My ex and I saw Bob Dylan perform in 1984, a superb concert. My ex was and is a huge fan of his and as he doesn't own a TV (yes really!) I invited him to pop over and watch this on Netflix. The music is of course fabulous, Desire is my favourite Dylan album so it was a treat to hear so much from it.
On the whole we both really enjoyed this. For me, the highlights were Bob and Allen Ginsberg at Jack Kerouac's graveside. his interactions with Joan Baez (where they are talking about each marrying other people - wow), Scarlet Rivera (so talented) and the section about Ruben 'Hurricane' Carter.
However, I wasn't too impressed with the fake present-day interviews. I felt they were distracting from the main event which for me was the footage from 1975 and the real interviews.
This made my ex-husbands Father's Day mind, I'm sure he went home to listen to some of his vast Dylan music collection.
64 Reviews
Brilliant but...
michael_ballstav8 July 2019
Documents the beginning of "Americana music"
rbronews214 June 2019
Some observations:
- The quality of the sound was great
- If you fast-forward to "Isis", you won't miss anything. Patti Smith didn't come across well at all. (You don't have to watch this film very carefully to see evidence of drug use. Probably including acid.)
- The "Desire" album, which is one of my favourites, was a work in progress at the time of the tour. The majority of the songs on it are in the film. ("Joey" and "Sara" didn't make the cut.) "Hurricane" was one of the musical highlights.
- Other musical highlights: "When I Paint My Masterpiece", "Simple Twist of Fate", Dylan doing an acoustic version of "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" before an audience of Indians, "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll", and Joni Mitchell rehearsing "Coyote" (a favourite song of mine) with Roger McGuinn and Dylan, in Gordon Lightfoot's apartment, no less.
- Speaking of Mitchell, she and Joan Baez developed a strong dislike of each other during the tour. The film didn't go into this.
- Some non-musical highlights: I never saw an interview of Ruben "Hurricane" Carter before. Ronnie Hawkins was his usual funny self. Dylan's present-day comments were great. He often refuses to stay on topic during interviews, but not this time.
- I'm a big fan of McGuinn, so I would have like to have seen more of him. However, fans of Eric Anderson, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Mick Ronson, and T-Bone Burnett would feel the same way. If Scorsese said, "there wasn't enough time", he could have removed most of the interviews with non-musicians in the film, and nobody would have minded.
there will be many arguing for what is so or not so in this wondrous extravaganza, but it will not be me
christopher-underwood12 June 2019
Stories told about Bob Dylan are almost as old as the man himself and it will not be me who claims to unravel the real from the unreal or the interesting from the uninteresting. In the same way there will be many arguing for what is so or not so in this wondrous extravaganza, but it will not be me. The original footage included here is of far higher quality, both technically and artistically, than we had any right to expect and if it is woven imaginatively, so much the better. I don't recall Dylan ever looking as animated as here on stage, nor perhaps as consistently happy but more importantly knocking out the songs so very well. This is a fantastic (even if possibly fantastical) film which I enjoyed from beginning to end and if someone wants to pick apart the Sharon Stone or Hurricane sequences, let them I don't care. No fan of Bob Dylan will not want to see this. No fan of Bob Dylan will (or at least should) be disappointed with this extremely well made tribute to the man and record of a certain time.
Not a fan
fredster-2779413 June 2019
The lonesome death of Mick Ronson
continual-one6 July 2019
I am a huge Bob Dylan fan. All of it. This era in particular. The choice of songs and variety of musicians was so unique and brilliant. The glaring omission of Mick Ronson is unforgivable. They don't even mention his name a single time! His guitar work during this tour provides a constant swirling tapestry of melody, solos, and originality that deserves a documentary on its own. Shame on Bob. RIP Mick!
The music and footage is great and could stand on its own. The rest as many have mentioned is pretentious drivel.
The music and footage is great and could stand on its own. The rest as many have mentioned is pretentious drivel.
