mgk
Tommy Lee
The Dirt
“Their music made them famous. Their lives made them Infamous.”
2019
1h 48m
Director: Jeff Tremaine
Overview
The story of Mötley Crüe and their rise from the Sunset Strip club scene of the early 1980s to superstardom.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min readThe Dirt: A Movie That Smells Like Teen Spirit (and Tequila)
I didn’t expect to care about The Dirt. Not really. A Mötley Crüe biopic directed by the guy behind Jackass?
That’s not a recipe for subtlety—it’s a dare. And yet, somewhere between the third overdose and the fifth bottle of Jack Daniel’s, I found myself leaning forward, not in judgment, but in recognition. This isn’t a movie about rock stars.
It’s a movie about boys who never grew up, and the women who loved them anyway.
Jeff Tremaine doesn’t try to glamourize the chaos. He doesn’t have to. The film’s opening act is a masterclass in controlled recklessness: Nikki Sixx (Douglas Booth) snorting coke off a stripper’s ass, Tommy Lee (MGK) backflipping off a drum riser, Vince Neil (Daniel Webber) punching a guy in the face for looking at him wrong.
It’s all so loud—the music, the laughter, the sound of glass shattering. But then, in the quiet moments between the debauchery, you catch glimpses of something else: the fear. The way Sixx’s hands shake when he’s not holding a guitar.
The way Lee’s grin falters when he’s alone. These aren’t gods. They’re kids playing dress-up, and the costumes are starting to fray.
The casting is a mixed bag, but MGK as Tommy Lee is a revelation. I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes when I heard a rapper was playing the drummer. But then I saw him—really saw him.
Audience Opinions
"Early buzz suggests a raucous, unfiltered rock biopic with strong performances but uneven pacing."
Viewers anticipate a wild ride through the excesses of rock stardom, with standout performances from the lead cast bringing energy to the film’s chaotic tone. However, some find the storytelling disjointed, jumping between moments without enough depth to fully invest in the characters’ journeys. latestnetflix.com's read is that the film’s raw, unapologetic style resonates with fans of the genre, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more polished biopic.
What viewers praise
- Energetic performances The cast delivers lively, committed performances that capture the rebellious spirit of the band.
- Authentic rock excess The film’s depiction of hedonism and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle feels visceral and immersive.
- Strong lead chemistry The dynamic between the main cast members adds a layer of authenticity to their on-screen relationships.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing The narrative jumps between scenes without always providing enough context or emotional weight.
- Lack of depth Some viewers feel the film skimps on character development in favor of spectacle.
- Niche appeal The film’s unfiltered style may alienate those not already fans of the band or the genre.
Recommended for
Rock biopic enthusiasts Fans of Mötley Crüe Lovers of chaotic storytelling Jeff Tremaine fans Music drama lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix bought the Crue after Paramount walked
Eighteen years sat between Neil Strauss's 2001 band memoir and a streaming date. Manager Allen Kovac told Deadline the aim was "Boogie Nights-meets-Goodfellas" on the Sunset Strip. He also admitted the band did not want to meet Jeff Tremaine, the Jackass co-creator who directed. latestnetflix.com's take is that "We're trying to make Boogie Nights and Goodfellas and we've had David Fincher come in the room," Kovac recalled them saying.He talked Tremaine into the meeting anyway. 
Paramount and MTV Films optioned the book in 2006 after Tom Freston loved it. Kovac said Freston's firing stopped the deal. Nikki Sixx complained in 2008 that MTV had "become unhip" and was not the right partner. Focus Features picked the project up in 2015. In March 2017 Variety reported Netflix in final talks for worldwide rights, with Liam Hemsworth, Emory Cohen, and Douglas Booth floated as Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, and Tommy Lee. Booth later played Sixx. Hemsworth never arrived. , 
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The rapper who auditioned six times
Colson Baker, billed as Machine Gun Kelly, told Billboard he sat six auditions over two and a half years, the first two for Nikki Sixx and the last four for Tommy Lee. He had read the book at 13. "It was my Bible," he said. Entertainment Weekly printed the same grind. He reached out, offered to take smaller parts, then heard he had "Tommy Lee energy." Tommy Lee visited the New Orleans set, looked at the fake Motley house, and said it was exactly the original. ,
Ultimate Classic Rock, citing that Billboard sit-down, logged the first night of shooting. Tremaine sent Baker and Douglas Booth out drinking. Booth bit the director's shoulder hard enough to leave marks. Baker spent months twirling sticks until USA Today noted the calluses. Pete Davidson plays Elektra A&R man Tom Zutaut. David Costabile is Doc McGhee. Daniel Webber is Vince Neil. Iwan Rheon, coming off Ramsay Bolton, is Mick Mars. , ,
Kovac picked the 100-year shelf
Kovac told Deadline they had other suitors after the Paramount turnaround. "We chose Netflix over them because Netflix can promote this movie for the next 100 years." He said the job was also to "deglamourize" the sex and drugs because of the damage. Hollywood got a premiere on 18 March 2019. The film hit Netflix on 22 March, with a soundtrack of 14 catalog hits and four new songs. Wikipedia lists a $23.1 million budget. Rotten Tomatoes later named the critic problem. Fans got the rude party. Reviewers said the movie still blinked at the worst of the book. , , ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NOp5ROn1HE
The official trailer is still the uncensored pitch. The hair is huge. The wreck is in the cut.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.