The Last Waltz (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of The Last Waltz (Special Edition)
Movie Review: DVD Review
Summary: 5 Stars
The Last Waltz is a final tribute to the great music of the late 60's and early 70's. It marks a farewell to rock's finest era. The lineup is argueably the finest collection of rock musicians ever assembled and the performances are trancedent. Wisely Scorsese's film concentrates on the stage performances. The interview segments that sporatically appear in the film aren't that interesting, but they do prove context for the song selection. Probably the weakest thing about the film are The Band's performances on Scorsese's sound stages. These numbers lack the intensity that the Band gives in their concert performances. The Band themselves are awesome in their own concert numbers, rivaling the cuts on Rock of Ages. Since they are so many guests, the film limits the amount of the Band's performances. The guests are stellar with the highlights being: Joni Mitchell's Coyote, Neil Young doing Helpless, Dylan with Baby Let Me Follow You Down, and a show stopping Caravan with Van Morrison. Only Neil Diamond strikes a sour note. Even the guest stars pale to the Band's own numbers especially with Robbie's firey guitar work that night. The Last Waltz a piece of history, an amazing concert, and a brilliant send off for an era of great music.Image: 1:85:1 picture looks great, good detail and sharpness. Compare with the trailer and be amazed. The print is very clean and few dirt specks appear even in dark areas.
Sound: as it should be is excellent, I listened to the 2 Channel and it rocked. 5.1 also included, but sounds weaker on two speaker setups.
Extras: commentary with Robbie and Marty is Robbie dominated and is rather dull. A documentary is included that focuses on them and I would reccomend it instead. The second track is a wonderful commentary from a variety of sources. It is structured and edited into a form that resembles that of the interview segements in the film. Scoreses' crew, rock critics, and Dr. John, The Hawk, Garth, and Levon take turns telling behind the scenes stories. It has a wonderful introduction that prepares you for true tales and tall that you are about to hear. It's worth it alone for The Hawk's background story on the Band and anything Dr. John says is brilliant and a hoot. Well worth a listen. There is an interesting ten minute jam session at the concert with the amazing lineup of Young, Starr, Wood, John, Garth, and Levon. Also included is a photo gallery and trailer.
Movie Review: The Band - A Musical Paradigm
Summary: 5 Stars
I too was absolutely mesmerized by this film. So wonderfully captured; the time, essence and images of a group so filled with talent, we will never find again, I fear. I grew up with the Band's music remembering their songs in middle school and later high school. They were highlighted in Peter Fonda's great depiction of the rebellious 'Easy Riders'. And when I heard Robbie say, '16 years on the road', I was incredulous that someone didn't break the run years earlier. The road had 'taken the great ones' So for Robbie Robertson to quit when he did amongst the angst of the rest, especially Levon, 'Levon wears his war-wound like a crown', is understandable beyond reasonable. How gracious to play back-up to such a host of big names and at the same time perform your best songs so well. Just wonderful! To see Robbie featured in this film in no way detracted from its purpose and overall theme to say good-bye and thank all the folks who provided impetus and encouragement to their music. Robbie was the most expressive and articulate of the team and toward the end, was a surrogate father to those not enduring so well on the road due to substance abuse. He had had enough and you could hear it in his interviews. Even at the time of the filming, Robbie was separated from his wife and living with Scorsese. If indeed, there were objections to the final cut, these could have been made in plenty of time for editing. Lord knows they had the footage. Only after the final production do we hear cries of imbalance. Sigh. Put a sock in it.
Having said that, if I was consulted for the final cut, I would have featured Richard Manuel and Levon Helm's phenomenal voices. They were the heart of 'The Band' as was Robbie's stunning lead guitar. But the film does capture the essence of the group's synergy. The value of this group as a whole, exceeds by a thousand times, the sum of it's individual parts. In short, they were awesome when cooking on all 5 cylinders. But, the world sometimes is very cruel with these things. They want, want, and want more to the demise of our best, not realizing how frail they really are. The Band had given more than enough and since their music is immortal, we can all go back and listen, over and over again. With the 'The Last Waltz' we now can watch it too.
Movie Review: A Fitting Finish
Summary: 5 Stars
The "New Yorker" called "The Last Waltz" "the most beautiful rock film ever made," and while I personally have other favorites, there is no doubt that from an artistic point of view that this is one of the most lavish and beautifully produced rock films ever, which stands to reason as most films of this nature can't employ the likes of Martin Scorsese.
