calvinnme
This is a concert/documentary film celebrating the 60th birthday of rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry. The film is a mix of biographical history on Berry, testimonials from his contemporaries, rehearsals leading up to the big show, and finally the concert celebration featuring Berry, a back-up band headed by Keith Richards, and guest vocals from a variety of artists, such as Eric Clapton, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Robert Cray, and Julian Lennon.The testimonials include Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Willie Dixon, the Everly Brothers, and Bruce Springsteen. The film is informative on the history of Berry and rock and roll music in general, and is also at times uncomfortable as we see just how moody Berry can be, especially to Keith Richards, who seems almost at the end of his rope (but doesn't he always?). The concert is good, even if Berry occasionally confounds his bandmates with unexpected key changes and sometimes sloppy musicianship (much to Richards' chagrin). Old school rock fans will love it, and even those who generally don't care for this kind of music will find some interest in the history and the larger-than-life character of Chuck Berry.
Paul Mason
The music speaks for itself. The purpose of any documentary is to examine what's behind what we've already seen on the surface.What surprises me about the majority of reviews is the negative reaction to learning about Chuck's real personality.This is what makes it a documentary in the first place.I was born in 1964, so technically the Chuck Berry era is before my time; however, the older I get the more I am inclined to learn about the early years of Rock 'n Roll, and how it evolved. These were the years when talent was raw and pure and truly original. One of my favourite music themed movies is still 'American Hot Wax'.These years also traversed the period of segregation to civil rights. It seems most great artists of that period were often born into poverty and grew into fame and wealth. Consequently who are we to judge how many different ways an individual will evolve through these circumstances ?This is actually what I find most interesting of all about this documentary: you learn about the real man, upon which so many rumours are based, and so here we get a chance to see for ourselves. There are a few brief glimpses in the film where it appears that Chuck finally lets his guard down and he retells some of his childhood and past experiences.This era produced some powerful music from heart wrenching beginnings. If they say the blues is formed or driven or inspired by suffering, Chuck Berry's compilations, and his personal make-up are yet another example of how that history manifested itself into pop culture.
moonspinner55
Taylor Hackford's documentary chronicling rock music pioneer Chuck Berry and his return to Missouri hometown with a star-laden concert both he and Keith Richards (from the Rolling Stones) put together in St. Louis. The film doesn't probe too deeply into Berry's troubled life (including two trips to jail), but his surly, chipped-shoulder bravado and mercurial personality make for some fascinating sequences. Richards, who organized the event--a 60th birthday celebration for Berry--and plays guitar alongside Chuck, has some tense confrontations with his star and tells of several amusing moments where he nearly gave up on him. Of the concert guests, Eric Clapton, Julian Lennon, and especially Linda Ronstadt are the highlights, but Robert Cray and Etta James are disappointing. **1/2 from ****
jari94556
Incredible to only seeing it now! VHS from the library. Can watch the "confrontation" scene between Chuck and Keith over and over! It's like minutes 33-37 with Chuck serious mind-fudging' with Keith over this cool riff in "Carol" Just over and over and over. That guitar should have gone directly over Chuck Berry's head with a bigger bang! Though maybe there is a subtle different from the first try to the final approval. Beats me, but teaching Keith? Never thought I'd see that!What a fun movie and SO well done! Chuck Berry is just a genius, but a total lunatic and not what you'd call a people person! Just wildly good history. Glad it will be there as documentation.
AD