A vast improvement on "Renaldo and Clara" .
dbdumonteil16 October 2020
Some people say that Dylan was at his very best when he did the RTR tour, and it's probably true; his four-hour movie ,"Renaldo and Clara" featured numerous live performances but there was too much in it that should have been edited : thus it was a flop at the box office and one dreamed of a compilation of the songs performed by Dylan and his first -class cast.Some sequences (Jack Kerouac's grave, the Indians ) were already included in Dylan-directed work,but Martin Scorcese made them aborbing and we are treated of the delight of incredible live performance (Dylan in close shot seems possessed ,almost frightening); "the lonesome death of Hattie Caroll ",notably ,is given hard-rocking treatment which makes the version on "the times they are a changin" look like a demo ;and to sing it along with "Hurricane" connects the links of the chain .There are interventions (Dylan ,Baez, Scarlet Rivera , david Mansfield) filmed some forty years after the event .Like in "Renaldo and Clara" , (remember the title and "the woman in white" ) ,all the artists have pseuds :for instance Joni Mitchell is "the musician" and they laude her courage to perform unreleased material -"coyote" is performed in a hotel room with support from Dylan and McGuinn.All the movie is absorbing and there's an interesting parallel with the political events of those years ;the only moments I could do without are Sharon Stone 's sequences which are a little off the subject ;on the other hand , all that concerns the boxer is proof positive that music can right a few wrongs.
This is just odd
scaryjase-0616124 March 2023
This is going to be a load of bobbins, isn't it? If it's not mostly pretentious arty nonsense in which I have absolutely no interest, I'm going to be amazed. And, for extra added annoyance, it's going to have Bob in it.
Oh yes, it very much is mostly pretentious arty nonsense in which Bob features quite a lot. Ostensibly it follows Bob's Rolling Thunder Revue tour which played 57 concerts in '75/'76 in smaller venues in smaller towns to help him connect with his audience and featured a load of other musicians (it must have been a logistical nightmare). But the film kinda sprawls in whatever direction it feels like - other "highlights" include Allen Ginsberg "dancing" (there's a lot of "dancing" going on throughout the film) and Patti Smith with some, well, I'm not entirely what it was - poetry?
But I do have to admit that I found the concert footage more interesting (and higher quality) than I was expecting, particularly the stuff with Joan Baez in where her voice softens Bob's rough edges nicely. I'm not entirely clear why he paints his face white half the time - I suspect I wouldn't understand if it was explained to me. I also enjoyed the bits with Joni Mitchell and Scarlet Rivera in - I wasn't aware of Scarlet beforehand and she's a very interesting character and a fine violinist to boot.
However - when reading up about the film halfway through watching it, things got considerably weirder...
(I should warn you that spoilers follow - although there's a definite discussion to be had as to whether they spoil or improve the film)
The film is a mix of vintage tour footage and talking-head shots, both from the time and reminiscing from the current day. However, some of the tour footage and characters are fictionalised and some of the current day talking-head footage (including from Bob) refers to the fictionalised footage/characters as though they actually happened/existed. It also features quite a few clips of Sharon Stone reminiscing about her time with Bob on the tour - none of which happened in the slightest. WHAT?!? Why would you do that?!?
I'm guessing it's some kind of metaphysical comment on the relationship between memory and reality but, to be honest, it feels a bit of a silly idea. It actually made me question whether anything I was seeing was real - maybe that was the intended outcome? I also think if I really cared about Dylan and/or the tour, then maybe I'd feel they weren't treating it with the respect it deserved. There's no doubt they blend reality and fiction well though - I had no idea it was happening until I read about it.
I really didn't need 140 minutes of it - but let's be honest, I'd probably be complaining if there was 14 minutes of it. I didn't hate it though, but I did find most of it pretty boring and I found the whole fictionalisation thing a very odd choice. However, I liked seeing some of the famous faces of the time popping up and, as previously mentioned, I found some of the concert footage a lot more enjoyable than I expected. It has however made me keener to watch The Last Waltz - another Scorsese film featuring Bob.
Oh yes, it very much is mostly pretentious arty nonsense in which Bob features quite a lot. Ostensibly it follows Bob's Rolling Thunder Revue tour which played 57 concerts in '75/'76 in smaller venues in smaller towns to help him connect with his audience and featured a load of other musicians (it must have been a logistical nightmare). But the film kinda sprawls in whatever direction it feels like - other "highlights" include Allen Ginsberg "dancing" (there's a lot of "dancing" going on throughout the film) and Patti Smith with some, well, I'm not entirely what it was - poetry?
