Breaking a Monster

The band's name is Unlocking the Truth, which is especially apt for this documentary, as it goes behind the scenes of the music industry and its focus on product over great music. The executives talk about social media, branding, and which magazines to target, while the kids just want to be kids and play their music. They're not even old enough to drive, but they must sit through meeting after meeting, getting visibly irritated. It's no wonder they sometimes walk out in frustration.

They also have an up-and-down relationship with Alan Sacks, the L.A. manager who takes them under his wing and is determined to help them succeed. We can see Sacks getting fed up with the three young musicians when they start to act like, well, the middle-school students they are. Sure, they can be immature -- because they're kids. Still, they also have some surprisingly sharp observations, especially when they return to their old neighborhood and realize it will never be the same, that their newfound wealth has created a vast gulf between the boys they used to be and the people they are now. The narrative of sudden fame changing people in Breaking a Monster isn't especially surprising, but it's still worth watching how these kids deal with it.