AllMovie

The short, electrifying career of singer Janis Joplin (1943-1970) is chronicled in this 96-minute documentary. Using family photos, interviews and concert clips, a fairly thorough portrait is painted of the dynamic, self-destructive R&B singer. With Joplin, what you saw was what you got: she is as volcanic and unpredictable off-stage as on. Janis Joplin's family had a lot of input in this production; thus, Joplin's music is given precedence over her private demons and her fabled substance abuse. Even so, the language is extremely raw at times, so you may want to preview the film before showing it to your kids.