But I do have to admit that I found the concert footage more interesting (and higher quality) than I was expecting, particularly the stuff with Joan Baez in where her voice softens Bob's rough edges nicely. I'm not entirely clear why he paints his face white half the time - I suspect I wouldn't understand if it was explained to me. I also enjoyed the bits with Joni Mitchell and Scarlet Rivera in - I wasn't aware of Scarlet beforehand and she's a very interesting character and a fine violinist to boot.
However - when reading up about the film halfway through watching it, things got considerably weirder...
(I should warn you that spoilers follow - although there's a definite discussion to be had as to whether they spoil or improve the film)
The film is a mix of vintage tour footage and talking-head shots, both from the time and reminiscing from the current day. However, some of the tour footage and characters are fictionalised and some of the current day talking-head footage (including from Bob) refers to the fictionalised footage/characters as though they actually happened/existed. It also features quite a few clips of Sharon Stone reminiscing about her time with Bob on the tour - none of which happened in the slightest. WHAT?!? Why would you do that?!?
I'm guessing it's some kind of metaphysical comment on the relationship between memory and reality but, to be honest, it feels a bit of a silly idea. It actually made me question whether anything I was seeing was real - maybe that was the intended outcome? I also think if I really cared about Dylan and/or the tour, then maybe I'd feel they weren't treating it with the respect it deserved. There's no doubt they blend reality and fiction well though - I had no idea it was happening until I read about it.
I really didn't need 140 minutes of it - but let's be honest, I'd probably be complaining if there was 14 minutes of it. I didn't hate it though, but I did find most of it pretty boring and I found the whole fictionalisation thing a very odd choice. However, I liked seeing some of the famous faces of the time popping up and, as previously mentioned, I found some of the concert footage a lot more enjoyable than I expected. It has however made me keener to watch The Last Waltz - another Scorsese film featuring Bob.
Excellent
tlynch-5868412 June 2019
Classic Bob
kenmoring13 June 2019
Brought back many memories of a special time. Bob just kinda shows up and things happen. The movie was a collection of various on stage and off stage moments held together with commentary by folks that were there including Mr. Zimmerman. I have the feeling that these folks were completely stoned and just kinda drifted along during this tour. Dylan fans would like this film. If you can't name 10 of his songs don't bother.
Dylan at his peak
vinhunt-9108013 June 2019
Not Overly Exciting
recluse211 August 2019
The doc is valuable as a piece of Bob Dylan history. Otherwise there isn't anything really special that will strongly captivate you. In the description I was reading how it is a portrait of America in the mid-seventies and that the Revue takes us on a tour of the economically depressed towns and cities of America, a country that is shell-shocked from the Vietnam War. In reality, you don't see much of the towns and cities the tour passes through, just glimpses. You get to meet a lot of the folks in the traveling show but they don't quite come fully to life. The camera just isn't capturing a hell of a lot. There is plenty of music, so it does function as a concert movie. And I hate to sound negative, but I just don't care for Dylan's band's sound on this tour. (Although I overall like Dylan's recordings quite a bit). I'm not saying the movie is not worthwhile; it just had nothing particularly exciting which I was hoping it would. Probably the best parts are the interview segments, dispersed throughout, with the 70-something Dylan reflecting on the tour 40 years later.
I must add: the strongest, best-sounding song I heard, the only one that really had "oomph," is "Romance in Durango" which is heard as an outro, during the end credits. I must give kudos to that song.
I must add: the strongest, best-sounding song I heard, the only one that really had "oomph," is "Romance in Durango" which is heard as an outro, during the end credits. I must give kudos to that song.
The subtitle of this movie is actually very important
ernestsavesxmas21 October 2019
While I was watching 'Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese' I couldn't help but think: Hey, this live footage is outstanding; it sounds incredible and I'm not even a huge Dylan fan! But darn-it if all this backstory isn't boring as crap.
