Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson & The Band

"I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' 'bout half-past dead." The Band's The Weight featuring Levon Helm

With that song, the world of mid-century America became aware of a new sound, Americana: a country rock with soul and surpassingly genial musicians. Daniel Roher's Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band is a memorable documentary as well as a most engaging history of the colorful era of '60's and '70's rock, where loud, sensual music eclipsed any other form in previous cultural changes.

With the producing guidance of Martin Scorsese, who helmed The Last Waltz about the Band's final concert, Robbie Robertson, guitarist and songwriter, guides us through his teen years and hookup with musicians who themselves would hook up with Bob Dylan, to help him tour to the boos of audiences that just didn't get the electric guitar: Dylan exclaims, "They were gallant knights for standing behind me."

Deftly carrying us through photo album pics and original music, this remarkable doc makes it feel like we are there, reliving the charismatic troupe's glory days and eventually its struggle with drugs. As Robbie says, "It was so beautiful, it went up in flames."

However, it's a story well told, even down to the homely shots of Robbie courting Dominique and their eventually blissful marriage.

Heroin emerges (as it frequently seems to do) with devastating effect on the gifted Levon. Through it all, Robbie lets us know how much he loved this brotherhood, and we see the contribution he continues to make to the welfare of music and people.

We have been blessed in the last few years with outstanding films about music-let Once were Brothers be at the top of the list: It was "a sound you've never heard before, but like they've always been here." Bruce Springsteen

Before even commenting on the film, which I had the pleasure to see during the TIFF opening night showing, one needs to address the controversy that precludes it. The feud between Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson, and the sides many fans fall into, paints the film into a corner. It constantly dances around the bitter aspects of their relationship, portraying Robbie as saddened by the visceral animosity directed at him. Yes, the movie is based on Robbie's book, and Levon can no longer refute the claims made, but perhaps it is time to give Robbie a chance to explain his perspective. There was no way an autobiographical film would display the conflict in an unbiased and fair manner, since that is not what the film is about. It is about Robbie and his journey with The Band, their rise and dissolution as seen through his eyes, and his final reminiscence on a time when he truly was part of a brotherhood that he lost. Robbie is never critical of Levon, perhaps even sympathetic, but his pain does feel real. The story is emotional and endearing, supported by the multitude of supporting voices including Ronnie Hawkins (who steals the show!), Bruce Springsteen, Martin Scorcese, and managers, friends, and family who knew The Band the best.

Beyond the story as told by the many participants lending their reflections to this doc, I must say that the filmmaking is quite well done. Daniel Roher weaves a film with archival footage, testimonials, and the legendary music into something that is exciting to watch for any fan of The Band. It is emotionally touching, funny, insightful, and ultimately a great tribute. Yes it is Robbie's portrait of The Band, but it nevertheless faithfully chronicles a musical force that would influence generations to come.

Robbie tells a good story, and by piecing old interviews from former band mates he supports his narrative.

Loved the old footage of the Band.

But the story in this film is not complete; what about how he sneakily got their publishing rights, and created a chasm between his "brothers"?

This is a piece of the puzzle, of the Band. But it's no way THE story. There's a lot more to their story. I'd love to know what Garth had to say about this film. Bob Dylan himself had no interest in being involved present day.

Robbie had talent. But to claim he wrote the Bands music and lyrics all by himself is bananas. Only reinforced by the fact he still claims the band ended when he left. Do your research viewer, the Band didn't die when he left. They played for years together after. Why does he ignore this? Doesn't fit his narrative...

This isn't a film about the Band as much as it is a film about Robbie and what he wants people to believe about the Band. Too bad. We needed a full doc.

"Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band" (2019 release from Canada; 100 min.) is a documentary about the Band. As the movie opens, today's Robbie Robertson addresses the camera and talks about his music-writing process. We then go back in time to the origins of the Band, as talking heads like Bruce Springsteen and Eric Clapton comment on how tight these 5 guys were, "like a brotherhood". We then go back even further in time, to Robbie Robertson's upbringing in Canada and how he was exposed to music at an early age. At this point we are 10 min. into the movie.

