Thoughts On.... The Last Waltz

Last week I finally watched The Last Waltz. For year I've hear about how it is the greatest concert film ever made, and so on and so forth. So I rented it (by rented I mean added it to my Netflix que and it came in the mail a few days later), watched it, and really fucking enjoyed it. Lots of great performances by the Band and all of their guest including Neil Diamond, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, Van Morrison, and many others. If you rent the DVD be sure to check out the Jam #2 in the special features, it's phenomenal.

So is it the greatest concert film ever made? Maybe, I haven't really seen enough of them to say, but there are a few things about the movie that kept if from being a complete knock out for me.

1. Robbie Robertson
They focus on guitarist Robbie Robertson way too much. He's the main focus for the majority of the interviews between performance songs, and even during concert itself, the cameras always seem on him. Other members of The Band get way less screen time, and it makes their contributions seem less important.

2. The End?
While I realize that at the time this was not considered the complete end of The Band, as for years following group members seemed to hint at another possible studio album, it was the end of their long 16 years of touring and a know break from one another so each could pursue other projects. No where in the film do we get a sense that's it's over, that they're stepping away from each other for the first time in a very long time. Even when Robertson talks about the long years on the road and how he couldn't live with 20 years touring, there is no sense of camaraderie for these other men he has been with since the 50s. Instead it just feels like a great celebratory concert for the group.

3. The Interviews
I find it strange that in a film showcasing the end of The Band as a touring act that there are no interviews with their contemporaries or even with the special guests from the concert. It would really help establish the influence and importance of the group if people from the music industry were film talking about the greatness and grandeur of the band, instead we just have Martin Scorsese interviewing members of The Band (mostly Robertson). Some of the interview are cool and there are some fun stories told by the band members, but a lot of it seems like filler; not discussing any purposefully subject. Additionally, Scorsese is a horrible interviewer and is super hard to hear (not to mention he is barely in the shot half the time when he's talking to The Band).

Those are my only real qualms with an otherwise amazing film and concert performance. If you haven't seen it, check it out, and if you have, what did you think of the movie?