This film is beautifully and thoughtfully planned from the opening scene in which the film actually begins with the encore, which in context serves to emphasize the finality of the night. "The Band" was certainly in excellent shape during the performance with Levon Helm and Rick Danko in particularly fine form. The device Scorsese uses (often imitated since) where he intersperses interviews with concert footage works generally well, but if I had to pick one thing to critique it would be on the over-reliance on footage with Robbie Robertson (who also produced the film, and who was obviously closest to Scorsese) which sometimes crosses the line into self-aggrandizement (analogies to Janis Joplin, etc.) and gets a bit tedious at times.
The guest sets are generally excellent, and I was especially pleased to see the Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, and Ronnie Hawkins performances. For me the highlight of the film were the Levon Helm performances (especially "Up On Cripple Creek") while the ebb of the film were the scenes where Robertson "sang" (Helm claims that, mercifully, his microphone was unplugged...Robertson may be a fine composer and guitarist, but he is not a gifted vocalist) and over-emoted with a plethora of humorous facial expressions.
The commentary tracks are fascinating, but occasionally difficult to take. It is readily apparent that Scorsese and Robertson are friends (not that there's anything wrong with that), but they sometimes seem pitted against the rest of the band (which makes sense given the post-breakup history of the group.) While I liked listening to the commentaries (and liked the other bonus features), I think they somewhat taint the feel of camaraderie the film otherwise engenders.
Despite any shortcomings it may have, though, "The Last Waltz" is an unqualified masterpiece and any classic rock fan will be sure to enjoy it.
Movie Review: Bar none, the BEST rock show/documentary I have ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
This DVD has just about everything going for it. Magnificent camera work (thank you Mr Scorsese), witty humor, hilarious stories from the road of old, superb musicianship, crystal clear video, stellar sound, and one of the greatest all around concerts I have ever seen, live in person, or on film. I saw it in the movies in 1979 I think, and that was the one and only time until now. I had forgotten how good it was.....or maybe I just didn't realize it back then.First the obvious. I had seen the Band on numerous occasions in the past, but I can't remember ever seeing them this good. It was as if, knowing this was thier last show, they had decided beforehand to come out that night and play like they never had before. Levon? what a voice and solid backbeat. Richard? sometimes you forget who sings certain Band hits until you see this film. Garth? a style unlike anyone I have ever heard. Rick? looking like he was having an absolute ball on stage, and also the voice behind many of thier memorable numbers.....& Robbie....what can I say? The guy is just stealing the show, with his personality, and stellar guitar playing. To all you (myself included) guitar players out there striving to get always better, just watch this guy!
Secondly, the sprecial friends. Dr. John, Niel Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Bobby D, Paul Butterfield, Emmylou Harris, the Staples, Niel Diamond, all turning in moving performances, not to mention a fantastic horn section.....and of course ...Clapton. I guess my only complaint about this DVD is that Eric gets only one number, yet on it, he and the boys just tear up the house on "Further On Up The Road". (I dare you to try to listen to the last 1 1/2 minutes of that without your foot stomping on the floor and without you realizing it!).
The running commentary between Scorsese and the boys (mostly Robbie and Levon, but all have much to contribute) is often humorous, sometimes moving, and sometimes downright sad in thier reflections of the past.
I'm rambling now....sorry.....just do yourself a favor, and go out and buy this DVD....you won't be sorry.
Movie Review: An Amazing Film Despite The In-Fighting
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Last Waltz" was one of the very first films I ever purchased new on VHS, and I have enjoyed it consistently for the last 12 years. This movie captures one of the most symbiotic relationships between music and film I have ever seen. Martin Scorsese only had one chance to get this movie right, and he did a great job.Watch the closeup footage of Levon Helm engulfed in a cool blue light while belting out an amazing version of "Ophelia". Watch Joni Mitchell filmed in a silouhette backstage as she secretly sings backup to Neil Young's "Helpless". Watch Dr. John's hands float effortlessly over the piano keyboard while performing a rousing version of "Such A Night". Watch Rick Danko as he curiously peers over at Bob Dylan, completely unsure of what song they are about to launch into next. Filled with countless moments like these, "The Last Waltz" is pure enjoyment to the very end.
Since falling in love with this movie, I have learned that drummer Levon Helm was a very uncooperative participant in the production of the movie. He was not ready for The Band to quit, he believed that Robbie Robertson wanted to make this movie only to further his "rock star" persona, he did not like the fact that Neil Diamond was involved in this project only because Robbie Robertson had just produced a record for him, and from Day 1, he did not like Martin Scorsese.
Knowing that, it is interesting to note how removed Levon seems to be during the interviews, and how much Robbie playes the "Rock Star" role, professing exhaustion from the road, and not knowing how he can go on with this lifestyle.
I am not saying that Levon or Robbie is right or wrong, I am just saying that it is interesting to watch this movie knowing how at least one of the members of the group felt about the project.
If you care about music and quality filmaking, "The Last Waltz" should be part of your permanent collection.