Backstage

"Smoke all day, drink all day, perform, fuck all night." Thus is the philosophy of the rap star summed up by DMX, one of the more charismatic personalities in this look behind the scenes of the star-studded "Hard Knock Life" tour. The tour was considered particularly noteworthy because it didn't spark any acts of violence, although DJ Twinz Z points out the double standard to which hip-hop shows are held, noting that, while touring with rock bands, he found out that injuries occur all the time in mosh pits that would cause a rap show to be shut down. The best documentaries should ideally be able to appeal even to those who aren't necessarily into the subject matter, and while Backstage should provide plenty of moments to please fans, it doesn't have much to offer the newcomer. Too many of the acts blend together, and not one uses a live backup band. There are, of course, some stand-outs: DMX, who exudes the seductive vibe of a dangerous former street thug, is one, and Method Man and Redman not only stand out as performers, flying through the air above the crowd on harnesses, but also as personalities (the scene in which a pot-smoking Redman insists that the filmmakers put the microphone on his crotch so as to "hear my nuts talk" is a definite highlight). Some laughs are also wrung from a scrawny white kid who does various voice-overs on rap albums, and goes by the name "Pain in Da Ass." All told, though, the film generally feels like a home movie -- if you don't already have a vested interest in seeing it, you'll find it goes on too long.