ZAPPA Film Review — The Complexities of the Man and Musician 

Musician Frank Zappa is walking through stacks of archival materials. The rows of shelves look like something from an academic library, though it is in fact his personal collection, which he kept in his California home. Zappa casually picks up a tape marked Clapton, which preserved a jam session he had with the legendary blues guitarist. 

We are primed by this visual metaphor opener for the film en toto.  We expect and get an archive of photos, musical performances, and interviews, highlighting the many acts of Frank Zappa’s impressive career. Some surprise, such as recounting a Zappa concert in Yugoslavia after a live performance hiatus. There are also dozens of photos of Zappa hanging out with rock luminaries from Keith Richards to Gordon Lightfoot, as well as lesser-seen images of the musician’s family life. 

ZAPPA Shows Us a Complicated Man

Even in this opening scene we get a glimpse of the more complicated aspects of this film’s title subject. We see  the confident humblebrag as Zappa shows off his Clapton recording. Then, as Zappa walks through his carefully collected archive dedicated to his life’s work, some viewers may think: “Can anyone take this arrogant guy seriously?” This aspect of his personality is explored further in the documentary, most notably in interviews with percussionist Ruth Underwood and rocker Alice Cooper, both of whom possess a nuanced understanding of the often difficult man-behind-the-music.

From the clips of Zappa in his archive, we also get the idea that Zappa is more than just an average rock musician. The academia-like stacks reflect the complex and erudite aspects of his music, which are as challenging and multifaceted as the work of other great artists to whom years of academic study have been devoted. This reviewer agrees with the point-of-view that the filmmakers are projecting----Zappa’s music can surely be appreciated and taken seriously by rockers and music nerds alike. 

In the documentary, Zappa says that his goal as an artist is to make music for himself, and others can choose to listen to it or not. For viewers interested in delving into such a rich world and complicated mind, ZAPPA provides a treasure trove of material, along with a human story as enigmatic as the music.