baker before seeing the film, and despite the fact that Baker is obviously not a likable fellow, I was quite fascinated by it and was absorbed by one surprise after another being revealed.

The Devil takes care of its own

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 5 January 2014]

This is a quote from "Beware of Mr. Baker" which very well describes the character this documentary is about. It's the first directorial effort from Jay Bulger and as he gets beaten with a cane by his protagonist, it certainly wasn't an easy effort. Cream and Ginger Baker's great years were way before my time, so I went into this one knowing almost nothing about it. But it's always nice to know about new things and I wasn't disappointed with the outcome. Ginger Baker, the infamous drummer, is as interesting as it gets and certainly deserves his own documentary tribute, even if he's way into his 70s now that this was made. The crass, almost horror-like animation used in the film nicely emphasized how it's a fine line between genius and insanity, a description that is probably hardly more accurate for anybody than Mr. Baker. Also I wouldn't mind watching a film about his life that is completely animated in the style it was used here. And I didn't need to know much about playing the drums to see this man's incredible talent.

However, there's always another approach to this character and the perfect counterpart to his insanity is also something that I liked the way it was depicted here: his love to animals, especially horses. It was very sweet to see his weaker, more vulnerable site and how he truly adored these animals that probably became the center of his life at some point and a bit of a haven for him to compensate for his wild side. Also, I thought the ending was very well done, to see Ginger Baker back from his isolation in South Africa to the stage doing what he always did best, playing the drums and having a great time doing so, especially after saying earlier in the film that his motivation and health when it comes to music are almost completely gone.

I had admittedly one big "what-the-hell"-moment when I saw him writing an ad for a newspaper to look for a band. Really can't believe a man with his talent, considered by many as one of the greatest to have ever played the drums, could sink so low that he'd have to take drastic measures like these to do what he loved. It was shocking to see how he basically made not much money at all despite being possibly the great creative force behind Cream as he wasn't the one who wrote the songs. It made me happy to see he reached great commercial and critical success afterward again though. Another thing I quite enjoyed was to see him in Africa during his younger years. He always seemed to have had a special connection to the Black continent (going until today with South Africa and his marriage to a local being possibly the last chapter of this life) and it was great to witness how local tribes and their approach to music clearly inspired him in his work.

"Beware of Mr. Baker" is a film I'd recommend. It's probably even a must-see for music lovers of the 1960s and 1970s as you see many artists (Clapton, Santana...) telling about how they perceived Baker back in the day and today. And for people like me, it's perfect to broaden their horizons and find out about artists from back in the day that we may not have been familiar with before. Admittedly, Baker is such a colorful character, who accosts and swears like a pirate, but is also sensitive, and I'm a bit surprised I never came across him earlier. I wouldn't say this film was an eye-opener and that I keep listening to his music all the time now, but it was still nice to get to know him and I applaud Bulger for making this documentary.

Insight into Ginger Baker

[victorproulx · 8/10 · 27 February 2015]

Well executed film. While the physical history of Mr Baker is presented, in the end it is his artistic history we learn. The film highlights Baker's many desertions in life. And indeed, eyewitness accounts describe the pain this man has engendered to family, and fellow musicians. Some of the major musicians of our time have one or two line observations, edited around a long, many day, interview with Ginger Baker at his ranch in South Africa. And of course the music. Seven years his junior, I witnessed much of his rock music as it happened. However, had I read that this review must have a minimum of ten lines, l would not have started it. One of the "insights" is Baker's life-long, always changing, relationship to rhythm and drums. Insightful too, is the volatile relationships in many of his bands.

