Over the last twenty years, there have been quite a few movies made about punk rock and its irascible characters. Some have been great (”Sid and Nancy”), and some have been, um, less than great (”SLC Punk”), but with a steady persistence, punk rock films have slam danced their way onto celluloid and into our country’s art house cinemas.

Lately it seems like the volume of films centered on the movement has reached a fever pitch. The last few years have seen the release of a number of good films including “End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones,” “New York Doll,” and “Punk: Attitude,” and a quick check of our favorite movie sites confirms that more are on the way. There are no less than half a dozen films about punk rock either in production or ready for release. Here’s a quick look at a couple of the more notable productions:

Paul Bachman’s documentary “American Hardcore” focuses on the Reagan-era bands that shaped the genre and influenced a generation of bands to follow. The film features interviews and rare performances from Black Flag, Bad Brains, Minor Threat and the Dead Kennedys, and is based on the book of the same name by Steven Blush, who provides a bit of context for how this film will differ from other historical docs about the genre: “Black Flag is featured in the film ‘The Decline of Western Civilization,’ but that film was made at the dawn of that era. There was no context, there was no perspective on what it meant. ‘American Hardcore’ is about making that story more complete, where the perspective can be a little broader.”

“American Hardcore” trailer:
“What We Do Is Secret” portrays the short life of Darby Crash, lead singer of the Germs, who overdosed from heroin at age 22. The film stars Shane West (”The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”) as Crash, and also features Bijou Phillips as Lorna Doom and Rick Gonzalez as Germs guitarist Pat Smear, who lent the production some authenticity by overseeing the musical numbers which were performed by the actors themselves. The film also contains performances by the actors playing Black Flag.

“What We Do Is Secret” trailer:
“Punk’s Not Dead” is another documentary about the genre, though unlike “American Hardcore,” which takes a historical approach to the subject matter, “Punk’s Not Dead” examines 30 years of punk rock’s influence both inside and outside the mainstream. The film is directed by Susan Dyyner, one of the producer’s of the critically-acclaimed indie “Brick,” and features a who’s who of punk stars past and present.

“Punk’s Not Dead” trailer:
There is also an Iggy Pop biopic in the works, tentatively titled “The Passenger,” which Elijah Wood has signed on to star in. Though Pop says he is supportive of the film, he has thus far refused involvement in the production itself. As for the casting of Wood in the lead role, Pop said, “I don’t really know about him… I saw him on TV the other day, and he seems like a very poised and talented actor.”

And finally, while the Who may have risen to stardom prior to punk rock’s invention, the band certainly embodied the punk spirit. And despite the fact that Jason Schwartzman is both a drummer and a dead ringer for Keith Moon, it is Mike Myers who will be portraying the Who’s skinsman in “See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked for Your Pleasure,” which will have original music by Pete Townshend and be produced by Roger Daltrey. Wait, wasn’t it Wayne who played the drums, not Garth?

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