Are you a fan of documentaries?
I know people are not as they prefer getting lost in the world of the film instead of being consumed in the world we already live in. But others (like myself and especially my fiancée) love a great documentary that can expand your horizons and teach you so much about something new. But sometimes the most resonant ones are the ones that give you a much deeper appreciation of something you are already passionate about. During the pandemic, I have taken a much deeper dive into the world of documentary cinema. I remember watching The Booksellers for the first time and being enamored by the rustic world of bookstores all across New York City. I wanted so badly to hop a train and head over to The Strand and buy that $80 copy of No Country For Old Men that I saw there in the past. I have watched plenty of documentaries on the world of film as well. I could easily write a whole article about that itself. But most recently, I got lost in a three-hour documentary on Shudder about Folk Horror (Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror is essential viewing for horror fans).
But what genre of documentaries have I spent the most time exploring over the course of my life?
Music. I used to have a robust collection of concert DVDs including several from over the course of AC/DCs and Rush’s careers. I probably had six different ones from just Rush. One was their Exit Stage Left tour and then I had three of their last as well with Rush in Rio, R40, and Clockwork Angels Tour. I remember trying to decompress the night before the biggest interview in my life by watching Judas Priest perform for about 2.5 hours. Pink Floyd, Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and so many more! If you have discovered the rest of my The Wasteland Vintage Roadshow articles, you have probably seen my gushing over what I would argue is the greatest concert documentary of all time in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz.
But concert films are not the only extent where music fans can lose themselves in their passion for it, are they?
The more traditional route of a documentary has been used to expand upon and highlight the work of so many great artists over the years. My personal favorite of all time is Beyond the Lighted Stage which is essential viewing for any Rush fan. The film is a straightforward documentary but the passion in it helps it transcend the storytelling. Hearing music artists like Jack Black, Sebastian Bach, Kirk Hammett, Billy Corgan, and so many more gush over their deep-seated love for one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time. But in my time as a film reviewer, I have been able to check out endlessly entertaining and insightful films highlighting some of the greatest musical artists of all time. David Crosby, Luciano Pavarotti, Linda Ronstandt, The Band, Sparks, Billie Eilish, Frank Zappa, Gordon Lightfoot, and The Bee Gees just scratch the surface. But the time has come to finally cut to the chase. On my (seemingly) endless dive through the cinema of Martin Scorsese, I have found myself experiencing the HBO film George Harrison: Living in the Material World.
What brought Scorsese to this subject?
It could be as simple that George Harrison was part of the most important band in the history of music. That honestly would have been enough. But there is obviously more to it than that. The 60s and ’70s brought some of the most iconic rock music that has ever been heard. In a time where The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton ruled the music world, Scorsese was doing his best to do the same in the world of cinema. But Scorsese was always mixing these two media to amazing effect. The running joke of “Gimme Shelter” being in every film is quite an exaggeration but his love for The Rolling Stones is not. Some of the greatest musical artists of the mid-20th century are featured in his films. Clapton’s “It’s in the Way That You Use It” is used to pitch-perfect effect in one of my personal Scorsese favorites, The Color of Money. Harrison obviously was one of the artists to who Scorsese was drawn as he used “What is Life” in Goodfellas (one of the most impressive soundtracks ever collected).
We can see why Harrison might be a subject of a Scorsese documentary, but what makes this something that I want to write so much about?
I will be the first to admit that I have never been the biggest fan of The Beatles. But that certainly is not the case when it comes to George Harrison. All my favorite Beatles’ songs (“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Something”, “Here Comes the Sun”) all come from Harrison’s creative mind and feature his soothing and beautiful voice. His moving brand of songwriting, guitar playing, and singing has always connected with me on a deep level. There is a feeling that comes over me when his music comes on. There is a feeling of comfort from my childhood that comes over me. I used to hear his songs come on the radio on 98.1 WOGL in Philadelphia while driving around with my grandpop in his 90s Ford Taurus. You know something is so poignant when you have memories that are so specific. But that is why I was so excited to venture into this film, Living in the Material World.
But where to start?
Let’s look at the actual filmmaking from the master himself, Scorsese. You might watch this three- and one-half hours and leave thinking it was a straightforward documentary. That might be true if you look at it from the specific mechanics. There are interviews, archival footage of performances, and home movies that mix to create this epic dive into Harrison’s life. The film spans his career to his death. There is obviously going to be plenty of time spent with The Beatles. The film explores the faith journey that Harrison went on over the course of his life. We understand who Harrison was from his wife, son, and friends like Clapton who provide plenty of insight. Yes, there are not inventive and groundbreaking filmmaking techniques, but Scorsese molds a towering exploration of the brilliant artist.
What are some of the engrossing and thought-provoking ideas and themes that this documentary explores?