Little Crazy But Very Interesting Documentary

[crossbow0106 · 8/10 · 28 July 2013]

This doc is about and features the somewhat eccentric but amazing drummer Ginger Baker, of Cream and Blind Faith fame. The film goes through his life chronologically, with some interesting commentary from his family (3 of his wives), a few of his kids, but especially artists from the time, like Clapton, Jack Bruce and a host of admiring drummers who give their insights on his legacy. Throughout the film, the chain smoking Baker appears sometimes to be put off by having to recollect various times in his life, but that would be true of just about anyone. Just watching some of the great clips over the times you realize that he just had the profound ability to play. If you're a fan of his work, this is essential. Otherwise, this is a worthy rock doc from a unique talent who has survived long enough to be able to tell it as he saw it. Very watchable.

Not just for drummers

[fostrhod · 7/10 · 13 October 2019]

Knowing very little about the career of Ginger Baker, apart from Cream of course. Assuming Cream was a vehicle for Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce and Ginger were buy players, how wrong I was.

Cream is but a minor part of this documentary. It is a fascinating study of a great musician but ultimately a flawed man. Failing in his relationships with his wives and kids and fellow band members. His skills of being a drummer who was prepared to push boundaries comes to the surface.

PS I'm off to play Rise by PIL to see what all the fuss is.

A true maverick

[lawrenceconwayvulcan · 10/10 · 29 June 2015]

Ginger Baker finds himself in the situation of being classed as the first great rock drummer yet this enthralling documentary shows he would rather be classed as great jazz man. He snorts in dismay in his role in creating heavy metal as a member of Cream. Testament from band mates like Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Steve Winwood show a man who could perform on an artistic level yet off stage would often commit such acts such as having fights over a concert performance. An all star line up of other drummers pay tribute to him, including Charlie (The Rolling Stones) Watts,Nick (Pink Floyd) Mason, Bill (Black Sabbath) Ward, Simon (Bad Company) Kirke and Stewart (The Police) Copeland to name just a few. Yet for his musical genius he has many failings of a personal note, His son and two daughters suggest he would better off not having kids, a foray into Polo has him landed a large tax bill. In the end you are left with the impression he would the same things again without a moment's doubt.

Sex and Drugs and Rock'n Roll

[asc85 · 7/10 · 17 July 2013]

If you're a fan of the history of rock'n roll music, this film really is a must. I had heard of Ginger Baker of course, but I'm about 5-7 years too young to have remembered his Cream and Blind Faith years. I didn't realize how fantastic a drummer he was, and as said in the movie, really was one of the pioneers of hard rock. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when the interviewer (I believe it was Jay Bulger) asks Ginger Baker what he thinks of comparisons to John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Keith Moon of The Who, and he scoffs at the comparison, which wasn't much of a surprise when you see what kind of person Baker is. But then they ask the same question of Eric Clapton, and Clapton thinks it's such a ridiculous comment that he doesn't even let Bulger finish the question! Ginger Baker was a great drummer, but an extremely flawed individual in almost every other regard, which makes him an interesting subject for a film such as this. The critical acclaim has been deservedly high, which is why I had decided to see it in the first place.

The Greatest Drummer of the Era as a Thoroughly Rotten Person

[jacksflicks · 10/10 · 2 August 2014]

Ginger Baker illustrates how artistic greatness can be fed by a loathsome character that we see close-up and personal, thanks to brave filmmaker Jay Bulger. Just how brave you will see in the film.

It's not hard to see how Ginger Baker was formed. He was a child in one of those horrible, dreary, violent British working-class neighborhoods. He started out life by losing his father (killed in war), then getting his face slashed with razors for not joining a local gang. Then, he gets a posthumous letter, the only input he every got from his "hero" father, advising him that "your fists are your best friend". So, partly for survival, partly out of values, Baker became a young tough.

The watershed occurred when Baker was introduced, at the same time, to African drums and heroin. Drums fed into his violent nature, and heroin, he claims, gave him insight into "time," which Baker considers the key to drumming and which very few have.

Deserted his wife and kids for a bimbo who left him, introduced his 15- year-old son to cocaine to do a gig, then kept the proceeds, sending the son home on a bus. Chronically unpleasant to be around, except to the four drummers he worships. Calls dogs and horses the only creatures he can depend on, while at the same time being utterly undependable to his family. Complains about his poverty, after blowing millions on drugs and polo ponies.