Couple of comments: this movie is directed by documentarian Daniel Roher, but more importantly executive-produced by Martin Scorsese (who of course directed "The Last Waltz") and Ron Howard. In the end credits, we learn that the documentary is "inspired by" Robbie Robertson's 2017 memoir "Testimony", and indeed this is very much Robertson's perspective on how things unfolded. The documentary is absolutely tops in its first half, where we revisit how Robertson, at age 15, wrote a couple of songs for Ronny Hawkins & the Hawks (where the drummer was a certain Levon Helms), and a year later he was invited to join the Hawks. Plenty of archive footage along the way livens up the big screen, and it's like sitting at the feet of a music history teacher. Indeed, Robertson proves to be quite the master story teller ("joining Bob Dylan was a detour but we decided it was a worthwhile detour"). The movie's second half is not quite as formidable, as we follow the Band's demise (leading to the brilliant 1976 farewell concert "The Last Waltz"), and the subsequent bitter falling-out between Helms and Robertson. But in the end, the proof is in the pudding: I couldn't believe how quickly the theater's house lights came back on, as the movie had simply flown by in no time. When in the last scene of the movie we watch them play "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" in "The Last Waltz" and we are reminded that it was the very last time these 5 guys ever played on stage together, I readily admit that I choked up. What a loss for rock music that was!

"Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band" premiered last Fall at the Toronto International Film Festival to great acclaim. It opened last weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati and I finally got a chance to see it this weekend. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was not attended well (3 people, to be exact), and I can't see this playing much longer in theaters. But it you are a fan of rock music history or simply a fan of the Band, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.

Greetings again from the darkness. Based on Robbie Robertson's "Testimony: A Memoir", documentarian Daniel Roher's film is understandably told from the lead guitarist's point of view, and in fact, Mr. Robertson spends a good deal of time recollecting directly to the camera. For those familiar with the acrimonious-filled history since The Band split in 1976, you won't be surprised that Robertson's recounting of events varies greatly from those in the 1993 memoir of his former friend and bandmate in "This Wheel's on Fire - Levon Helm and the Story of the Band."

Mr. Robertson is now 76 years old, and in addition to his guitar skills, he has always been an articulate speaker, and one who comes across as prideful and mostly sincere. These days he is one of only 2 band member still living, and the other (Garth Hudson) has nothing to say publicly about The Band or its members. This is one man's version of reality, and from a perspective of music history, it's quite interesting and entertaining.

"The Band was greater than the sum of their parts", says Bruce Springsteen, in one of many interviews used for the film - including Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal, George Harrison, Peter Gabriel, David Geffen, Martin Scorsese, and "Rolling Stone" magazine founder Jann Wenner. Some of the initial interview clips play over an opening live performance of "Up on Cripple Creek", including Clapton stating he was "in awe of their brotherhood." The film then traces the timeline and early years as the pieces of the band came together ... much of it centered around Ronnie Hawkins, who is not only the most insightful of those interviewed, but also the most colorful. We learn that Robertson was writing songs at age 15, and that it was meeting Bob Dylan that changed everything.

A substantial portion of the film deals with those early years, and the tales of being booed by audiences as they backed the newly "electric" Dylan are especially fascinating. In 1967 when The Band moved to the pink house in Woodstock, communal living led to artistic and creative productivity, including The Band's masterpiece album, "Music from Big Pink" (1968). There are some terrific old photos included here which give us a feel for the times, and the aforementioned 'brotherhood' of this band that seemed more tightly connected than most.

Of course, it was the late 1960's and heavy drinking and drug usage took its toll, and The Band began to unravel. In 1976, 34 year old Martin Scorsese was brought on to direct a documentary of The Band's final performance. THE LAST WALTZ was released in 1978 and included electrifying live performances from some of the all-time greats: Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan, to name a few. The concert was held at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, which would later close after a 1979 New Year's Day marathon concert by The Grateful Dead. Scorsese's film included interviews with the band members, but it was his unique and varied camera placements that brought the stage show to life.

Director Roher's producers on this film include Scorsese, Ron Howard, and Brian Glazer. While it is often the story of Robbie Robertson's personal journey, it also serves as his perspective on The Band - a group of musicians who were right in the middle of things as popular music evolved. Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Rick Danko have passed away, and reclusive Garth Hudson refuses to re-live the past, so it's Robertson who tells their story, and his. We do get to see The Band perform "The Weight", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and most fittingly, "I Shall Be Released", but if it's the music that most interests you, track down and experience THE LAST WALTZ. It was the final time THE BAND performed all together on stage, and as Robertson says, "everybody just forgot to come back."