What We Do Is Secret (2008)

In sure hands, What We Do Is Secret could have been a fine rock'n'roll biopic.

West is magnetic trying to fill the gaps in the pop psychology insight into how the Germs' brief candle burned out so fast, with performances, "interviews" and flashbacks.

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Despite its thorough attention to historical detail and the obvious love of all involved for their shattered subject, What We Do Is Secret is, in the end, awfully sterile for a movie about the Germs.

While What We Do Is Secret may not be remembered for much more than West's performance, it's an impersonation worth saluting.

The final scenes of Secret are its best and, ironically, the original Germs' final moments were said to be their best, too.

The battering live shows prove West's dedication to the role, but as always there's too little insight into both music and musicians and too much period design

The faux interview preserves Darby Crash's self-image, the reenactment in What We Do Is Secret remembers the preservation.

Grossman's movie never delves much below the surface.

Some of the supporting performances, like those of Phillips and Gonzalez, are very strong, but it's West who lifts the entire film to a whole other level.