As a movie buff who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of documentaries, I can confidently say that Don’t Look Back stands tall among the best music documentaries ever made, and it’s not just because of its subject – the legendary Bob Dylan. The film, directed by D.A. Pennebaker, offers a unique perspective on Dylan’s persona and PR machine that sets it apart from other concert films.
One of the most eagerly awaited movies this holiday season is A Complete Unknown, a film about folk music that stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. The movie reaches its climax with his legendary performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, which was also the year Dylan started engaging in what would eventually become Don’t Look Back. This D.A. Pennebaker film stands out from other Dylan documentaries and concert films like Martin Scorsese’s excellent No Direction Home and Rolling Thunder Revue, Jennifer LeBeau’s Trouble No More and her collaboration with John Hillcoat, Bob Dylan: Odds and Ends. It offers a remarkable “portrait of the artist as a young man,” and while it showcases some fantastic music, its primary focus is on Dylan’s personality and public image.
Stream ‘Don’t Look Back’ for free now on The Criterion Channel, our top pick for streaming platforms. This movie is also included in The Criterion Collection, boasting a stunning 4K restoration of the film and numerous special features to delve into. They characterize ‘Don’t Look Back’ as follows:
“Bob Dylan is captured on-screen as he never would be again in this groundbreaking film from D. A. Pennebaker. The legendary documentarian finds Dylan in England during his 1965 tour, which would be his last as an acoustic artist. In this wildly entertaining vision of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, Dylan is surrounded by teen fans, gets into heated philosophical jousts with journalists, and kicks back with fellow musicians Joan Baez, Donovan, and Alan Price.”
This documentary, titled “Don’t Look Back, “offers a unique and groundbreaking perspective on an American legend, Bob Dylan. It showcases some of his most renowned songs such as ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues,’ ‘The Times They Are A-Changin,’ and ‘It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.’ This film has set the stage for numerous subsequent behind-the-scenes documentaries.” You can stream it free on The Criterion Channel, but do so promptly as the offer ends on January 1, 2025.
The Greatest Dylan Doc from the Greatest Music Documentarian
Known for his groundbreaking work in music documentaries, Pennebaker has made some of the most impactful political films as well. However, it’s his music documentaries that have earned him a reputation as one of the greatest filmmakers in history, with Nick coming close. Amongst his notable works are the legendary ‘Monterey Pop’, ‘Little Richard: Keep on Rockin’, ‘Original Cast Album: Company’ about the Sondheim musical, ‘Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’, ‘Sweet Toronto’, ‘Shake! Otis at Monterey’, and music documentaries featuring Alice Cooper, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry, Elaine Stritch, Jimi Hendrix, and Jerry Lee Lewis. While it’s hard to choose, ‘Don’t Look Back’ and arguably ‘Monterey Pop’ are considered his masterpieces.
Doyle Pennebaker boasts numerous films in The Criterion Collection, and the 4K version of his “Don’t Look Back” is available right here. It’s an essential watch for those intending to see “A Complete Unknown,” Dylan enthusiasts, or anyone intrigued by documentary filmmaking.
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2024-12-21 08:01