Sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll – Netflix biopic showcases Motley Crew

I enjoy Netflix as much as anybody, but the streaming service seems to value quantity over quality. With its hundreds of titles, I often find myself scrolling through for what feels like hours before I can decide on a selection. But recently I stumbled upon a gem titled “The Dirt.”

This colorful biopic directed by Jeff Tremaine (Bad Grandpa) explores the origin and career of the classic rock band Mötley Crüe, and is based on the 2001 memoir The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band.

 The film centers around the experiences of the band’s four members – bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Mick Mars, and singer Vince Neil as they rise to rock stardom. The film gives a few laughs but ultimately conveys a gritty yet fun mood. This journey to the top of the charts provides all of the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll that you’d expect from the legendary band. We’re even treated to a party scene filmed through the perspective of Lee (Colson Baker AKA Machine Gun Kelly) in which he vomits on a stripper and wakes up handcuffed to a bed, among other shenanigans.

However, the film doesn’t excessively glorify this lifestyle, as it also tackles the band’s low points, depicting darker events like Sixx’s (Douglas Booth) heroin addiction and Neil’s (Daniel Webber) DUI that resulted in a death. The biopic stands out from other films in that its viewers are treated to fourth wall breaks throughout, which provide hindsight commentary from members of the real-life band. These comments don’t disrupt the movie’s flow though, they instead add interesting details to the already engaging story. The bond between the bandmates is central to the film, and is conveyed in a way that feels relatable and genuine.

Overall, the film leaves you with a sense of 80’s hair band nostalgia while conveying themes of addiction and inspiration. So whether you’re a die-hard rock fan just wanting to hear some Mötley Crüe songs (which make up the bulk of the soundtrack), a fan of wild parties, or just a casual viewer searching for an entertaining Netflix Original film, you should check out “The Dirt”.