Ain’t in It for My Well being: A Movie About Levon Helm
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Director Jacob Hatley’s intimate documentary finds rock and roll legend Levon Helm (The Band) at dwelling in Woodstock, NY, within the midst of making his first studio album in 25 years. Shot in the course of the course of two-plus years, this extremely anticipated movie focuses in on the four-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame member after his 2007 comeback album, Dust Farmer, introduced him again to the highlight.
MPAA ranking : NR (Not Rated)
Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 3.2 ounces
Merchandise mannequin quantity : 27597705
Director : Jacob Hatley
Media Format : A number of Codecs, Coloration, Widescreen, Dolby, Anamorphic, Encompass Sound, NTSC
Run time : 1 hour and 25 minutes
Launch date : October 8, 2013
Actors : Amy Helm, Teresa Williams, Levon Helm, Billy Bob Thornton, Libby Titus
Producers : Stephen Brower, Mary Posatko, Ren Segna
Studio : Kino Lorber movies
ASIN : B00E5MIMHW
Variety of discs : 1
9 reviews for Ain’t in It for My Well being: A Movie About Levon Helm
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Bob B –
Wonderful!
Levon Helm lived a life in music, one that unfortunately ended too soon last year when he was 71 years old. But what a life! His career traced the entire arc of the rock and roll era, from his early years seeing Elvis, Sonny Boy and Bill Monroe as a kid in Arkansas, to his years on the road as a member of Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, then leader of Levon And The Hawks, which became Dylan’s first road band. Then The Hawks became The Band, the most respected band of the golden age of rock.He played a decent guitar and a distinctive mandolin, but that voice! Levon was the voice of the American heartland, an iconic, craggy, lusty voice whether singing, acting and narrating, or just telling stories. And, oh yes, he was one the the very best drummers in the world. But his post-Band career, while artistically rich, left him ultimately broke, and in the late nineties cancer took his voice.To pay the rent and medical bills, and just to play, he began hosting Midnight Rambles at his home in Woodstock, where he had a studio in his beautiful barn. Playing for a couple hundred people on Saturday nights, Levon came all the way back to the top, and along the way his voice came back. Sort of.This beautiful and powerful documentary, filmed with Levon’s full cooperation around 2008, finds him at home with his family and friends, learning of his nomination for a Grammy for his new album (he would win it, along with two more), laughing and telling stories with his friends and bandmates, and playing with some of the best musicians on the planet both in his barn and on tour. While the beautiful spirit and sheer joy of music certainly shine through here, the film is also unflinching in showing Levon struggling with a ravaged voice and being tested, rather unpleasantly, at a hospital, and making those closest to him cringe with his bitterness about the end of The Band and the subsequent demise of his dear friends Rick and Richard.Ultimately, this film holds up in several ways. It is a gritty, effective “fly on the wall” style documentary; it is an interesting and instructive view of a Rock life; and if you went to a Ramble at the Barn, or just loved Levon for the national treasure he was, it will move you.OK, I guess that’s a thumbs up.
fessormojo –
Levon and the Hawks/The Band were America’s greatest rock band.
The story of The Band has been told many times: The Last Waltz showed how they could be themselves and still make the greatest musicians of their time shine as a back-up band, Elvis ’59 tells Levon’s story with Elvis’, The interview on The Band Is Back about Sonny Boy Williamson, The Authorized Autobiography of The Band and his finale Love For Levon filmed at among other venues Madison Square Garden.Listen closely and you will discover that Levon ((AKA Lavon) used to sit on the floor as Sonny Boy Williamson broadcast King Biscuit Time in Helena Arkansas across the river from Friar’s Point MS as a child During his high school days he encountered the son of Mr. Jenkins, one of the captains of the Friar’s Point MS/Helena AR ferry (and the father of another person who grew up in Marvell AR/Turkey Scratch AR — Harold Jenkins who became Conway Twitty). Conway Twitty started as a rockabilly artist and waited for Levon to graduate High School to join him on the road as his drummer. Turkey Scratch (Pop. 70) was also the birthplace of Robert Lockwood Jr., Robert Johnson’s stepson and only guitar student.Levon was the only American among the members of Arkansas transplant Ronnie Hawkins’ rock band which ruled Yonge Street in Toronto. Had rockabilly lasted another year, Ronnie Hawkins would likely have been its star after Elvis when into the Army.Ironically both Robert Lockwood Jr. and Levon Helm won their first Grammies near the end of their lives.This is the story of Levon Helm’s struggle with lung cancer which late in his career and before he won his Grammy for his Dirt Farmer album. He was an original and an early inductee into the Rock’ n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
T. Keogh –
Great film about a great man.
