Bob Dylan: After the Crash 1966-1978 (2006)
*** (out of 4)
British produced documentary centering on "After the Crash" which refers to Bob Dylan's 1966 motorcycle crash, which pretty much ended the entire "Bob Goes Electric" thing and started a new path for the musician. Various people ranging from critics to those who worked with Bob are interviewed about this period, which was full of up and down moments and several things that most consider among the artist's greatest work. Topics include the albums John Wesley Harding, Self Portrait, New Morning, Planet Waves, Blood on the Tracks, Desire and Street Legal. Various other things include the Isle of Wright Festival, The Concert for Bangladesh, Pat Garret and Billy the Kid, AJ Weberman phone tapes, return to touring and everything else that was done in the 70s leading up to the Christian music. I think the ones that are going to get the main kick out of this film are Dylan die-hards who are entertained by anything. That's not to say this is a poorly done documentary because it isn't but at the same time I'm going to guess that mainly Dylan fans are going to want to hear all of these stories. Some of the best stories deal with the two versions of Blood on the Tracks and why two were done. Another impressive story deals with The Bitter End club and how Dylan pretty much had rehearsals here for new talent that would be used on the Rolling Thunder Revue. One of the most controversial periods of this era is the phone conversation with A.J. Weberman and we get to hear some of it here but we also get the man himself talking about the stalking that he was doing. It's funny to hear about the beat down Dylan gave him. Others interviewed include Al Aronowitz, Nigel Williamson, Patrick Humphries, Ron Cornelius, David Weddle, Bruce Langhorne, Eric Weissberg, Jacques Levi, Rob Stoner and Scarlet Rivera. Coming in right at two hours this is a pretty detailed film with lots of good stories. You're entertainment level will depend on how much you actually need or want to know about this era.
