Died Young, Stayed Pretty (2008)

58% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
21% of users liked it
(125 ratings)

Every rock band, from the most famous stadium-level superstars to the lowly beginners hobbling from one basement gig to the next in a rusty van, needs to let their fans know when and where they'll be playing, and since the late 1960's rock posters have gone from utilitarian advertising fliers to… More Every rock band, from the most famous stadium-level superstars to the lowly beginners hobbling from one basement gig to the next in a rusty van, needs to let their fans know when and where they'll be playing, and since the late 1960's rock posters have gone from utilitarian advertising fliers to legitimate works of art. Since punk rock changed the rules of visual style in rock music and the rise of indie rock made irony and cultural appropriation key parts of the hipster lexicon, the style of rock posters has changed and a number of graphic artists have established international reputations for their work, in which they often present their own political and sociological statements in addition to publicizing concerts. Filmmaker Eileen Yaghoobian chats with some of the leading figures on the rock poster scene and examines the ideas and attitudes behind their work in the documentary Died Young, Stayed Pretty, which features interviews with Jay Ryan, Art Chantry, Mat Daly, Keith Herzik, Jeff Kleinsmith and many more. Featuring an original musical score by Mark Greenberg, Died Young, Stayed Pretty was an official selection at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Eileen Yaghoobian
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jul 17, 2009 Wide
Studio: Norotomo Productions

Critic Reviews

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
It soon becomes apparent that there's no real structure or point of view to it all.
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
The poster makers... mine the outer limits of violence and misogyny with a garish, pop art palette.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Yaghoobian proves she has a flair for the telling detail every bit as keen as her subjects'.
Jason Anderson, Toronto Star
Though Died Young Stayed Pretty could have used some serious streamlining, it still succeeds as a showcase for some of this decade's most arresting examples of graphic design.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
It's apparent that Eileen Yaghoobian has almost no control over Died Young, Stayed Pretty. Ostensibly, her documentary is about the demise of rock-concert poster art. But few of the artists have anything enlightening to say about their craft.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Yaghoobian's nonlinear editing is as offbeat as the posters, with non sequiturs and strange asides. She lets scenes run a few seconds longer than most directors would -- to good effect.
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Died Young is an entertaining film with sharp cultural observations that even dares to examine the collective American psychoses.
Mark Fagan, Austin Chronicle
Are these cultural artifacts or just more trash littering the light posts and bulletin boards of your city? That all depends on the eye of the beholder.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
It's a visually stunning film, even if the subject matter isn't hugely compelling.
Tim Basham, Paste Magazine
What a cool, unexpected kick this film was.
Adam Woodward, Little White Lies
Suffer the perverse undertones and this is a fitting examination of a significant yet overlooked contemporary art form.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
The film reminds us of a tactile, cut-and-paste subculture that's still alive and well in the internet age.
Stuart McGurk, Times [UK]
The equivalent of being trapped in the lift of an east London style magazine while the entire staff simultaneously shout their theories of civilisation at you, this documentary is that tragic thing.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
A decent concept but ultimately a bit messy and unfocussed.
India Bourke, Time Out
The lack of narrative direction, exploitable drama or character growth strands the film at the level of an animated picture-book accompanied by lots of gratuitous whining.
Jon Fortgang, Film4
A worthwhile doc about an unreported arm of the alt-rock industry.
Toby Young, Times [UK]
Hampered by its director's pretentious, self-advertising style. Eileen Yaghoobian lacks any journalistic sense of the basic information the audience needs in order to grasp what's happening onscreen and the film is often confusing.
Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]
Eileen Yaghoobian's indulgent, cut-and-paste documentary hangs loose (and slightly awry) with the unsung titans of the concert poster.
Jamie Russell, Total Film
Weird, wacky and full of arresting promo images for bands like Arcade Fire, Teengenerate and Turbonegro.
Adam Keleman, Slant Magazine
From an outsider's perspective, Died Young is thorough, diving into minor, specific details like the silkscreen process used by many of the artists.