The Last Waltz (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of The Last Waltz (Special Edition)
Movie Review: Shows Robbie for exactly what he is - with wonderful music!
Summary: 5 Stars
Rumor has it that at the debut screening of The Last Waltz in 1977, Ronnie Hawkins stood up at the end of the film and remarked sarcastically, "That was all right, but it sure could've used a few more shots of Robbie!" By now, any serious fan of the Band will be familiar with the antipathy between Robbie Robertson and some of his former comrades. A quarter-century later, this classic movie's disproportionate concentration on Robertson at the others' expense not only remains palpable, it's even more lopsided in the updated version. But for better or worse, that is a key part of the story of the Band; and in retrospect, the Last Waltz is surely an even more accurate documentary than Robertson had aimed for. More importantly, it captures one of the greatest concerts of the rock era.As Levon Helm relates in his rather bitter memoir "This Wheel's on Fire," the decision to disBand was Robertson's alone and the Last Waltz was a somewhat reluctant exercise on the part of the other four. This shows to varying degrees in the interviews which are dispersed throughout the concert footage: Robertson, who appears far more often than the others, looks animated and a bit rehearsed (although it's hard not to feel some animosity towards him if you've read Helm's book) while the others look tired or worse. (Helm's description of Richard Manuel as "looking like Che Guevara after the Bolivians got done with him" is all too close to the mark!) While unflattering to a degree, the interview scenes do speak volumes about what the music industry did to one of rock's all time greatest bands and the truth about the then-impending breakup. The Band did, after all, reunite sans Robertson as soon as they were legally able to use the name again without his blessing. The commentary itself is still interesting as well, particularly some of the saltier stories of life on the road in the early 1960s, a time too often thought of as rock's "innocent" years.
But the music itself is still the most important part of the show by far. However uncomfortable things had become behind the scenes, these guys could still play like no other band before or since, and it's almost magical to watch them do so for the very last time. Given Helm's well-documented distaste for the whole project, it's remarkable how happy he looks during most of the performances, almost as if the bad blood disappeared during those last few hours while they were doing what they did best together. The late Rick Danko's showstopping solo performance of "Stage Fright" just might be the concert's most intense moment, which is perhaps just as it should be given the subject matter of that song and the reality behind the scenes.
If there is any complaint to be made about the concert footage itself, it is that the guest performances by Hawkins, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters and Van Morrison featured here don't necessarily do justice to the full brilliance of that night. The complete soundtrack (which was only recently released legitimately, after years of bootlegging) reveals stunning performances that didn't make it into the movie, although Martin Scorcese claims in the retrospective documentary that this is only because he simply wasn't able to shoot satisfactory footage of some of them. Nonetheless, the performances that did make the cut are superb across the board. Even the wildly out of place Neil Diamond does a decent job with his one song of the evening, even if I was left grateful that it was only one song. Best of all, we're treated to dozens of unintentionally hilarious shots of Robertson singing with such emotion that the veins stand out on his neck - into a microphone which, as Helm gleefully recounted in his book, wasn't plugged in. (This was no accident; guitar genius though he was and is, Robertson's vocal abilities always paled in comparison to those of Helm, Danko and Manuel, who also delievers a number of touching performances here.)
The new footage consists mostly of Scorcese and Robertson reminiscing about the making of the film; it's predictably self-congratulatory, but fairly informative. More interesting to me, though, are recollections spread throughout the show from a wide variety of people who were involved with the project in various ways, playable as voice-overs with any given part of the concert. After 25 years, these provide a perspective on the event and its meaning through the eyes of someone - or really, many someones - other than Robbie Robertson. Perhaps this was the original intent behind the movie. In any case, it should have been. The new perspectives and footage are an undeniably nice touch, but the music still stands alone, and it sounds better than ever. It all makes for a new and improved look at one of rock's all time great events.
Movie Review: What are you waiting for?
Summary: 5 Stars
$6.99? Are you kidding me? How much closer to getting it for FREE do you need it to be? Actually, IMHO, this DVD should be given away for free...to every 12 year old kid entering Junior High School. Day 1 at School "hello class, for your first assignment you are required to watch Martin Scorcese/The Band's "Last Waltz" "basically by doing so you will learn more about music, film making, interpersonel relationships and man's psychological struggles... than you will in anything else you do here in your next 6 years....all in 120 minutes".
