5/10

In a year full of Kurt Cobain documentaries, one controversial filmmaker (Benjamin Statler) takes the biggest step in the 21 year mystery of one of rock music’s most legendary figures. “Soaked in Bleach” reveals the events behind Kurt Cobain’s death as seen through the eyes of Tom Grant, the private investigator that was hired by Courtney Love in 1994 to track down her missing husband only days before his body was found at their Seattle home. Cobain’s death was ruled a suicide by a lackluster police department, but doubts have circulated for two decades as to the legitimacy of this ruling, especially due to the work of Mr. Grant, a former L.A. County Sheriff’s detective, who did his own investigation and determined there was significant circumstantial evidence to conclude that foul play could very well have occurred. The documentary certainly has it’s great ideas. Most of which involve many inconsistencies that many investigators have chosen to ignore. Grant’s stance against the city’s police department raises some interesting questions not only in Cobain’s case, but in past cases that have been ruled open and shut. What doesn’t work for the film however, is the laughable dramatization acting, as well as all of his verdicts being pointed at one person; Love. Grant refuses to think that many people may have been involved in Cobain’s death, despite the fact that a lot of his theories are just that; theories. The evidence is certainly there to question a lot of Love’s antics during the week in question, but the story in the film plays off like Grant was present for all of her motivations. I think this would better serve as a special on Dateline NBC or something similar. It all feels like a stretched out version of a one hour news piece. Educational, but not entertaining enough to spend 85 minutes with. I think if the film stands for anything, it’s that this case should be opened back up. The strongest push in this position comes from many now government officials who point out the monumental mistakes made by the city’s biggest suicide. The movie also recognizes the increase in teenage suicides related in one way or another to Kurt Cobain’s death. Ironically, it’s in the areas that have less to do about conspiracies where the movie works it’s message the best. I do think Statler’s project is better put together than the 1997 film, “Kurt and Courtney”. Another film that examines Courtney Love’s motivations, albeit with a little less evidence than Soaked In Bleach had. Despite my grade and negative criticisms towards this documentary, i would still recommend this picture to Nirvana fans. There are a lot of theories about Cobain’s death, and Soaked In Bleach lays them all out on the table in an attempt to get everyone on the same page. Also, give “Cobain: Montage of Heck” a look if you haven’t yet. It’s by far the best music documentary that i have ever seen.