Entertainment

HBO's Kurt Cobain Biopic Will Do It Right

by Kenya Foy

If fans of celebrated grunge musician Kurt Cobain didn't have a reason to be excited about the new year, they do now. Courtney Love previously stated that production would begin in 2015, and now Billboard reports Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck will debut on HBO and will also be released internationally. Based on the available details, the project is being produced the right way (in other words, with the family's consent) and the focus is more on his legacy and providing a glimpse into the private performer's personal life. Instead of the continued rumination on his tragic suicide, this documentary will offer Cobain fans something they can embrace and be proud of.

Unlike the speculative docudrama Soaked in Bleach , this look at Cobain's life and legacy, which shares a title with his recently released mixtape that Cobain recorded in 1988, is fact-based thanks to the involvement of Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean. The film will include footage from home movies, photography, songbooks, unreleased music from Cobain, and contributions from both Cobain and his family's archives. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without Nirvana songs.

Another advantage is HBO's involvement. Thus far, they have a great track record with biopics, which places Cobain's story in the company of other big name productions such as the Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra

starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, who earned an Emmy for his portrayal of the flashy entertainer. Other HBO biopics in the works include the Mae West story starring Bette Midler, and the Bessie Smith documentary starring Queen Latifah.

While all the film's details have yet to be solidified (there's still no word on who will play Cobain), it's apparent that Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck has a lot more to offer than renewed frenzy surrounding his untimely passing. Instead it falls into the same category as American Horror Story covering Nirvana songs by ensuring that Cobain's lasting artistic impact isn't overshadowed by the manner in which he passed, which serves as a much more fitting tribute to his legacy.