I have seen this sooo many times since I went to see it at the Theater as a 12 year old when it first came out. Every time I watch it I get something new out of it, something subtle that I originally missed. This is unquestionably the greatest Rock and Roll movie ever made. The whole thing is a wonder to be seen, phenomenal. The interviews are classic and telling, not so much in words but in emotions, body language and silence. My hi-lites are Ronnie Hawkins the man who put the Band on the map when they were The Hawks. Ronnie has the least profile of any of the artists on stage that night but don't tell him that. Watching him strut around stage to a ripping "Who Do You Love" is riveting, almost worth the price of admission itself. Joni Mitchell makes me drool, so beautiful and elegant. Neil Diamond is dripping cool and studliness. Van Morrison is out of his mind doing "Caravan". Neil Young is whacked out on something (white powdery substance gracing much of his face) but I find "Helpless" to be just average. All you Clapton fans can see him in pretty good shape for a change on his numbers and Dylan is pure Rock majesty. The Band doing "The Weight with the Staple's singers is sooo good, makes my spine tingle. The glittering image of Rick Manual during the intro to "Stagefright" is classic. What the heck did he take before the show?
The Band's own music is amazing. The talent these 5 guys had will never be seen again. They could play circles around anyone else at the time, write and sing like Angels , every one of them save for Garth. They all had there own styles and signatures, unmistakably unique.. Polished musicians as a reult of years and years on the road playing with every one and having seen everything imaginable out there in the Rock and Roll world. The Band could rock and bring tears to your eyes. Imagine the Dead... but guys who could write , sing and play. (not gonna get alot of love for that I know).
The thing that fascinates me the most about this story is not so much the music anymore but the story behind the demise. The first few times I saw it as a kid, I could never quite figure out why the heck they were splitting up. They were doing so well, so much struggle and effort to get to the top and then to pull the plug on it all very suddenly. Why?
Robbie Robertson is way too cheery and relieved that it was all coming to an end...the other guys not so much..
You watch the Band's segments and all you see are 5 guys who are simply dripping with musical talent, these guys were born to sing and play and pretty much nothing else, save for Robertson who had it all mapped out as a solo star for years to come. Handsome , well spoken , great guitarist and feet firmly planted in Hollywood. Robertson was poised to be bigger than ever in the coming years. Its painful to watch the others in this film struggle with there own individual identies and the foretelling prophecy that life would be hard from here on in. Scorcese spends alot of time asking them... "well, its over...what are you going to do now?" The answers are pretty jumbled and saddening , Danko's silence when asked of this is in fact haunting. We all know the sad stories of Danko and Manuel and how they both painfully checked out eventually. Just makes my heart break. Am I bitter about Robertson, yeah, a little but who is to say that they wouldnt have eventually floundered after 2-3 more years? I saw The Band without Robertson in 83, they were brilliant. You know what, I didn't feel like Robertson was missed at all in fact. Everything I needed was there, the hearts and souls of 4 crack musicians who lived to play... and played to live.
God Bless The Band and Scorcese for doing such a wonderful job making this film.
Movie Review: Amazing, Breathtaking, Classy, Dynamic ... Embarrassing!
Summary: 5 Stars
A LONG time ago, when I first saw The Last Waltz (or, more accurately, some of The Last Waltz), I remember thinking it was OK, but nothing much to write home about.Well, recently, after becoming more familiar with this group and their music over the years, I felt the urge to see this film again. I did, and was absolutely bowled over.
It is fantastic. I can fully see why The Band are revered as highly as they are in the music world. However, it seems to me that some current musicians (are you listening, Hootie?) might do well to study this film, since they seem to have spent their entire careers aping The Band, with usually poor results.
Highlights of The Last Waltz are too numerous to mention, but they include ...
An absolutely barn-burning rendition of the Motown classic "Don't Do It", with Levon Helm and Rick Danko sharing vital, earthy harmonies.
An uplifting, intensely moving version of "The Weight", with added gravity from Mavis and Pops Staples.
Van Morrison belting his heart out during "Caravan" (singing with so much emotion, in fact, that I thought he was going to pass out on stage).
Muddy Waters swaggering through "Mannish Boy" (and, by the way, does anyone recognise that rhythm guitarist who also joins them on stage for this number? Y'know, the one that sort of looks like a cross between Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne? He looks familiar, but I can't put my finger on it).
Paul Butterfield's hollering and harping on "Mystery Train".