I found myself spending a lot of time thinking about friendships and creation while watching the film. In particular, the section that focused on The Beatles. This could have easily been a parade of greatest hits…but that is certainly not enough for a great director like Scorsese. Instead, he tells the compelling tale of group dynamics and the creative process. Which Beatle would you be? This question crawled into my brain and would not leave me during this whole section of the film. The detail spent on these men of actual humans allowed for such a relatable and engaging internal process for myself. Personality-wise, I am George. I am certainly an introvert, but I do have my moments to shine as well in front of people. But when it comes to those dynamics in my friend group, I am Paul all the way. The film displays McCartney as the business behind The Beatles. I am the planner who gets everyone together and keeps things rolling. This film is not some distant look upon towering figures in pop culture. Scorsese creates a human experience that speaks in a human way. These connections were easy for me to make because of how relatable and humanistic it is.
What other relatable themes and ideas are on display from Harrison’s life?
Relationships. Marriage. These are themes that are at the core of Harrison’s story and the film about his life. Clapton is one of the most engaging and complex commentators in this film. He brings so much on the music side of things but there was not going to be much doubt about that. But what is truly surprising is the way he confronts the elephant in the room. “Wonderful Tonight” and “Layla” are notorious for their representation of Clapton’s love for Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd. This could be something easily ignored (to avoid difficult subjects) or played up for the sleaziness of romantic affairs (to add a little zest). But Scorsese allows Clapton to confront it head-on in a rather mature and blunt way. The nature of love and what society finds romantic is challenged. Maybe someone close to you might be a better fit for the one you are with. This unique perspective makes for an intriguing wrinkle in the greater narrative of the story. Another rather telling moment in the film was how Harrison’s wife, Olivia. She was asked about the connection that George has with women (specifically the fans). At first, I thought this would take the Ron Howard’ Pavarotti documentary approach and just write off his infidelities as his “just loving women”. Olivia does find a complex and poignant response that shows that Harrison was not a perfect man. She says “don’t get divorced” in response to how you make marriages lasting. This tongue-in-cheek response strongly implies she had reasons to want to divorce at times in their marriage, but they made to choose to stay committed to their marriage. There should be no surprise that Scorsese would not bat an eye at facing complex topics and emotions in his film.
But what makes this documentary such a deeply resonant Scorsese film?
Faith. One thing that I have learned so profoundly through my journey through Scorsese’s films has been his deep connection to faith. Scorsese has his faith-based trilogy of films with The Last Temptation of Christ, Kundun, and Silence. What is interesting is that Living in the Material World could easily be the appendix or a collection of footnotes for that trilogy. In many ways, this HBO film is a faith-based film. Harrison’s connection with Ravi Shankar is explored deeply throughout the film. Shankar’s initial influence was felt poignantly on “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. The Harrison track on that album (“Within You Without You”) is deeply influenced by the Indian music of Shankar. Shankar became a mainstay of the opening to Harrison’s concerts (which the film showed was a controversial choice for many who wanted to listen to rock music). But faith was the most important aspect. The meditation. The preparation for death. This film can act as a quasi-introduction to faith as Harrison and Scorsese are open and honest about this deeply important aspect of his life. This faith is challenged by the material world of the title of the film. He owned mansions and produced films with all his money which might not seem like it aligns with this frugal perspective on living. One thing is for certain…Scorsese will never simplify his protagonists just so that the audience will not be challenged.
There are plenty of other aspects of the film like his son, the Traveling Wilburys, and Bangladesh that could be explored…but what else spoke directly to me?
(still so sad to see Tom Petty even five years after his death) No surprise…HandMade Films. Of course, the cinephile was drawn to Harrison’s work with the Pythons. Monty Python was in serious need before the production of The Life of Brian. Watching the collaboration on-screen between Harrison and the likes of Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam was quite enjoyable. The creation of Brian as well as Time Bandits (a film that I absolutely love) is a wonderful addition to the film. Is it one of the most significant aspects of Harrison’s life? No, but these little dimensions help broaden the scope of the film to capture the broad strokes of Harrison’s impact on society.
But we cannot get through a discussion of a documentary without highlighting those who bring it to life through their commentary, right?
The most personal and emotional additions to the film are certainly Olivia Harrison and George’s son, Dhani. Those limit screen time that Dhani is maximized as it offers up a moving tribute to his father as it fleshes out Harrison as a parent and human being. Clapton (as stated before) is such a dynamic presence in the film bringing up dimensions to Harrison’s life and character that you would not expect. Petty was such a beautiful addition including offering a dark and scary little anecdote when Roy Orbison passed away. Idle was a fun addition and Gilliam offered up his manic energy for a spell (honestly my personal favorite addition).
Why should you head over to your HBO platform and sit down for over three hours to check out George Harrison: Living in the Material World?
If you are a fan of The Beatles or just classic rock in general, this is a must-see experience.
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If you love music, it can open your eyes to a whole new world of creative expression. Even if you are not a fan of music, this film is a beautiful display of themes like friendship, the creative process, and faith. Scorsese pulls out no stops in this towering documentary as he paints a complex and engaging portrait of a man. Moving, thought-provoking, and dynamic, this is what documentaries can accomplish.
Contributed By : Shane Conto
