In 1979, The Clash wrote the lyric “Let fury have the hour, anger can be power” in order to encourage a political revolt. Inspired by those same lyrics, Antonio D’Ambrosio’s recently released a documentary based on the many artists, like the Clash, who made their
opinions of poli-social issues apparent.
Let Fury Have The Hour sets out to create a portrait of the artists who saw Ronald Reagan and the eighties’ Republicans as superficial and greedy. D’Ambrosio brings in notable names such as Lewis Black, Tom Morello, and Chuck D to aid the narrative. Unfortunately, they don’t do much in helping the film’s watchability.
Initially, the film prepares us to be educated on how various artists inspired change in the 1980’s. However, it veers off in so many different directions that each one becomes irrelevant to the other. Also, due to the overwhelming quantity of commentators, the subjects lose their importance and purpose.
On a topical level, one also has to question the doc’s merit. D’Ambrosio panders along on the basis that the eighties were the first to see art used as a practical form of protest. He fails to mention the hippies of the sixties and seventies that INVENTED and also PERFECTED the concept.
The film’s sole redeeming quality comes from aesthetics. The montage of major news events and cultural symbols resemble Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking music video “Man In The Mirror” in which the same types of clips were applied. And although that song had a clear message in its attempt to inspire change, “Let Fury Have The Hour” does not.
Rating: Leaves viewers wondering how Antonio D’Ambrosio recruited Lewis Black and Tom Morello for what looks like a high school film project (4/10)
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