awesome; I Fuckin’ Shot That! (2006)

Directed by: Adam Yauch | 90 minutes | documentary, music | Starring: Adam Yauch (MCA), Mike Diamond (Mike D), Adam Horovitz (King Adrock), Money Mark, Mix Master Mike, Doug E. Fresh, Alfredo Ortiz, Christopher Sherman, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor

Founded in 1981, The Beastie Boys has consisted of Adam Yauch (MCA), Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (King Adrock). Originally, The Beastie Boys was known as a hardcore punk band in the New York scene. Gradually, the music style changed from punk to hip-hop. In the early stages of their career, the members of The Beastie Boys were mainly engaged in partying. However, over the years they became more and more involved in political matters. For example, they criticize George W. Bush a lot. The song ‘Sabotage’ is even dedicated to him. In 1985, The Beastie Boys was still the support act for Madonna during her American ‘The Virgin’ tour. Nineteen years later, it is The Beastie Boys themselves that are drawing full houses.

The successful ‘Challah At Your Boy’ tour will conclude on October 9, 2004 with a sold-out concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. A frenzied crowd raps and dances along with all the songs that pass by. The attentive viewer will see the well-known actor Ben Stiller rapping enthusiastically in hip-hop outfit in the audience. Enthusiasm is what it’s all about. The band and the fans make it a big closing party. The party is captured by fifty fans with DV and Hi-8 cameras. This does not always result in sharp and steady images, but it does benefit the originality and rawness. While professional cameramen mainly focus on the artist with clean shots, the fans focus more on capturing the entourage and the atmosphere. The quality of the images ensures that it does not always look relaxing. In addition, the sound is another drawback with this concert registration. The fact that the DVD sees the light of day two years after the performance has to do with the editing of the more than seventy-five hours of film material. ‘Awesome; I Fuckin’ Shot That’ is an original idea that has grown into an unforgettable hip-hop experience with a strong piece of editing.