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Bookmark this pageThe Last Waltz (1978)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Movie review
From Time Out London
It’s been named the best concert film of all time, but The Band’s star-studded 1976 swansong hasn’t entirely escaped the ravages of time. With Scorsese directing – and legendary cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond behind the cameras – it’s arguably the most beautiful of rock movies, while the musical highlights – ‘The Weight’ with the Staples Singers, Van Morrison’s firebolt ‘Caravan’, every Levon Helm vocal – still astound. But the transition from soulful ’70s grit to coke-friendly ’80s sheen is all too audible, and too many songs are marred by saxes, unnecessary guitar solos or, in the case of Neil Young’s lovely ‘Helpless’, Joni Mitchell warbling like a demented hippy fire alarm. Still, for fans of Proper Music, ‘The Last Waltz’ remains the gold standard.Author: Tom Huddleston
Time Out London Issue 2154: 1 – 6 December, 2011
Cast & crew
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Robbie Robertson
Cast: The Band, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Dr John, Ronnie Hawkins full cast
Genre(s): Documentaries
Rated: U
Duration: 117 mins
UK Release: Dec 2 2011
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