**two months pass**
When I sat down to write this short, relatively negative review in advance of recording a podcast about how this should have just been released as a concert movie, and the documentary aspects didn't work at all, I stumbled upon the information that nearly all the documentary elements were fiction. The director who shot the original footage? Just an actor playing a character named Stefan Van Dorp, a European filmmaker who claims to have directed the original footage (in reality, Dylan and a crew shot the footage for Dylan's own project, the 1978 feature 'Renaldo and Clara'). Sharon Stone? Digitally inserted into photos; never met Dylan on tour as a 17 or 19 year old or however old she was supposed to be in a past that never happened. There's no word on whether Dylan being inspired by the band KISS to paint his face white is a real factoid or not, and what does it matter? An entire fiction concocted by two elderly men that couldn't even be a fraction as interesting as what actually transpired in reality... now that is truly an artistic statement! +1 for effort, and by effort I mean: genuinely fooling me. Now and then, there's a fool such as I, bored and ready, willing and able to click the next thing I see featured on Netlifx that even remotely intrigues me at all.
**two months pass**
When I sat down to write this short, relatively negative review in advance of recording a podcast about how this should have just been released as a concert movie, and the documentary aspects didn't work at all, I stumbled upon the information that nearly all the documentary elements were fiction. The director who shot the original footage? Just an actor playing a character named Stefan Van Dorp, a European filmmaker who claims to have directed the original footage (in reality, Dylan and a crew shot the footage for Dylan's own project, the 1978 feature 'Renaldo and Clara'). Sharon Stone? Digitally inserted into photos; never met Dylan on tour as a 17 or 19 year old or however old she was supposed to be in a past that never happened. There's no word on whether Dylan being inspired by the band KISS to paint his face white is a real factoid or not, and what does it matter? An entire fiction concocted by two elderly men that couldn't even be a fraction as interesting as what actually transpired in reality... now that is truly an artistic statement! +1 for effort, and by effort I mean: genuinely fooling me. Now and then, there's a fool such as I, bored and ready, willing and able to click the next thing I see featured on Netlifx that even remotely intrigues me at all.
Smell the Glove
TwittingOnTrender21 July 2019
10/10 for the music - Bob at his best, playing his finest songs in a savage, ramshackle manner that he has never bettered, before or since. Isis is phenomenal, visually as well as musically - Bob stomping around blowing into an all-but-inaudible harmonica while the band cooks up an absolute storm - and Hurricane (though subsequently revealed to be lyrically naïve, the actual wordplay and use of language is stunning) is an angry noisefest, Bob appearing to glare at violinist Scarlet Rivera (who also plays a blinder) between lines as though SHE represented the legal system. That's just a couple of nuggets.
However...I listened patiently to the dialogue between songs, I sat through the explanation about the documentary maker, Sharon Stone's involvement, etc, just thinking "OK, but when's the next song?" - only to find that it was all Scorsese's idea of a joke. Marty, if you're going to hoax us, make it a funny hoax. This was like something the irritating office comedian would do, to no-one's amusement.
Bob - next time hire Marti di Bergi, not Martin Scorsese.
Painful But Worth It
dalefl14 June 2019
First of all I'd like to say that the Dylan concert clips are absolutely fantastic. Simple Twist Of Fate was almost spine tingling. They did a great job of restoring them and that's what makes this well worth it. But there were so many times it was almost like Dylan was providing the soundtrack to a Ginsberg biography. This thing gets lost in its own self sometimes. I realize that Ginsberg was a part of Dylan's existence at that time, and a lot of other people's as well, but I could have gone for three times more Dylan and ten times less Ginsberg. All in all it's a really good look at that period of Dylan's life and career. If you can sit through the Ginsberg stuff then you're really going to like this.
Interesting, but not fantastic
lukasleesteenhoek16 December 2019
I was sort of hoping for more of a documentary type film here but most of this is really just to appreciate the music of Bob Dylan, which is great but can be a little much for two and a half hours. The sound was great and to me "Rolling Thunder" did a great job of what it was trying to do, which to me wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but still interesting to watch.
