The Beatles: Get Back Review: A Fly-on-the-Wall Studio Marathon
9/10 — The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
Pros
- Remarkable access
- Beautifully restored footage
- Thrilling rooftop concert
Cons
- Very long
- Slow for non-fans
Peter Jackson used 60 hours of restored footage shot in January 1969 to show the Beatles writing and rehearsing songs for an album and a live show, culminating in their rooftop concert. It’s split into three parts.
What works
The access is extraordinary, and the film overturns the myth that the sessions were miserable, showing the band joking, jamming and creating songs like ‘Get Back’ from scratch. The restored footage is crisp, and the rooftop concert is thrilling.
Where it falters
At nearly eight hours, it’s long and repetitive, and a lot of it is the band noodling in a studio. It’s likely to appeal mainly to fans.
Verdict
A joyful, fascinating immersion for fans of the band.
