This 2012 documentary delves into the riotous life of wild-eyed, mercurial drummer Ginger Baker, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. Director Jay Bulger tracks down Baker at his compound in South Africa, where he has somehow survived well into his golden years but still hasn’t chilled out. The title is derived from a cheeky sign planted at the gate of his final home, warning passersby of the dangerous character inside.
Buy Beware of Mr. Baker Blu-rayWith a mix of archival footage and new interviews with Baker and others, Bulger steps viewers through the key moments in Baker’s mystique, showing his rise to prominence as an influential drummer, his drug addiction and financial issues, his multiple marriages, and his surprising other interests including jazz and African drumming, polo and raising horses. New music industry interviews include his Cream bandmates (Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce), Johnny Rotten, Steve Winwood, and drummer compatriots including Charlie Watts, Lars Ulrich, Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, and Chad Smith.
Bulger includes some new animated footage to re-enact a few moments of Baker’s wild stories, but the animation is very low quality, serving more as a distraction than a benefit. He also leans hard on worthless B-roll footage in the first half, including way more local scenery than anyone needs. One gets the feeling that Bulger was just the guy that asked and actually got the film done, not really a particularly gifted documentarian, although his ability to get so many industry folks to talk to him is quite impressive. He does make an inspired choice for the end credits though, adding multiple hilarious outtakes of Baker mercilessly insulting him for his stupidity all the way through.
And really, that’s where Bulger wins: picking an absolutely unhinged, unpredictable subject who is such a force of nature that he’s endlessly fascinating. All Bulger really needs to do is let Baker be Baker, and it’s a guaranteed winner. This is nowhere more evident than when Baker physically assaults Bulger on camera, whacking him hard on the nose with his cane to express his anger about Bulger intending to interview one of his ex-wives. He may have been nearing the end of his life, but his fire burned strong to the end.
The movie was released solely on DVD in the U.S. in 2013, making this U.S. Blu-ray release long overdue. Aside from a new audio commentary by Bulger and a trailer, no bonus features are included. The film is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio with 5.1 DTS surround. Bulger’s interview footage is shot in a fairly basic, no-frills manner, and the archival and animation footage is rough, so there’s little technical advantage to Blu over DVD, but it’s still nice to finally have the option a dozen years after the film’s U.S. DVD release.
