The best concert films ever made. Both of them.
April 4th, 2008 by Curt Holman in FilmWith Shine a Light opening today, I thought about doing one of those articles that listed the top five or 10 concert films ever made. Then I realized, however, that there aren’t that many examples of the genre that deserve inclusion. The best concert films ever made comprise a “Top Two” list, which seems to barely meet the definition of the word “list.” I’m open to suggestions, but as far as I’m concerned, the only great concert films are:
The Last Waltz (1975)
Martin Scorsese’s Shine a Light, however well-crafted, doesn’t live up to the superlative standard he set with this chronicle of The Band’s farewell performance. The Last Waltz presents everything you’d want in a rock film: revealing, candid interview segments, exuberant musicianship before an audience and a line-up of rock royalty as special guests, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Emmylou Harris. Scorsese shrewdly opens the film with the final encore, The Band’s “Don’t Do It,” which conveys the emotional release at the end of the show, and piques our curiosity for the rest of it.
Stop Making Sense (1984)
The paradox of Jonathan Demme’s concert film is the way Talking Heads, especially frontman David Byrne, combine an intellectual, art-school approach to lyrics and stagecraft (the big suits and living room props) with a glorious, infectious feeling of abandon: the songs might come from the head, but they’re played from the gut. No other concert film has ever offered such an ingenious introduction to the band members and their contributions as Stop Making Sense, which brings everyone out one at a time (starting with Byrne along with a guitar and beat-box for “Psycho Killer”), making the music richer and more complex. Demme doesn’t fool with interviews, so the songs really speak for themselves. “Burning Down the House,” above, is such a roof-raising number that the clip actually preceded other films before Stop Making Sense’s theatrical release — I distinctly remember seeing it at Tower Place 6 (now the Buckhead Backlot).
April 6th, 2008 at 2:10 am
I hope the Stones work brings attention to the Last Waltz all over again.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
It wasn’t a theatrical release but the DVD of “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is” is a great concert movie. The film-makers had open access to Elvis in 1970, at the height of his comeback, for the opening of a Vegas show. The original movie was edited as if the director was on acid.
The DVD “special edition” released a few years ago took the raw film footage and re-crafted an entirely new movie that is riveting and gives the most complete picture of Elvis ever captured on film. And the concert is amazing, full of energy and power.
You don’t have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this movie.
It may not qualify as a “concert” film, but “Gimme Shelter” is fascinating to watch. The Stones are followed through their American tour (including their recording session at Muscle Shoals), culminating in the free concert at Altamont that marked the metaphorical end of the 60s. The Hells Angels — hired to provide security — knocked the guitarist for the Jefferson Airplane unconscious and allegedly stabbed to death a member of the audience.
But you’re right, Curt. Great concert films are few and far between. Can’t wait to see Scorsese’s take on the Stones. And, finally, “The Last Waltz” is without peer as a concert film.
There’s a great story about the Muddy Waters song. All the cameras stopped rolling to change film cannisters as he got on stage and halfway through “I’m A Man,” Scorsese realized no one was filming and began to frantically yell to roll tape.
He found out afterwards that one camera captured the entire performance, which is why for the first few minutes Muddy is on stage, there’s only one angle on screen.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Curt,
I have three words for you, “Live in Pompeii.”
xo
Chad
April 8th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
How could you forget Neil Young’s recent “Heart Of Gold”? Another Demme film, and some of the most beautiful music Young has ever made. It touches me every time I watch it.