A remarkablle doc about the remarkable Band.
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band
Grade: A
Director: Daniel Roher (Finding Fukue)
Screenplay: Roher
Cast: Martin Scorsese et al.
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 h 40m
By: John DeSando
“I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin’ ’bout half-past dead.” The Band’s The Weight featuring Levon Helm
With that song, the world of mid-century America became aware of a new sound, Americana: a country rock with soul and surpassingly genial musicians. Daniel Roher’s Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band is a memorable documentary as well as a most engaging history of the colorful era of ‘60’s and ‘70’s rock, where loud, sensual music eclipsed any other form in previous cultural changes.
With the producing guidance of Martin Scorsese, who helmed The Last Waltz about the Band’s final concert, Robbie Robertson, guitarist and songwriter, guides us through his teen years and hookup with musicians who themselves would hook up with Bob Dylan, to help him tour to the boos of audiences that just didn’t get the electric guitar: Dylan exclaims, “They were gallant knights for standing behind me.”
Deftly carrying us through photo album pics and original music, this remarkable doc makes it feel like we are there, reliving the charismatic troupe’s glory days and eventually its struggle with drugs. As Robbie says, “It was so beautiful, it went up in flames.”
However, it’s a story well told, even down to the homely shots of Robbie courting Dominique and their eventually blissful marriage.
Heroin emerges (as it frequently seems to do) with devastating effect on the gifted Levon. Through it all, Robbie lets us know how much he loved this brotherhood, and we see the contribution he continues to make to the welfare of music and people.
We have been blessed in the last few years with outstanding films about music—let Once were Brothers be at the top of the list: It was “a sound you’ve never heard before, but like they’ve always been here.” Bruce Springsteen
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts WCBE’s It’s Movie Time and co-hosts Cinema Classics. Contact him at JohnDeSando62@gmail.com.
