Alison Klayman’s chronicle of the Canadian singer’s rise to fame centers around her seminal 1995 album, and the trail it blazed for female artists.
(This review is part of our coverage of the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.)
This year’s edition of the Toronto International Film Festival finally got a hint of scandal—albeit of the most well-mannered variety imaginable—when it was announced that rock star Alanis Morissette, the focus of the new documentary Jagged, would not be attending the film’s gala world premiere, reportedly due to what the Washington Post dubbed “unspecified issues with the finished product.”
This was surprising, not just because it seemed strange that the Ontario-born singer would blow off such an occasion in her own hometown. After all, Morissette fully participated in the film’s making—it is based around a long interview conducted with her in her California home, and is mostly celebratory in tone. For her to suddenly object to it struck many as confounding.
Then again, as Alison Klayman’s film reveals, Morissette has been confounding people ever since the 1995 release of Jagged Little Pill defied all expectations, selling more than 33 million copies throughout the world, making it the second-biggest album of the ’90s and the twelfth-biggest of all time. At that time, she had some mild fame in her home country through a couple of albums of blandly inoffensive dance-pop but was a complete unknown in America. Moreover, the songs that she began cooking up with producer Glen Ballard defied what was expected from female pop stars at that time. After being rejected by all the big labels, she eventually signed with Madonna’s Maverick label and the rest, as they say, is history.
Using a combination of archival video, behind-the-scenes footage, and contemporary interviews with Morissette, Ballard, the members of her touring band, and music critics, the film charts that history. Alanis transforms almost overnight from an unknown to one of the biggest music acts around, after the album drops with the power of an atomic bomb. These were songs written by someone who had things to say about her life experiences and did so with the kind of massive hooks that worked equally well on headphones or in an arena filled with tens of thousands of people.
The songs tapped into a market that the music industry had largely dismissed, and would go on to influence countless female performers who emerged in her wake, from Taylor Swift and Beyonce (both of whom are seen performing “You Oughta Know”) to current pissed-off pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo.
As it turns out, Morissette’s anger was more than justified, as she reveals the exploitation and abuse that she suffered at the hands of the music industry. During her teen-pop days, she was pressured to stay thin to such an extent that she soon developed an eating disorder. Once she turned 15, she found herself faced with sexual advances from men much older than her that, in a few instances developed into what she now calls statutory rape. In the rare instances when she would bring it up, her charges would be ignored or overlooked. (She does not make accusations against any specific people and indeed, she remains silent on the much-debated identity of the person that inspired “You Oughta Know.”)
The overall tone of the film is … cheerful, as Morissette looks back at that astonishing time.
Although these moments of self-revelation will no doubt be the most-discussed in Jagged, the overall tone of the film is often more cheerful, as Morissette looks back at that astonishing time. We witness her going out on a grueling 18-month tour that began with her playing small showcase gigs and found her traveling the world alongside the likes of Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. And yet, there were still some tensions, most notably when she discovered that the members of her all-male band were using their proximity to her as a way to hook up with her fans — a revelation that she says, with great understatement, “just didn’t match my mission or my value system.”
Jagged essentially ends with the conclusion of that tour, save for an epilogue that shows her with her own children and still dealing with the legacy of Jagged Little Pill, which would serve as the basis of a hit Broadway musical of the same name. Although maybe not as raw and revelatory as one might expect, it’s ultimately more interesting than most of the current wave of pop star documentaries, which feel more like extended catalogue promos than anything else. It’s also a must-see for young women, especially those looking to make it in the entertainment industry.
That said, I remain baffled about what her specific objections could possibly be. Maybe the person who became a legitimate icon by letting it all hang out emotionally decided at the last second that she had said too much. Wouldn’t that be ironic?
Jagged premieres on HBO as part of the Music Box documentary series November 16th.
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
After a years-long hiatus, scientist and explorer Albert Lin is coming back to National Geographic with a fresh new season of Lost Cities, renamed “Lost Cities Revealed.” In the past, Lin, who is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a real-life Indiana Jones, has traveled everywhere from the ancient Knights Templar in Israel to ... How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
If you’re a fan of true crime and insider docu-shows like The First 48 and Court Cam, then you’re probably already familiar with A&E. The cable channel is home to other reality TV gems like Hoarders, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars (they’ve moved on to spin-offs like Road Wars, Customer Wars, and Prison Wars now). ... How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
As the sister channel of the much bigger Univision, Unimás is home to popular Spanish-language telenovelas and talk shows (yes, including El Gordo y La Flaca), as well as a couple of sports events and programs. Most notably, however, Unimás also operates a couple of station affiliates around the country, so it also reports local ... How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial