CHUD.com Community › Forums › SPECIFIC FILMS › Films in Release or On Video › The Last Waltz (1978)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

The Last Waltz (1978)

post #1 of 8
1/27/07 at 2:13am
Thread Starter 
I had this sitting on my shelf for a long time. It came in the Scorsese MGM box set along with the Raging Bull special edition, Boxcar Bertha and New York, New York. I finally put in the ol'DVD player and watched it a few weeks ago. I love the opening title, "THIS FILM SHOULD BE PLAYED LOUD!" Touche! Too bad I was watching it late at night. I so wanted to crank it.


Now a few weeks after seeing it I can't that performance of "The Weight" and "They Drove Old Dixie Down" out of my head. The finale is great as well. I love that they didn't shoot the film from the audiences point of view. I'm glad Scorsese decided just to focus it all on the band. They're the star of the movie not the audience. You can hear the audience but we don't need to see them to know their there and loving every second of this show. Another highlight was when Eric Clapton's guitar strap broke on him. I don't know why but I noticed it right away and loved it. I kept watching him to see how he'd recover from it. It's trivial but I love it.

I also like that they covered it from every which way. The use of multiple cameras really helped make this thing amazing. Inter cutting it with interviews was fantastic as well. Definitely one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.

Reply
post #2 of 8
1/27/07 at 3:37am
My dad loves this film. I haven't seen it all the way through, but I got that same Scorsese box set, so maybe I'll check out the whole thing. The soundtrack is on CD as well, and I've heard that many times when I've gone on vacation with my family. (Dad loves to listen to it in the car) There's definately some good stuff on there.
Reply
post #3 of 8
1/27/07 at 4:00am
Yeah, I haven't seen the film all the way through, but the album is one of my favorites, ever.
Reply
post #4 of 8
1/27/07 at 4:28am
Speaking of performances that get stuck in your head, I had "Up On Cripple Creek" stuck in my head for the longest time.
Reply
post #5 of 8
1/27/07 at 5:41am
One of if not the best concert movie ever made. Levon Helm is a saint. Also, "one of those tricknologies of fate", or something like that.
Reply
post #6 of 8
1/27/07 at 12:07pm
The film and music stand on their own, but I'm always a little disappointed that they decided to get back together a few years ago. Why can't anyone stay retired in show biz and mean it?

I forget if it's a local thing, but there is actually a cover band that plays as a tribute to this concert.
Reply
post #7 of 8
1/27/07 at 1:31pm
I thought the Band actually got back together quicker than that, like in the 80's, but I could be wrong. I know Manuel died in '86, but I think they may have started playing together before he died or maybe even after...ok just looked it up - "Jericho" came out in '93.
Reply
post #8 of 8
1/27/07 at 4:33pm
Music and film rarely get this perfect.

I love them opening the film with the last song of the night.
I love the drugged up interviews.
I love Levon.

I could rant forever about how people don't make music like this anymore. It's sometimes complex, sometimes simple. Soulful, groovy, honkey tonk, country, inspired, bluesy, folkish and on and on.

The cinematography is also just fantastic. The commentery on the disc is good too.

A great fucking film.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Films in Release or On Video
CHUD.com Community › Forums › SPECIFIC FILMS › Films in Release or On Video › The Last Waltz (1978)