Overly long, but with great moments
jellopuke17 June 2019
This is about 30 minutes too long for what it is, but woven within are some really great performances (held longer than needed) and some interesting old footage. It does get a little full of itself in places, but it's worth checking out for Dylan fans.
Interesting capture of a moment in time...
pritol22 July 2020
This documentary doesn't give any real detailed background as to why the revue went ahead, or Bob Dylan's history prior...or his history with key figures such as Joan Baez.
What it does do though is capture a moment in time, through the lens of people who witnessed the tour and interacted with Dylan and his crew. It mixes this with archive footage from a number of performances throughout the tour, as well as from backstage and on the road.
If it had taken more time to delve deeper into Bob Dylan's life and personality, both before and during the tour, then it would have packed more emotional punch, and been more gripping! However in saying that, this is a must see for all Bob Dylan fans...(as a fan I enjoyed it!)
What it does do though is capture a moment in time, through the lens of people who witnessed the tour and interacted with Dylan and his crew. It mixes this with archive footage from a number of performances throughout the tour, as well as from backstage and on the road.
If it had taken more time to delve deeper into Bob Dylan's life and personality, both before and during the tour, then it would have packed more emotional punch, and been more gripping! However in saying that, this is a must see for all Bob Dylan fans...(as a fan I enjoyed it!)
Archive footage awesome!
colbertmark-6590118 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The archive footage is great, but most of the interview stuff is nonsense.
Watching Sharon Stone's terrible performance was cringe worthy. I don't think i've seen a worser attempt at making up fake stories in my life. She was lying so hard i had to skip her bits.
Just enjoy the archive footage. Worth a look.
Watching Sharon Stone's terrible performance was cringe worthy. I don't think i've seen a worser attempt at making up fake stories in my life. She was lying so hard i had to skip her bits.
Just enjoy the archive footage. Worth a look.
"Life is about creating yourself." - Bob Dylan
classicsoncall6 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The blurb directly underneath the title page for this film here on IMDb calls it 'an alchemic mix of fact and fantasy', but to my mind, what's the point of putting fictional elements into the story? If you're a die hard Dylan fan you might be able to spot the fictional elements, however a casual observer would probably take the entire narrative at face value. This was directed by Martin Scorsese, who also did the honors for the 2005 American Masters episode on Dylan titled "No Direction Home". That look at the fabled singer and song writer seemed to take pains to emphasize that he wasn't all that political, revealing a contrast between him and folk singer Joan Baez, who wanted urgently to do political stuff while Dylan wanted to do songs. Here it seems just the opposite, as lengthy segments show Dylan deliberating on then current events while penning 'The Ballad of Ira Hayes' and 'Hurricane', regarding the imprisonment of boxer Rubin Carter.
The Rolling Thunder Revue took place during 1975, and depending on your preference, the name derives from a series of thunder claps impacting Dylan's consciousness, an Indian name for speaking truth, or a code name for a bombing mission during the Vietnam War. The 'speaking truth' part is given further resonance by Dylan appearing in whiteface during his performances, because in his own words, a man wearing a mask will tell you the truth about what he's thinking. Which for Dylan, was apparently personal enough that he didn't share much of his own thinking. Again, this is highlighted much clearer in 'No Direction Home', which demonstrated that he was unable or unwilling to verbalize a coherent answer when questioned by interviewers and fans.
Appearing on screen to offer their thoughts about Dylan and the tour are fellow musicians like Joni Mitchell, Roger McGuinn and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, along with actress Sharon Stone, who's first concert experience of Dylan occurred when her mother dragged her along to see the show. She admits being embarrassed when Bob stated that he wrote 'Just Like a Woman' for her, though she did find out later from T-Bone Burnett that the tune was written at least ten years earlier.
As far as the performances go, this viewer wasn't impressed. Though the picture includes a good number of well known Dylan songs, listening to them can be hard on the ears. I direct your attention to 'Simple Twist of Fate' where Dylan goes off key a few times when his voice trails off. In every case, the recorded album versions of his songs are much better than what you hear in the revue footage. For many viewers however, you will experience Dylan songs that you haven't heard before, like the couple of tunes mentioned earlier.