The swirling, pulsing "Genetic Method", helmed by Garth Hudson.
The richly rustic "Evangeline", with Emmylou Harris providing an excellent vocal counterpoint.
And, of course, "Who Do You Love?", a taste of how it all began, with Ronnie Hawkins fully Diddly-ing his heart out.
Of course, all the Band classics are fantastic too, especially "Up On Cripple Creek" (Wowee!) and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (Yow!).
I also enjoyed the interview and discussion segments too, particularly Richard Manuel's vibrant explanation of the origins of the group's name, and the impromptu performance of "Old-Time Religion".
However, the film does have its less-than-swell points too.
"Helpless" is certainly not bad, but I'm not sure Neil Young knew where he was.
Similarly, I understand why Neil Diamond's "Dry Your Eyes" was included, but it does stick out a bit from the rest of the film.
Eric Clapton's "Further On Up The Road" is so low-key it isn't funny.
And the final all-inclusive performance of "I Shall Be Released" reminded me too much of "We Are The World". In fact, it took me two viewings before I even realised who was singing the second verse!
But I must admit to being particularly underwhelmed by the segment with Bob Dylan. Now, I respect his abilities as much as the next person, and I totally see why he should be included in this film. But "Forever Young" goes on too long. And my opinions of "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" inadvertently led to an all-time embarrassing moment for me recently ...
As previously noted, I was less than enthused by this song. And, I guess I wasn't paying too close attention to the lyrics because ... well ...
Recently, I was talking to a few friends, and when they found out that I had seen The Last Waltz, they asked me what I thought of it.
"Oh, I really liked it! It's great!", I gushed. "Except for that disgusting bit near the end".
This caused some surprised and quizzical looks. "What bit?"
"Oh, that song Bob Dylan did".
By this point, my friends were very puzzled. "What song are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know ... 'Baby, Let Me Go Down On You'. That was just crass. I'm surprised they got away with putting that in the film".
Needless to say, the entire room promptly fell about laughing for what seemed like hours about that one. I guess I should have paid more attention.
Anyway, I've rambled on for long enough. Let's just say ... buy this, and you won't be sorry!
Movie Review: when the best rock band and movie director collide ...
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a worn-out formula nowadays. Bob Dylan did it, Chuck Berry did it, and Luciano Pavarotti does it all the time. They also do it every time somebody dies, and in this case you don't even have to be a musician. Yeah, I'm talking about that dreary event, the celebration concert with guest musician buddies. But there are exceptions to the rule, and this is definitely the case here. To celebrate that they were quitting the `god---n impossible' life on the road after 16 years, The Band gave a farewell concert in San Francisco, on Thanksgiving Day, 1976. To join them, they invited artists who represented the rich and varied array of styles that went into their musical melting pot: Rock'n' Roll, Blues, Folk, New Orleans R'n'B, Country, Gospel, Rockabilly ... who would sing their own numbers backed up by them. They, noblesse oblige, brought in their first mentor, Ronnie Hawkings, a man who sure knows how to entice a teenager into joining a rock'n'roll band, and Bob Dylan, of course, (who had just released Blood on the Tracks and Desire), Joni Mitchell (The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Hejira her most recent albums), Neil Young (Tonight's the Night and Zuma were his latest solo efforts), Muddy Waters (who would release Hard Again, his best late day work the following year), and many, many more I have no space here to mention. All top-notch and in their musical prime. Well, and Neil Diamond.
The result was a concert that can only be described as dazzling and magical. The Band do ecstatic versions of some of their best songs and the guest appereances are also amazing, Van Morrison does what's probably the best version ever of Caravan, Muddy Waters proves why he is the M-A-N, chile, The Staple Singers send a shiver up your spine that can rend you comatose for life, and Robbie Robertson and Eric Clapton bring the house down with their scorching six-strings and then they burn the ruins to ashes. All this just to quote a few. But I have a minor complaint here, the movie only features one song (The Shape I'm in) sung by Richard Manuel, one of the most soulful and moving singers that ever walked the face of the earth. This gives the newcomer a somewhat off-balanced account of how vocal duties were shared in The Band, as one can deduct that Levon Helm sang almost everything with a little help from his friends Rick and Richard. And Levon is darn good, but Richard is the shhh ....sheer top of the heap.
