Beatles Get Back documentary

@fjship I feel that the relentlessly over-flogged message in the media that preceded the film’s release (aided and abetted by Paul and Ringo themselves) and the reinforcement of such by the media following the film’s release should be discarded and ignored.  

The tired and trite message the public was pounded with ad nauseam was:

”Look! The Beatles weren’t so mired in strife and lackluster creativity! Look how happy they were!  This will ‘change the narrative’ of Beatles history, blah, blah blah…”

One should forget all that noise. The fact that they were at their lowest point is the reason the film is so gripping.  Us Beatles fans would rather watch 8 hours of sessions from their halcyon days, but that footage may not necessarily make a more compelling film.

Due to the trite messaging of the media blitzkrieg that preceded the film’s release, I was worried that Peter Jackson may have been too biased towards depicting harmonious relationships and successful, triumphant achievements, and too quick to jettison honest depictions of the inherent strife and lackluster productivity of those sessions. I was very relieved, after watching the film, that he did not do these things.

This is one of the most rewarding, amazing films I’ve ever seen.

Comparing it to other films is difficult as it is unlike most films, even unlike most documentaries.  It is not a typical documentary. It’s closer to an archeological project than, say, “Grey Gardens,” “Hoop Dreams,” or, “Crumb.”  While Michael Lindsay-Hogg certainly did a great job filming in 1969, “Get Back” belongs to Peter Jackson.  With a total of 60 hours of video and 150 hours of audio to exhaustively scrutinize and edit into a beautifully-made, 8-hour, 3-part film, Peter Jackson and his colleagues ultimately created, in my opinion, something akin to a world treasure.

Jackson had me at the opening montage sequence.  He spends only 2 minutes putting the viewer in perfect historical context as to why we are watching this footage in the first place.  After only 2-3 minutes, he masterfully puts the viewer in January 2, 1969 Twickenham Studios, circa 9:00 am, as the workers sweep the studio floor and set up the gear for Day 1 of the recording sessions.

From then until the end of the film, one need not be a music fan, let alone a Beatles fan, to be completely gripped throughout the 470-minute running time.  The level of intimacy afforded the viewer to the personal relationships and real-time creative process of a ridiculously famous band under massive pressure is simply astonishing.

If one is interested in watching an unflinching depiction of this, rendered with incredible video/audio quality and masterful editing, it’s a must-see.  For Beatles fans, it’s essential viewing.

I watch lots of movies of all kinds. Again, it’s apples and oranges comparing “Get Back” to classic fiction and non-fiction. Either way, I can’t think of many films I’ve found more deeply rewarding.

John was very present and productive in these sessions.
I thought he would be more indifferent and disengaged at this time.

He’s banging out “Don’t Let Me Down” before Paul even arrives on Day 1.  He’s jumping on the organ or the piano to help develop a Paul or George song, he’s presenting songs that are just as good as Paul or George’s, he makes great suggestions and decisions as to how the songs should be, he try’s his damndest to sing and play well, and brings forth some great, great songs.  
“Jealous Guy/On the Road to Rishikesh/Child of Nature” is a better song than most of the ones that made it on the album. “Gimme Some Truth” would have been cool to hear as a Beatles song.

They’re all great. Paul’s talent is stunning. The dismissive attitude towards George from both Paul and John sucks.  It’s great watching George not take any crap anymore.

I really don’t think Jackson’s film glossed over the strife.

Could this have been more unflinchingly depicted? Perhaps.

It’s worth noting that Yoko, Ringo and Paul, and other family members of Beatles, deceased or not, are still alive.  We don’t really know how much influence those people had on what was left on the cutting room floor.

While they very well may have been magnanimous as to their respect towards the importance of honesty in the storytelling, it’s not unreasonable to assume they may have been apprehensive towards the depiction of certain Beatles’ unsavory behavior.

I always felt John’s opinion of the album (not very printable here) was spot on.

Paul had every reason to be irate over what Phil did to his song, but Phil-or-no-Phil, it’s still their weakest album. 

”Across the Universe” is a career highlight in a discography loaded with highlights, but I don’t really consider “Across the Universe” a Let It Be song (I prefer the Feb. ‘68 Take 2 version). They went with, IMO, the two weakest songs of those Feb. ‘68 sessions for their March ‘68 single, “Lady Madonna/The Inner Light.”  I would have strongly advocated “Hey Bulldog/Across the Universe” (what a single that would have been) but who the heck am I.

”Let it Be” and “I Dig a Pony” are great.  I think “Two Of Us” is pretty nice.  
That’s about it.