Review of Last Waltz, The

Introduction

Despite the title of this DVD, "The Band" are still around, although they`ve had a few changes in lineup. And they`ve been around for a long time, starting out life under a different name. In 1976 they decided to call it a day (yeah, like anyone in the music business "calls it a day" and then launches a comeback tour). This film, directed by Martin Scorsese no less, documents their final gig in San Francisco. This was no ordinary gig, as they pulled in a few favours and got some big names and friends to help them out. This resulted in a concert that lasted about 5 hours. Naturally we don`t get all of that here, but there is a 4 CD box set of the event available.

Here`s the tracklist and featured guests:-

Don`t Do It
Up on Cripple Creek
The Shape I`m In
Who Do You Love (Ronnie Hawkins)
It Makes No Difference
Such a Night (Dr John)
Helpless (Neil Young)
Stagefright
The Weight (The Staples)
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Dry Your Eyes (Neil Diamond)
Coyote (Joni Mitchell)
Mystery Train (Paul Butterfield)
Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters)
Further on up the Road (Eric Clapton)
Sip the Wine
Evangeline (Emmylou Harris)
Genetic Method
Ophelia
Caravan (Van Morrison)
Forever Young (Bob Dylan)
Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Bob Dylan)
I Shall Be Released (All previous guests + Ringo Starr + Ronnie Wood)
Theme from The Last Waltz

Video

This is more than your average concert video, so it gets a nice 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer. Despite its age, it looks pretty good, there`s not too much damage on the print, there`s a reasonable amount of detail and everything looks ok. The only fly in the ointment is that old monster film grain, which pops up quite a bit throughout.

When did you last watch a concert video with cinematography by Michael Watkins (now an X-Files director and producer), Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), Vilmos Zsigmond (Close Encounters, Deliverance), and László Kovács (New York, New York, Easy Rider)?

Audio

A DD5.1 remix, which is quite good given the age of the material, and it seems to have been done with reasonable respect. Instruments and artistes appear all around the soundstage, although rears are largely reserved for the audience`s input. As for the sound of The Band themselves, it`s probably not to everyone`s taste, as it`s a bit 1970s and a bit "pub rock". Some tracks are better than others, but this is only really for fans and not likely to win over a new audience.

Features

A pair of commentary tracks kick off the extras, and that much fabled and wished for thing is finally here - a Scorsese commentary track. A shame that it`s on something like this though, and not Casino for example. Scorsese and Robbie Robertson make up the first track, and the second one contains a massive cast of band members, guests and more. These might be interesting for fans, and there are a few nice anecdotes, but they`re not the greatest pair of tracks in the world even though Scorsese is there.

The featurette lasts for about 20 minutes, and talks about how the project came about. It`s worth watching once. "Jam 2" is some concert footage that never made it to the final cut, and is just that - a jam session from later on in the concert. There`s also a trailer and TV spot, photo gallery and a booklet which wasn`t in my review copy so I can`t comment on it!

Conclusion

As with most music discs, if you`re a fan you`ll want to pick this one up, as it`s a good disc technically. If you`re not a fan, then you`re unlikely to be running after this disc. If you like late 1960s/early 1970s pub-style rock, you might just make an effort to check it out. Personally I wasn`t over-impressed with the music - there are some nice moments and good guest performances, but I won`t be giving it a spin in the DVD player again...

Pretty good picture and sound, and a nice rounded selection of extras make this one a must for fans of The Band. Everyone else might like to try out a rental instead...