To Corgan’s credit, the documentary shows the process of himself with the band on tour - warts and all. “How do you make these hired guns into Smashing Pumpkins in a matter of weeks?” Someone proposes halfway through the program. It’s a good question and the answer may be simply, you can’t.

Through the course of the film, we see a man who wants desperately to go forward then to dwell on the past. “The zen of this moment,” Corgan proclaims one night on stage at the Fillmore, “this is a new band and everything we are trying to do is take this thing forward, not to go backwards.” For good or for bad, the documentary is the Smashing Pumpkins on how Corgan sees it and wants his band to be now.

Is Corgan arrogant and delusional on his wants and expectations? Perhaps, but this documentary appears to be his way of trying to explain and state his case. These are questions maybe time will reveal. It’s his fans who will ultimately have to decide if they want to follow him on this journey.

Still, with that said, there are moments in the film that he seems to go too far. Corgan laughs backstage on how he just lost the audience at one of the Fillmore performances. This is the result when he chooses to encore with a 20 minute plus unreleased track from the Zeitgeist album entitled, “Gossamer.” He laughs at how the audience started walking out in droves during the song. There’s a delicate balance of wanting to grow as an artist but where do you draw the line from pleasing yourself and being respectful to your fanbase?

Along with the documentary, we have a 15 song set from the Fillmore Residency concert. The song “Gossamer,” that turned off many of his fans one night at the Fillmore, is actually a highlight in the concert of mostly all new material. Whether this is the same version that scared people away is unknown. Regardless, it’s a song that showcases the talent of everyone from Corgan’s guitar playing, Jimmy Chamberlin’s drumming and all of the new members as well.

Other bonus material includes an interview with The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend, talking about the Smashing Pumpkins and on being an artist. A featurette entitled Voices of the Ghost Children, featuring some of the fans that made it to the show. Plus, bonus footage of 5 songs recorded during rehearsals at the Fillmore.

If All Goes Wrong at times seems to show an artist angry. Angry at his fans, angry at his legacy, and an artist refusing to see the forest through the trees. Billy Corgan is shown as an artist sticking up his nose to the musical machine regardless of the cost. Will he ultimately find what he is looking for, or will he eventually break from all the pressure?

If All Goes Wrong is a interesting portrait of a journey with one of alternative music’s most successful and unique artist of our times. Pick up the 2 disc set and make your own judgments.

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