Let It Be (1970)

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Let It Be was the final film done by the Beatles.It happens to be a documentary wherein the recording sessions of the Fab Four for the release of the final album was being filmed by Michael Lindsay- Hogg.The band is shown rehearsing,performing,recording and sometimes arguing as they try to complete songs.Also included is the rooftop concert of the band which happens to be their final live appearance.Majority of the documentary shows John,Paul,George and Ringo are doing various things.Also,glimpses of Yoko Ono were caught on camera as she watches the band.Then,Billy Preston later join them.The end is near for the most influential and successful band in rock history.The viewer can see that the band members are no longer enjoying each other's company and what they are currently doing.Added to that,it was evident that there has been a lot of infighting among them and they are ready to go to different directions anytime soon. The presence of Yoko serves more of a distraction rather than an inspiration.But despite of the uninspired actions that the band members are currently taking and being on the brink of breaking up,they still managed to make great music.The musical talent of the group just shined throughout the documentary.The Academy Award it won for Original Music during its year of release only proves just that.

Being a lifelong Beatles fan, this review is difficult to compose. I was in grammar school when they were making gold records and I, like many of my contemporaries, felt the beauty of their music. So when it comes to films, they were nowhere near as successful. Let It Be is without question their worst movie. But is, however, a film that should be salvaged one fine day.Ringo temporarily quit during the White Album sessions and a few months later, George temporarily quit during the Let It Be sessions. That speaks volumes about the toxic problems they were experiencing and it shows in this reality-style film.Obviously their impromptu rooftop concert that ended with John's witty repartee, should not be missed.

"Let it Be" is not a good documentary. The first half simply consists of a cameraman sitting in on the Beatles recording for the "Let it Be" album. Everyone looks like they are having an awful time. John Lennon obviously could care less about the music, and instead is with Yoko, who sits in on the recordings. Ringo Starr, the usually happy and smiling drummer is sullen and bored. George Harrison has fun helping Ringo, but other than that, he too is angry and seems bored. Paul McCartney is obviously trying to have a good time, and might be more so than the others, considering the bulk of the songs are written and sung by him. The animosity between the group members is painful to watch, and not only that, but it's not interesting. The whole first part of the film, the group members are constantly eyeing each other (along with the cameraman), and they all seem really bored, and because of this, the audience grows bored too. The only positive for this part of the film is some of the music is good, where some of these recordings sound awful and stiffly played.The second part of the film consists of the Beatle's final live performance on rooftop. This was a great pick-up compared to the first half. The Beatles at first seem like they aren't going to enjoy this, but you can tell by most of their faces that they are having a good time. Many of the songs previously recorded in the last part of the film are sung here, and sound better here than before.Now, it might not sound fair that my review of the film is directly affected by the Beatles attitudes during this time, but it really made the film hard to watch. Not necessarily hard to watch in a sad way, because this was not about the Beatles breakup, but about their final months together as a band. It was just not entertaining, or enjoyable. Where the other Beatles films (although they weren't documentaries) were usually goofy and silly, though stupid, this was boring and dull. The only real reason to watch this is if you are a huge fan of the Beatles, if you want to see what the recording studios look like, or if you enjoy seeing unhappy people (excluding McCartney who was obviously trying to keep his cool).My rating: * 1/2 out of ****. 86 mins.

The sight and sounds of this piece is a true reflection of the time's. An emotional journey through the bands creation of songs and the struggles that surround the creative processes. A very candid look at the Beatles. The songs are great. I saw this movie when it first was released. It ran at the theater for over a year. Lines would always be seen outside. The dialog between John and Paul are at times serious when it surrounds the bands musical structure. George brings in new material. Paul is some what argumentative over George's performance with a few songs and asks him to change the approach to the part he surrenders to Pauls wishes. Ringo is funny and plays the piano a bit. You can also see others aiding the Beatles with a few songs such as the the anvil clang on Maxwells Silver Hammer. Billy Preston jams the organ on a few songs.