The plus side of the ledger is that Ginger Baker is arguably the greatest drummer -- rock or jazz -- in modern history. His long-suffering son, whom he finally kissed-off, says that Baker should never have had a family, that he is only about the drums.

It's not ironic that the only person in the film who seems to adulate Baker is Johnny Rotten. Even the colleagues who prize him as a talent can't stand him as a person, except perhaps, Jack Bruce, of Cream, who says he "loves" Ginger, but goes on to say that living on a different continent from Baker is still "a bit too close".

Fascinating stuff, but Baker still remains a mystery

[tomgillespie2002 · 6/10 · 7 November 2013]

Ginger Baker, that fire-haired, heroin-addicted, mentally unstable drummer of Cream and Blind Faith fame, is given a much deserved documentary here at the hands of Rolling Stone journalist Jay Bulger. For all his notorious genius - the guy single-handedly invented the drum solo and heavy metal owes a significant debt - the man is repulsively anti-social and, well, mad. We learn this from the opening scene, as Baker yells at Bulger, who is off-camera, that he doesn't want his friends and colleagues interviewed for the film, while Bulger protests. Cue a pause, then Baker stabs at Bulger with his cane, leaving the film- maker with a bloodied nose.

For the rest of the film, Baker is somewhat subdued, slumped in his reclining chair, never without a cigarette and his sunglasses, giving a reluctant commentary on his life and his career. It is Baker's discomfort at being an interviewee that slightly damages the film, as we never really get beneath those red locks and mad eyes of his to the soul (or lack of) beneath. So, Beware of Mr. Baker (the title comes from a warning sign outside Baker's South African ranch), becomes a mere birth- to-present biography of his career. It's still fascinating stuff, and Bulger has unearthed some excellent archive footage and photographs.

His colleague and family provide the more personal information on Baker, such as his estranged son, who recollects that he was briefly happy with his father, even drumming alongside him on-stage, before Baker verbally attacked him and sent him on his way. Baker, in simple terms, is a horrible man, but (as the annoying sell-out Johnny Rotten tells us), he is the type of man that true genius often produces. His affection for polo and heroin are not explored enough, and the real focus here is the music. The footage shown is outstanding, ranging from his superstar- creating time with Cream through to some mind-bending footage of drumming 'battles' with his peers and heroes. Yet Baker himself still remains a mystery, and perhaps it should stay that way.

www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

The documentary that guarantees to inspire!

[mista808 · 9/10 · 15 November 2013]

This documentary about the greatest drummer to ever walk the planet earth "Ginger Baker" was one of the most inspirational films I have ever seen. I am a musician myself and just writing this article is giving me goosebumps about how amazing Ginger Baker really is. He's been an un- liked guy by many due to hardships he's faced as a child, but you'll quickly learn to forgive Ginger Baker when watching this documentary. He is an absolute LEGEND among LEGENDS in the music world and is almost solely responsible for the heavy metal music we have today; whether it was his intention or not.

If you are a music buff, a musician, or simply enjoy great documentaries then look no further!

WATCH THIS FILM!

Technically Great.. Lost in Translation!

[CentralStateProductions · 7/10 · 20 July 2014]

