Rye Coalition: The Story of the Hard Luck 5

Rookie documentarian Matz traces here the rise and fall of New Jersey punk band Rye Coalition, chronicling their journey from the 1990s postgrunge rock scene to an ill-fated attempt at major label stardom. The film boasts an impressive array of amusing home movie snippets, raucous and well-shot live clips, and other archival footage from throughout Rye Coalition's career. There are also new interviews with band members and supportive colleagues such as indie music producer Steve Albini and the ubiquitous but always entertaining Dave Grohl. Matz tries hard to win the viewer's sympathy by painting the musicians as earnest, hard-working, and talented young innocents who were cruelly victimized by a soulless music industry and frequently reminding viewers of just how unfortunate yet determined the band was. It is a familiar and not particularly well-told or compelling story. Extras include a long list of deleted scenes.