Punkology primer

What happens when a controversial, anarchic artistic movement gets old? They make movies about it. "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" (opening today; see review Page 20) is just the latest in a fecund field of films that take testimony and/or dramatize the CBGB years. In order of gob-smeared excellence:

The Filth and the Fury (2000) The ultimate document on the great rock 'n' roll swindle itself - the short, sharp career of the Sex Pistols. Directed by Julien Temple of early music-video fame.

End of the Century (2004) The Ramones: Four goofballs from Forest Hills, Queens, who broke rock history in half. A scrupulously researched field of study - there are docs on two of the individual members - but this is the best.

24 Hour Party People (2002) Michael Winterbottom's warmhearted ode to the Manchester scene (Joy Division, the Buzzcocks, Happy Mondays) may in fact be a pack of lies. It's still wonderful. Featuring a star-making turn by Steve Coogan as "Madchester" impresario Tony Wilson.

New York Doll (2005) A hilarious and heartbreaking portrait of New York Dolls bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane. Proto-punk, survivor, Mormon, corpse: This may be the single most representative career arc of the whole scene.

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007) Julien Temple again, successfully making the case for the late Clash leader as the John Lennon of British punk.

Control (2007) A compelling dramatic re-creation of the life and times of Joy Division, the pioneering post-punk band so depressing its lead singer, Ian Curtis, hanged himself. The same year saw the documentary "Joy Division."

Punk's Not Dead (2007) Three generations of American punk rockers arguing viciously over who's got more edge. Which is exactly as it should be.

What We Do Is Secret (2007) Ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous Germs. LA's most notorious punk band gets a slick dramatic retelling, rather fitting given leader Darby Crash's (Shane West) obsession with image.

American Hardcore (2006) An enthusiastic doc that tries and fails to cover it all. No Misfits? No Dead Kennedys? Someone needs to put out 1981's pioneering "The Decline of Western Civilization" on DVD, stat.

TY BURR