Casting these trifles aside, the movie is a masterpiece. Direcrted by a Martin Scorsese in a state of grace (those were the days of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull), and beautifully darkly photographed by Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), Michael W. Watkins (later X-Files direcror and producer), and Vilmos Zsigmond (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate), this was to be more than your average rock concert documentary.
The filmmakers were set on an ambitious goal, to show what it is and what does it feel to play great music. And they achieved it in such a way that we mere mortals get to feel what it is to be up there on the stage, enraptured, playing that great music to an enthusiastic and receptive crowd. The featurette that is one of the DVD bonus add-ons shows how Scorsese had these sheets of paper with the lyrics of each song to be played written down in one column, the main moments of each performance in another (when a singer would join in the chorus, or the guitar solo was to begin, or a special part of the lyric would be sung, etc), and the camera shots and movements for each moment in a third column. This is called making the best of the means of your art instead of just doing anything that would do, and it shows on the screen in a way that leaves you breathless. Watching Scorsese frantically directing the movie like a tightrope walker with no net to fall down on must've been worth another documentary. They had only one take for everything, mind that, and I guess that's what might have attracted such a brave and audacious director as Scorsese: Jumping into the unstopping swirling midst of life and trying to extract art out of it with just spotlights and cameras. Souns enticing, isnt't it? And for no money nor any promises of getting more you-know-what than Frank Sinatra.
Movie Review: The Band -The Final Fling
Summary: 5 Stars
"Just think of the rich visual eloquence with which Mr. Scorsese was able to invest a simple Checker cab in "Taxi Driver," and just notice that all he supplies here are a waltzing couple behind the credits and some smoke clouds. Given that, you can't help realizing that for all its impressive musical accomplishments, "The Last Waltz" is a great lost opportunity. There is a dazzling array of talent on display here, and the film surely has its memorable moments. But it articulates so little of the end-of-an-era feeling it hints at--and some of Mr. Scorsese's accomplishments have been so stunning--that it's impossible to view "The Last Waltz" as anything but an also-ran." Janet Maslin, The NYT
'The Band', Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson ,Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson; all stars of 'The Last Waltz'. This was a concert by the rock band, sometimes known as rockabilly. A term they did not agree with. The concert was held on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. This was known as a "farewell" concert after 20 some odd years of touring. The Band was joined by more than a dozen special guests, including Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ronnie Hawkins Pine Top Perkins, Ringo Starr, Dr John, Muddy Waters, Emmylou Harris, and Neil Young. The concert was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and made into a documentary, released in 1978. The film features concert performances, scenes shot on a studio soundstage and interviews by Scorsese with members of The Band. The Last Waltz is hailed as one of the greatest concert films ever made. However, it has been criticized by Band drummer Levon Helm, who disagreed with guitarist Robbie Robertson's decision to discontinue touring. He has said the film concentrates too much on Robertson and not enough on other members of The Band. I have just finished reading Levon Helm's memoir, and I have such mixed emotions about this DVD. It has their marvelous music, the music of their guests, but it is missing the feeling of loss, the emotions of a group disbanding.
The concert was organized by promoter, Bill Graham, who had a long association with The Band. Starting at 5:00 p.m., the audience of 5,000 was served turkey dinners. There was ballroom dancing with music by the Berkeley Promenade Orchestra. Poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Michael McClure gave readings. These readings are shown without rhyme nor reason throughout the film. The Band started its concert at around 9:00 p.m. and history began. Neil Young and Joni Mitchell were then invited back out to help The Band perform "Acadian Driftwood", a song to the Acadians of Canadian history. 'The Band' then performed a short set of some more of its songs before Bob Dylan came on stage to lead his former backing band through four songs, only two of which were in the film. The Band and all its guests, with the addition of Ringo Starr on drums and Ron Wood on guitar, then sang "I Shall Be Released" as their last song. The Band then came out at around 2:15 a.m. to perform an encore, "Don't Do It". It was the last time the group performed with its original members.
I loved this film, my best friend and I have listened to their music, discussed Levon Helm's memoir and viewed this video several times. I love 'The Band', but this was not the film all of the members wanted for their memories. It is glorious at times. The interviews are interesting, but not particularly illuminating. This DVD gives us more filming not shown in the original set. But the audience, the feast, the comings and goings back stage are not represented. A great film, yes, but not a film that captures 'The Band;' as they wanted to be remembered. Highly Recommended. prisrob 3-25-07
The Last Waltz CD
This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band