Dig, I imagined, would be a real treat for me as I'm a huge fan of rock band The Dandy Warhols. Little did I know, this film would be much more compelling than I ever could have dreamed.

Dig documents the rise of alternative rockers The Dandy Warhols, while simultaneously following the destructive path of fellow rockers The Brian Jonestown massacre. While neither band is necessarily a household name, The Dandy Warhols have developed a decent following while Brian Jonestown Massacre are more of an underground phenomenon.

I've listened to some of Brian Jonestown Massacre's stuff, but I wouldn't call myself an avid fan. Our fearless music reviewer Kyle England is a huge fan but even he was blown away by some of the stuff on display in Dig.

In all actuality, Dig is more interested in showcasing Brian Jonestown Massacre's dysfunctional path rather than delving into the more successful lives of The Dandy Warhols crew. Which suited me just fine, because as much as I love the Dandies, the boys of the Brian Jonestown Massacre make for an incredibly intense documentary focal point.

This insightful film was compiled from seven years of footage. The link between the two bands is a powerful friendship that began in the early stages of The Dandy Warhols' career. Dandy lead singer Courtney Taylor has never hid the fact that he absolutely loves The Brian Jonestown Massacre. They were a huge driving force in his wanting to form a band. In fact, back in the day, the two bands often toured together.

Through two separate, often turbulent, careers, both bands would go in vastly different directions. The Dandy Warhols went on to be signed by Capitol Records. And while their career could hardly be summed up as extraordinary, they have become a recognizable band, and particularly popular overseas. They've also matured as musicians through the years. The Brian Jonestown Massacre by comparison have taken a much rougher road. Headed by the charismatic but all too volatile Anton Newcombe, Jonestown Massacre built a reputation of being unpredictable rather than capitalizing on their outstanding musical skills.

Dig started off as a terrific collection of live performances but then became something much more powerful and intriguing. Through the picture, we see everything from tension between bandmates, to bitter rivalries, to violent antics during live shows to nasty drug habits. This is an intimate document of these bands - warts and all.

At it's heart, Dig is telling two stories; One is a tale of a powerful love/hate relationship. It's clear that Courtney Taylor and Anton Newcombe have great love and respect for one another, but because of jealously and success, they aren't always able to convey their true feelings.

The other story is a psychological profile on Newcombe himself. This is a genius who thrives on conflict. He needs it to create. Had he achieved the same sort of success obtained by Courtney Taylor or say Kurt Cobain, there's no guaranteeing this guy would even still be alive. As I watched this movie, it was perfectly clear to me that this is no act. This is who this man is. At one moment he can be the nicest guy in the world and at another, he can be a complete monster, but not once did I hate him. He was always sympathetic.

Dandy Warhols just released their fourth album Welcome to the Monkeyhouse on Capitol Records. Meanwhile, Brian Jonestown Massacre (which has undergone numerous line-up changes) continues to do things Newcombe's way. They've released three times as many albums as the Dandy Warhols, and while this doesn't necessarily make them a better band (that's simply a matter of opinion), it more than suggests that Newcombe needs to create music to survive. It's all he has to live for.

Film Maker Ondi Timoner has fearlessly documented the lives of these bands refusing to compromise and allowing them to speak for themselves. As insightful as the entire movie is, the real focal point is Anton Newcombe. A well respected musician who continues to fight the good fight in the name of art. I, for one, am going to run out and buy all the Brian Jonestown Massacre records.

Like it's subjects, Dig is compelling stuff.