I can’t wait to see this again and again when it releases on Amazon. I have pre-ordered it here but was lucky enough to attend a showing at Levon’s barn in Woodstock earlier this year. Like the Midnight Rambles and the other shows they’re still doing there, it was so moving and joyful that I know I don’t remember all the details. It left me with a feeling of the fun and joy that Levon brought to his music and to the lives of so many people who were lucky enough to know him. It also gave a much deeper and more intimate look at his life, the things that guided him and the challenges he faced to live on his own terms.Levon was blessed to have been surrounded by a lot of wonderful people who continue to love and honor him with their commitment to “Keep it Goin'”. A lot of them appear in this film. After you see this and wish that you would have gone up to the barn to see one of his shows, browse to levonhelm.com and get yourself a ticket. The sequel to this film is performed live most Saturday nights.
James J. Crisan –
A candid and intimate portrait of a truly inspirational man
This documentary accomplishes something rare in a biographical story: it is uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time. Watching Levon simultaneously struggle with illness while continuing to live and love life and create and perform beautiful music is powerfully inspiring. Listening to the stories about the dark side of his history with The Band was heartbreaking, and the filmmaker gives us a nuanced look at how Levon deals with his legacy with pride, but also with some bitterness about the music business. In his unguarded moments, we can see that Levon is still heartbroken over the loss of Richard Manuel and Rick Danko, and the interview sequences with Rick’s widow are a brilliant juxtaposition that meshes Levon’s story with the demise of The Band and the era in which they breathed rarefied air. I thank the filmmaker for this heartwarming portrait, and I treasure this intimate record of a slice of the life – and tragic death – of a man and musician I have always admired and respected.
crls –
Lastima que no haya subtitulos en ningún idioma
Zambelli –
Per un appassionato di Levon Helm e dei The Band questo film è un cult. Consigliato inoltre a tutti gli amanti del Rock and Roll, Country, Americana. L’ ultima scintilla del più grande batterista di tutti i tempi e di uno dei migliori cantanti mai esistiti (top 100 migliori cantanti su Rollingstone). Il film ha una trama sempre piuttosto veloce e alterna momenti di discussione, di straziante tristezza per la sua malattia e di performances di Levon e della sua Band. Unica pecca è che non sono presenti sottotitoli e l’accento americano del sud non è sempre così facile da capire. Consigliatissimo ad ogni modo.
bilbo2007 –
An excellent documentary clouded only by the inevitable conclusion. Excellent music and stories throughout from all involved. Levon speaks his mind and you are left in no doubt what he thinks of ‘The Man’ and the musical awards system. The film is book-ended by ‘When I Go Away’ from Electric Dirt and that seems to encapsulate his musical taste perfectly. A shame to watch his voice failing and changing as the film progresses but a brave decision by a fine vocalist and original drummer. A great music film and excellent documentary
Gary V. –
Arrived on time , found movie to be very informative , and just love Levon’s music. Thanks
Amazon Customer –
As a Glimpse into Levon’s later life, this documentary was thoughtful & respectful, which confirms Levon was the man I’d always thought he was. It shows good & bad sides to his personality, but the good far exceeds the bad.One of the best music documentaries I’ve seen in many a year. Heartily recommended.