The Last Waltz-The Pure Collaborative Power of Music Captured in a Glorious Concert Film

The Last Waltz shows the pure collaborative power of music. It's a concert film that celebrates the pure power of music and performing through its large band and dozens upon dozens of guest performances. Martin Scorsese captures these performers having the time of their lives performing, moving, and riffing on their instruments with a pure sense of glee, all with a unique mix of intense close-ups and wide shots demonstrating the massive cast of performers and plenty of two-shots, which show the collaborative nature of each performance. Each performance is also incredibly well-shot, with Scorsese capturing the gorgeous and extravagant stage lighting with this beautifully hazy look that makes the film as much a joy to watch as it is to listen to. 

Interspersed with these performances are interviews between Scorsese and each member of The Band. These interviews are crucial to the film as each member of The Band discusses their philosophy on life and music, which, in the way they perform and the lively quality of each song, is reflected in each performance. Throughout each interview, there are some incredibly fascinating insights into music and the music industry in the late 1970s, and these men provide some rather entertaining anecdotes from their experiences touring the country. 

The film runs a little long by the end, with it losing a bit of momentum in its final few performances. However, the film leaves itself on a high note, with the electric concluding performance guest-performed by Bob Dylan. It all makes for a rather insightful film that looks at The Band and rock music of the late 1970s, all with some of the best concert footage ever captured on-screen, visually, and in the pure energy of each performance.

Now Streaming on Prime Video and Tubi in the U.S