THE LAST WALTZ
(director: Martin Scorsese; cinematographers: Michael Chapman/Laszlo Kovac/Vilmos Zsigmond/David Myers/ Bobby Byrne/Michael Watkins/Hiro Narita; editors: Yeu-Bun Yee/Jan Roblee; music: the Band; cast: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Ron Wood, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, the Staples, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wawkins, Dr. John and the Band; Runtime: 117; MPAA Rating: PG; producer: Robbie Robertson; MGM Home Entertainment; 1978)
“It might be the best concert film of all time.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
It might be the best concert film of all time. I think it is. Director Martin Scorsese (“Taxi Driver”/”Raging Bull”/”Mean Streets”) keeps the interviews interesting and to a minimum, provides a Who’s Who in rock star guests and keeps the music to the max, as he films with seven noted cinematographers, in35-mm., the final performance of the legendary the Band on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 at San Francisco’s Winterland. It’s filmed on a left-over opera set from a local opera company. That’s the same concert hall where the Band from Canada started their first gig and after a period as the back-up band foe Bob Dylan went on the road for sixteen years before the popular and acclaimed humble band, with its iconic name, called it a day.
The rousing musical numbers include the Band members — leader Robbie Robertson-guitarist, Garth Hudson-sax player, Rick Danko-bassist, Richard Manuel-drummer, and Levon Helm-mandolin player — singing their songs such as ‘Up on Cripple Creek,’ ‘Shape I’m in,’ ‘It makes no difference, ‘Stagefright,’ ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,’ ‘Chest Fever,’ and ‘Ophelia.’ It ends with everyone on stage singing an energetic ‘I Shall Be Released.’
Rock guests join the band in singing the following: the Staples Singers ‘The Weight,’ Dr. John ‘Such A Night,’ Van Morrison ‘Caravan,’ Neil Young ‘Helpless,’ Muddy Waters ‘Ain’t That a Man,’ Joni Mitchell ‘Coyote,’ Emmylou Harris ‘Evangeline,’ and Neil Diamond ‘Dry Your Eyes.’
REVIEWED ON 4/16/2013 GRADE: A+