Review of Let It Be (1970) by Undefined U — 27 Nov 2010

Let It Be a 1970 film starring The Beatles and directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg is a documentary featuring the famous British quartet as they try to record their last original album Let It Be and it also shows a few things that led to the eventual break-up of the group. The film can be divided into three parts. The first one featuring the Beatles rehearsing at Twickenham Film Studios where thereâ(TM)s a brief argument between Paul Mc Cartney and George Harrison on the song âTwo of Usâ?. Here we can also see John Lennon spending time with his wife Yoko Ono and Mal Evans providing the hammer sounds on âMaxwellâ(TM)s Silver Hammerâ?.

In the second part of the film we can see the Beatles in Apple headquarters where they contribute their creative juices to the recording of the album, here we can see Lennon a bit concerned about staying with the group or not as McCartney talks to him about only doing studio work and nothing live. We can also see Harrison work with Ringo Starr on âOctopusâ(TM)s Gardenâ?, Billy Preston joining the quartet to work on some rock and roll covers, Linda Eastmanâ(TM)s daughter playing around the studio and the Beatles contributing to country music and Mexican music as they play Consuelo Velazquezâ(TM)s âBesame Muchoâ? and they play another song using country music instruments.

In the third and final part of the film the Beatles play an unexpected concert on the roof of Apple studio where they amaze everybody around the streets as they play the songs of their new album. Here they perform the following songs: âGet Backâ?, âDonâ(TM)t Let Me Downâ?, âIâ(TM)ve Got a Feelingâ?, âOne After 909â? and âDig a Ponyâ?. As the Beatles perform we can see some Londoners expressing their opinions on the performance and whatnot. Eventually the police get to the roof where they successfully stop the concert.

This film again does a great contribution to cinema as this is not only a documentary but it is also one of the first rockumentaries to be successful. A rockumentary is a sub-genre of the documentary where the subject of the film is the recording of an album, a tour, a concert, rehearsals, etc. Examples of rockumentaries are Shine A Light starring the Rolling Stones, The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town starring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and even N.W.A.: The Worldâ(TM)s Most Dangerous Group starring N.W.A.

Personally I think the film is a great inside view of how the Beatles shared their creative juices and a great look at some of the things that led to their break-up. If you want to know these two subjects then this is a great film that gives you the information on both of them. Like for example we can see the Beatles arguing with each other on how to make the songs better and we can see the disinterest of Lennon and the arguing between Harrison and McCartney. Overall, it is a great film, a great contribution to cinema and a great contribution to culture.