"This Feature Doc is Technically speaking a Wonderful Film to watch." With 3D Animation and Stills, great Colorist Styling and a really great sound design. Its not a surprise that this Film has won several major awards so far. That's the good news. Now as far as being a true Biographical Film on the life so far of Ginger Baker, then we have to talk about a whole new ball game. There is mocking of the man here.. as in mockumentary so beware of that. Mr. Baker hosts his own narrative which is not always a good idea. But in this case, he himself qualifies his own life as a disastrous mess even without help from the Filmmaker. But the mess part needed to be broken down in a different way. This Doc in a awkward way makes fun of the man who's spiritual demons have controlled most of his life on and off the stage. I kept saying to myself, he is a man first then a drummer and the Filmmaker decided to turn that around on the audience. He said he would not talk about his x-wife so the Filmmaker did it anyway by interviewing her. He talked about things regarding other Musical Artist's in his life that he I'm speculating did not want in the Film.. the Filmmaker ignored him. So therefore, if you I suppose were afraid of Ginger Baker before, you are terrified of him now. Hence the title after the Filmmaker is clobbered in the nose by the cane of this once Rock icon. The shock value syndrome is high on the threshold of this being a real Documentary Film but becomes a terrible exploitation of a Drummer gone completely mad. I don't know which Ginger Baker, the madman, the drummer, the polo pony owner and everything else he tried really is and disappointment set in as the credits complete with outrageous outtakes role. 7stars mostly for the technical effort.

I've Yet To Watch (Lucky Me), The Reviews LOL I Can't Wait! His Passing Today Oct 6th 2019.

[farmontario · 10/10 · 6 October 2019]

Wow, all those years I've known about him and Cream and all the other great bands. Now I'm awaking to read this announcement of his last breath to find myself immediately to catch some stories of his life. Oh what a trip he has had here in the living! Thanks to everyone that wrote on his movie biopic whatever it is. I'm going to savor the moment to catch a glimpse of the man that was Mr. Baker!

Irascible Mr. Baker makes no apologies.

[st-shot · 7/10 · 28 July 2013]

Growing up during the golden age of rock (63 to 74 and the death knell sounded by the introduction of Disco)debate often centered around the best bands and players. The Beatles, best group and Hendrix, best guitarist were slam dunks but argument swirled around the best drummer with Keith Moon, John Bonham and Ginger Baker all having their loyalists but one thing for certain that we all agreed on was that from the looks of him the reed thin scarecrow Baker would be the first to push off this mortal coil. Fast forward forty years and you have Baker still with us and playing while the others (plus half of the Beatles) have moved on to R&R heaven. How feisty he remains is much in evidence in this documentary about his life and career, Beware Mr. Baker.

As pop rock continued to flourish in the late sixties the introduction of Hard Rock, Heavy Metal through its purveyors, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Hendrix amped things up with a sound never before heard and Baker's beat had a lot to do with it. Cream would be selling out stadiums to this day but alas Ginger was not the easiest of people to get along with and the group disbanded after only a few years followed by one of even shorter duration with Blind Faith followed by other collaborative efforts. In between the mercurial Baker would jet off to Africa in search of drumming partners, polo ponies and Bachanallian pleasures. In Beware Mr. Baker he's in his early 70s hold up in a South African compound and still displaying the volcanic temperament as the doc opens up with him breaking the filmmaker's nose. He's definitely in the twilight of life but is determined to go out as he lived, with a bang.

Onery as the old coot is you still have to show an admiration grudging or otherwise for this whirlwind of passion and intensity, incredible musical talent and poor business sense who continues to push the envelope when most of us thought he'd be long gone by now. His fellow players (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce etc.) more or less feel this way. A good case is also made for claim as the greatest rock drummer.

Given his reputation Baker may not have been the easiest guy in the world to be around or work with but you find yourself rooting for him at the end of this documentary. And why not, there is a lot to be thankful to him for, especially for a kid growing up in the era of Disraeli Gears.

Ginger Snaps

[owen-watts · 7/10 · 11 November 2021]

Those of us with volatile and emotionally closed off boomerdads will get a strange sensation with this one. Jay Bulger's Ginger doc is refreshingly frank and a serious rollercoaster - but with some amazing moments dotted throughout. The talking heads are there, of course, but much more interesting are his family and those left strewn in his wake. Bulger makes a bit much of a bit of a bonk on the nose and the ending is a bit tiresomely Anvilly but otherwise I was really taken with it. Relatable.