victorproulx Well executed film. While the physical history of Mr Baker is presented, in the end it is his artistic history we learn. The film highlights Baker's many desertions in life. And indeed, eyewitness accounts describe the pain this man has engendered to family, and fellow musicians. Some of the major musicians of our time have one or two line observations, edited around a long, many day, interview with Ginger Baker at his ranch in South Africa. And of course the music. Seven years his junior, I witnessed much of his rock music as it happened. However, had I read that this review must have a minimum of ten lines, l would not have started it. One of the "insights" is Baker's life-long, always changing, relationship to rhythm and drums. Insightful too, is the volatile relationships in many of his bands.

jodwyer56 I knew quite little about Ginger Baker so the doc was both informing and entertaining. A very interesting character and life indeed. An impressive array of musicians are interviewed about him and all profess genuine admiration for his drumming abilities. It doesn't go over the top with long solos which was a good call by the director. People can just listen to his records for that. It whets the appetite nicely to go and listen to his work.Ginger's family come across very well, especially his son, whose love for his father was severely tested on occasion. Like the man himself they are refreshingly unpretentious and down to earth. It's quite an honest film which makes it all the better and suits the subject matter to a t. Baker is quite enigmatic which makes for all the more interest trying to figure him out.It took a brave man to make this documentary and Jay Bulger was the right man to do it. I would not have been thick-skinned enough to take Mr. Baker. A great watch. Thank you sir!

st-shot Growing up during the golden age of rock (63 to 74 and the death knell sounded by the introduction of Disco)debate often centered around the best bands and players. The Beatles, best group and Hendrix, best guitarist were slam dunks but argument swirled around the best drummer with Keith Moon, John Bonham and Ginger Baker all having their loyalists but one thing for certain that we all agreed on was that from the looks of him the reed thin scarecrow Baker would be the first to push off this mortal coil. Fast forward forty years and you have Baker still with us and playing while the others (plus half of the Beatles) have moved on to R&R heaven. How feisty he remains is much in evidence in this documentary about his life and career, Beware Mr. Baker.As pop rock continued to flourish in the late sixties the introduction of Hard Rock, Heavy Metal through its purveyors, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Hendrix amped things up with a sound never before heard and Baker's beat had a lot to do with it. Cream would be selling out stadiums to this day but alas Ginger was not the easiest of people to get along with and the group disbanded after only a few years followed by one of even shorter duration with Blind Faith followed by other collaborative efforts. In between the mercurial Baker would jet off to Africa in search of drumming partners, polo ponies and Bachanallian pleasures. In Beware Mr. Baker he's in his early 70s hold up in a South African compound and still displaying the volcanic temperament as the doc opens up with him breaking the filmmaker's nose. He's definitely in the twilight of life but is determined to go out as he lived, with a bang.Onery as the old coot is you still have to show an admiration grudging or otherwise for this whirlwind of passion and intensity, incredible musical talent and poor business sense who continues to push the envelope when most of us thought he'd be long gone by now. His fellow players (Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce etc.) more or less feel this way. A good case is also made for claim as the greatest rock drummer.Given his reputation Baker may not have been the easiest guy in the world to be around or work with but you find yourself rooting for him at the end of this documentary. And why not, there is a lot to be thankful to him for, especially for a kid growing up in the era of Disraeli Gears.

tomgraham101-39-39878 I have just seen this film at a BFI screening, with Jay Bulger and the fearsome Mr Baker himself turning up on stage afterwards for a fractious Q&A that ended with shouting, swearing, recriminations all round, and Jay Bulger seemingly storming off stage. The perfect end to a brilliant documentary!The story is fascinating and engaging throughout, with Ginger Baker himself coming across as a complex and contradictory character. While you're appalled at much of his behaviour (he comes across as a pretty damn terrible father/husband/work colleague), you can't help but admire his incredible energy and drive, his prodigious musical talent, and his refusal to ever let life beat him down.The sparing use of beautiful and rather poetic animation works very well, and Jay Bulger himself refrains from including himself too much in the finished film - and when he does take centre stage for a moment, it's an extraordinary (and violent!) moment.By the way - Jay, if you're reading this, I'm sorry people shouted at you after the screening. Perhaps, given the subject matter, it's only appropriate that the whole thing ended in acrimony. And hats off to you for getting a cold, reserved audience of Brits so fired up and vocal. Great work - loved the film.