The second I heard about Martin Scorcese’s documentary about Bob Dylan, I ran out and bought a copy. That was a few months ago and I only just watched it. I believe in waiting for the feeling to hit you. So it wasn’t until this week that the stars aligned and I was able to sit down and watch this 207 minute movie in peace.

Talk about mind-blowing. I felt inadequate and awed throughout the entire film. It is so deftly put together. There is a present-day interview with Bob Dylan and when he speaks he imparts gold with every syllable. The archival footage is culled together so effectively. There is a lot of concert footage of Dylan from the early days which is what the film focuses on – from his childhood through 1966. There are more current interviews with the likes of Joan Baez, who I’m sure only agreed to do it because it was Martin Scorcese and Bob Dylan himself authorized the film, Allen Ginsberg, Peter Yarrow and more.


I already thought it couldn’t get much better than D. A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back but together, they make historical documents that will be studied for ages. The similarities between Dylan and Scorcese are clear and fascinating. Both are innately driven to gather up and study every aspect of their craft be it music or film and then spit out the most amazing creations. Also, Dylan is cleary well-read. He said he was drawn to Kerouac’s On the Road and then later on to Woody Guthrie’s Bound for Glory. He also said he read all the poetry books he saw at other people’s houses. The story about how he swiped about 25 rare records from this music scholar acquaintance just because he had to have them is amusing. Apparently, though the friend was able to track him down after a few false leads, Dylan basically charmed him into letting him keep them.



I’m guessing that Dylan and Scorcese knew each other from a ways back. You see a young Robbie Robertson hanging out with a young Dylan. And later on, you see what Dylan describes as the musicians who would go on to become The Band backing him. And Scorcese is really good friends with Robbie Robertson. Don’t know if that was before or because of The Last Waltz.



Anyway, I’ve only seen Dylan performing new material. It was still cool. But to hear him speak of himself then and now and take in how he perceives his very being is truly a uniquely enriching experience. I usually say I’ve never seen a music documentary I didn’t like. But there are a few clunkers I won’t even bother mentioning. Next on my to-see list is that New York Dolls one – I think it is entitled New York Doll. I just love that song Personality Crisis. The movie only played for a minute in NYC so I guess I’ll have to catch it on dvd.



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