So is this a worthwhile doc to watch? I think you'll actually have to experience it to know for yourself. Again, the die hards are probably in for a treat, whereas the casual observer might be put off by the extensive interviews and insertion of fictional elements. It's pretty long too at almost two and a half hours, so be advised going in.
The Rolling Thunder Revue took place during 1975, and depending on your preference, the name derives from a series of thunder claps impacting Dylan's consciousness, an Indian name for speaking truth, or a code name for a bombing mission during the Vietnam War. The 'speaking truth' part is given further resonance by Dylan appearing in whiteface during his performances, because in his own words, a man wearing a mask will tell you the truth about what he's thinking. Which for Dylan, was apparently personal enough that he didn't share much of his own thinking. Again, this is highlighted much clearer in 'No Direction Home', which demonstrated that he was unable or unwilling to verbalize a coherent answer when questioned by interviewers and fans.
Appearing on screen to offer their thoughts about Dylan and the tour are fellow musicians like Joni Mitchell, Roger McGuinn and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, along with actress Sharon Stone, who's first concert experience of Dylan occurred when her mother dragged her along to see the show. She admits being embarrassed when Bob stated that he wrote 'Just Like a Woman' for her, though she did find out later from T-Bone Burnett that the tune was written at least ten years earlier.
As far as the performances go, this viewer wasn't impressed. Though the picture includes a good number of well known Dylan songs, listening to them can be hard on the ears. I direct your attention to 'Simple Twist of Fate' where Dylan goes off key a few times when his voice trails off. In every case, the recorded album versions of his songs are much better than what you hear in the revue footage. For many viewers however, you will experience Dylan songs that you haven't heard before, like the couple of tunes mentioned earlier.
So is this a worthwhile doc to watch? I think you'll actually have to experience it to know for yourself. Again, the die hards are probably in for a treat, whereas the casual observer might be put off by the extensive interviews and insertion of fictional elements. It's pretty long too at almost two and a half hours, so be advised going in.
Dylan's band of troubadours make unforgettable music
anne-m-hudson21 June 2019
This is a fascinating collage of footage of Dylan's 1975-76 Rolling Thunder Revue, with commentary from the likes of Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Allen Ginsberg, Joan Baez. and Ruben "Hurricane" Carter. It also includes cuts of a more contemporary interview with Dylan about what he was trying to do with the tour and how he sees it in hindsight. The highlights are nonetheless the music - searing performances of "One More Cup of Coffee," "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," and "The Ballad of the Hurricane," to name a few. In the duets with Baez, it feels like we get the best of their unique musical talents. As Joan Baez says about the former lover who proved very frustrating, "When Dylan sings, all is forgiven." The music remains, and its power can not be denied.
Problematic
Denno19728 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I have found it very difficult to come up with a rating here, and I went through many emotions watching this. Firstly the easy bit, the concert footage. This is mostly excellent. Well shot, with some truly excellent performances from all those involved. The documentary elements are variable. Some are good and some seem superfluous and add nothing. Then, when we add in that actually some of the footage was not real footage and didn't even happen things get very complicated. From my point of view as a viewer, I started off intrigued; what was fact, what was fiction? Then as time went on, this just became unsettling and became my main focus rather than enjoying the film. Worse than that though, some of the obvious inserts (the film Maker, Sharon Stone) are just so bad it's off putting, spinal tap this is not. So, it's a mixed bag but ultimately this is worth a watch for the live footage.
A curiously experimental documentary
eddie_baggins9 July 2019
In what's a documentary that's sure to delight diehard Bob Dylan fans, Rolling Thunder Revue sees esteemed director Martin Scorsese once more delve into the life and times of the beloved folk superstar after his previous 2005 effort No Direction Home, with Scorsese this time choosing to focus on a very particular time and place in the music legends life in the mid 1970's.
It's important to note, Revue is very far from a straightforward documentary, with Scorsese curiously choosing to install into his film fake characters, misleading footage and potentially fake information as he takes an unorthodox approach in examining Dylan and his large cohort of offsiders journey across America as they played numerous shows in an effort to connect more with smaller audiences in more emotionally intimate gigs.
Scorsese's reasoning behind his trickery, that may not even at first be that apparent is never really explained and its off-putting to say the least as you begin to realise that despite extensive polished footage from this tour, Revue is not at all interested in providing us with the cold hard facts or anything of much substance as it instead flies by thanks to its wonderful time capsule like footage that transports us back to a time and place in American history where the country was healing from the wounds of the Vietnam war and the "hippy" movement was finding itself in a transitional stage of its life.
The footage that Scorsese and his team have managed to polish up and utilise for Revue is truly stunning and thanks to the intimate nature of much of the documents of the tour, we as an audience are literally transported to the stage Dylan inhabits and for anyone that has ever called themselves even a minor fan of Dylan's works, Revue will be like opening a treasure chest of the very best of the esteemed poet/singer.
All of Dylan's most well-known songs are here and Scorsese isn't afraid to let them take centre place in this documentary, as the films near two and half hour runtime is loaded with more concert footage than you could dare dream to see and while this is a sure-fire way to please fans of Dylan's particular brand of musical musings and instantly recognisable voice, for more casual fans or those along more for the cultural insight, Revue will begin to wear a little thin around the half way mark with Scorsese indulging his Dylan love to an arguably more self-indulgent manner that will alienate more casual watchers.
It's safe to say that Revue really is a film best enjoyed by Dylan fans as it appears set to be one of the more divisive Scorsese films ever made, most surely one of the most experimental and odd, and in a career littered with not only great fictional films but emotional and insightful documentaries such as The Last Waltz or Living in a Material World, Revue ends up being a mostly cold and rather forgettable experience.
Final Say -
With its odd mix of fact, fiction, archival footage and doctored narrative, Rolling Thunder Revue is an odd experience that will be a favourite amongst Dylan fans and one that gets by for the rest of us thanks to its amazingly captured 1970's footage.
2 ½ face masks out of 5
It's important to note, Revue is very far from a straightforward documentary, with Scorsese curiously choosing to install into his film fake characters, misleading footage and potentially fake information as he takes an unorthodox approach in examining Dylan and his large cohort of offsiders journey across America as they played numerous shows in an effort to connect more with smaller audiences in more emotionally intimate gigs.
Scorsese's reasoning behind his trickery, that may not even at first be that apparent is never really explained and its off-putting to say the least as you begin to realise that despite extensive polished footage from this tour, Revue is not at all interested in providing us with the cold hard facts or anything of much substance as it instead flies by thanks to its wonderful time capsule like footage that transports us back to a time and place in American history where the country was healing from the wounds of the Vietnam war and the "hippy" movement was finding itself in a transitional stage of its life.
The footage that Scorsese and his team have managed to polish up and utilise for Revue is truly stunning and thanks to the intimate nature of much of the documents of the tour, we as an audience are literally transported to the stage Dylan inhabits and for anyone that has ever called themselves even a minor fan of Dylan's works, Revue will be like opening a treasure chest of the very best of the esteemed poet/singer.
All of Dylan's most well-known songs are here and Scorsese isn't afraid to let them take centre place in this documentary, as the films near two and half hour runtime is loaded with more concert footage than you could dare dream to see and while this is a sure-fire way to please fans of Dylan's particular brand of musical musings and instantly recognisable voice, for more casual fans or those along more for the cultural insight, Revue will begin to wear a little thin around the half way mark with Scorsese indulging his Dylan love to an arguably more self-indulgent manner that will alienate more casual watchers.
It's safe to say that Revue really is a film best enjoyed by Dylan fans as it appears set to be one of the more divisive Scorsese films ever made, most surely one of the most experimental and odd, and in a career littered with not only great fictional films but emotional and insightful documentaries such as The Last Waltz or Living in a Material World, Revue ends up being a mostly cold and rather forgettable experience.
Final Say -
With its odd mix of fact, fiction, archival footage and doctored narrative, Rolling Thunder Revue is an odd experience that will be a favourite amongst Dylan fans and one that gets by for the rest of us thanks to its amazingly captured 1970's footage.
2 ½ face masks out of 5
See also
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